Blazers Acquire Marcus Camby From Clippers & Other NBA Trade Analysis

The Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers finalized a deal which sent C Marcus Camby to Portland in exchange for PG Steve Blake and F Travis Outlaw. I feel both teams got something of worth in this deal, but only the Blazers have a chance for it to affect them this season. Camby, and here's the biggest caveat in history, WHEN HEALTHY, can be a game changer defensively, and he can throw in a few awkward shots from the top of the key on offense as well. The Blazers get a bonafide Center after BOTH of theirs went down earlier this season. Again, if Camby stays healthy I feel he could push Portland ahead of less experienced Oklahoma City in the now even more competitive Northwest Division. The Clippers get a serviceable PG in Steve Blake who has shown he can have a role on every team he's been on, and a guy who has been injured this season but was very clutch for the Blazers at the end of games last season in Travis Outlaw. He also doesn't demand the ball and knows his role, and should be a good fit on the Clippers when he is healthy.

In other trade news...

Dallas Mavericks acquire F Caron Butler, C Brendan Haywood, and G DeShawn Stevenson from Washington

Washington Wizards acquire F Josh Howard, F Drew Gooden, F Quinton Ross and F James Singleton from Dallas

The Mavericks improve dramatically with this deal, whereas the Wizards get 2 SF's and 2 PF's, where only 2 of the 4 are at all proven. The Mavericks get one of the most underrated stars in the league in Caron Butler, as well as a bonafide, better than Erick Dampier Center in Brendan Haywood and another underrated contributor in DeShawn Stevenson. It is still a mystery as to how the Mavs will balance Caron Butler and Shawn Marion at the same position, but if it were up to me I would DEFINITELY favor Caron Butler. Marion is a good player, yes, but he is no Caron Butler. This trade will make Dallas a much more formidable opponent to the Nuggets and Lakers in the playoffs, and if it works out optimally for the Mavs, they could throw a huge wrench in the LA-Denver Conference Finals rematch hopes. As for the Wizards, Josh Howard has proven himself to be one of the better players in the league, although he is a head case, Drew Gooden is an alright player, although I consider him to be one of the biggest jokes as a person in the league, and the other two players have not yet done anything to prove themselves legitimately in this league. If Howard can keep his head on straight, he should be a difference maker in the nation's capital. Drew Gooden is just laughable to look at and think about, but he is a serviceable bench forward. We will have to see how Ross and Singleton do, but I feel the Mavs got the better end of this deal. Also, as a final note, it is interesting to see the two guys who had a beard-off last year (Gooden and Stevenson) be involved in the same deal.