Pacers-Hornets-Rockets-Nets Trade Analysis

Yesterday, Chad Ford broke the news that a 4 team trade involving 5 players occurred between the Pacers, Hornets, Rockets, and Nets.  This wasn't a bunch of no-names either as each team either got or traded a significant player on their roster.

Indiana Pacers trade: Troy Murphy

Indiana Pacers receive: Darren Collison, James Posey, approx. $4.2 million trade exception

New Orleans Hornets trade: Darren Collison, James Posey

New Orleans Horents receive: Trevor Ariza

Houston Rockets trade: Trevor Ariza

Houston Rockets receive: Courtney Lee, approximately $6.3 million trade exception

New Jersey Nets trade: Courtney Lee

New Jersey Nets receive: Troy Murphy

My analysis of each teams haul after the jump.


Indiana has been looking for their point guard of the future for the past few years, after T.J. Ford fell out of favor during the same time period.  They grabbed possibly the best young point guard prospect available in Darren Collison, who made a name for himself last year in Chris Paul's absence, finishing 4th in Rookie of the Year voting, and being named to the All-Rookie First team.  He is a very willing passer (having the best Assist Rate of Rookie Point Guards last year at 32.9%), and unlike T.J. Ford, a terrific shooter, shooting 47.7% from the field and 40% from three. The one thing Collison does need to watch those is turnovers, something he had a lot of trouble with last year (18.9% Turnover Rate).  But Collison should be the starter in Indiana from Day 1, and he'll make the Pacers better for it.

The Pacers also acquired James Posey, a bad contract but a necessary evil in nabbing a talent like Collison, and although his production has declined in his time with the Hornets, he can still be a valuable contributor off the bench, and it is rumored that contenders like the Celtics or Heat would possibly be interested in acquiring him to add to their benches.  If the Pacers can move Posey for an expiring or a younger player, this deal becomes even better for them, and its already pretty good.  They lost Troy Murphy, a player who just last week I called one of the most underrated in the NBA, but he was probably gone after this season anyway, and his absence gives the Pacers more time to develop Tyler Hansbrough and Josh McRoberts.

The Hornets sent a message to Chris Paul that they're committed to trying to build a winning team.  Collison is a very intriguing talent and a potential star, but with Paul set to come back healthy, and logically play a lot of minutes (career 37.3 MPG average), Collison becomes a little redundant as a backup.  As New Orleans best asset, they sold high on Collison and managed to shed a bad contract in Posey for a talented young player in Trevor Ariza.  Ariza saw his efficiency take a huge hit last year with Houston, when with all the injuries the team suffered he was forced to play the role of scorer for the team, something he had never been in his career.  But with the Hornets healthy, he won't have to be the focal point of an offense that features Paul, David West and Marcus Thornton.  He can become a better version of the role player he was in Los Angeles, getting open looks from the best point guard in the game, and he'll provide New Orleans with some much needed Perimeter defense.  

Daryl Morey, the General Manager of the the Houston Rockets, talked about the trade, stating that Courtney Lee was a player the Rockets had been trying to acquire ever since the 2008 draft.  Lee definitely showed that he could be extremely valuable to a playoff team like the Rockets, playing a significant role on the Orlando Finals team in his rookie year.  The Rockets also were able to clear a little salary off the books and clear up a glut at the Small Forward position, while adding depth behind the injury prone but extraordinarily efficient Kevin Martin.  He also mentioned the Trade Exception the Rockets received, which would allow the Rockets to make uneven money trades (meaning they could bring more money than they send out) despite being over the cap.  This could be a crucial tool if the Rockets feel they can add a piece that could carry them even further.  (If Yao Ming comes back healthy, this team could be the one nobody wants to play in the Playoffs.  That's a big if though.)

The Nets, not to be forgotten, also got a nice piece in Troy Murphy.  Courtney Lee became redundant with the team giving Terrence Williams a bigger role, as well as signing Anthony Morrow this past offseason.  New Jersey was one of the worst 3 point shooting teams last year (29th) and Murphy with his career 39.4% definitely helps in that area.  Another thing the Nets were terrible at last year (almost everything, again this team won only 12 times) was Defensive Rebounding (27th) and Murphy definitely helps there, being a phenomenal rebounder.  Murphy's (and Morrow's) ability to shoot the outside will help open up the lane for driving players like Devin Harris and Terrence Williams to score easier, and his presence will allow the Nets to bring along rookie Derrick Favors slowly instead of throwing him straight into the fire.  Murphy also is a valuable expiring contract, so the Nets can either keep him or possibly acquire more talent with his contract by the deadline, a major possibility if Favors, for example, comes along more quickly than thought before.  There is a bad part about losing Lee though;  They only have one player on the team whose name sounds like that of a Female Porn Star (Brook Lopez, although if Nets fans give Derrick Favors the nickname "Sexual", its another story. Credit to Mark Deeks of ShamSports for that).

Personally I feel that each team benefited from this trade, and its rare to see trades like that in today's NBA, especially between 4 teams.  A lot of trades end up being about the salary cap and not acquiring talent.  This is a refreshing change of pace, even if there were some salary implications as well.