SPORTS: Howard not the focal point of the trade deadline

By Benjamin Min
Staff Writer

Keith Allison/Courtesy Photo

The much-anticipated NBA trade deadline has finally come to an end with the Superman staying put in Orlando. Many sources around the league had expected Dwight Howard to be traded before the 3pm ET deadline but the superstar center shut down the possibility by signing a waiver to stay with the Magic for at least another year.

However, the deadline wasn’t completely uneventful with other teams around the league making moves to improve their rosters.

The most notable of the trades was between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors in which Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and Kwame Brown were sent to the Bucks in exchange for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson. With Ellis now out of the Warriors’ rotation, Stephen Curry will now be able to play to his full potential with Bogut playing the role of Robin.

The Lakers also addressed their need for a young point guard by trading Luke Walton to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ramon Sessions. The addition of Sessions gives the Lakers a reliable starting point guard who can defend the likes of Chris Paul and Deron Williams which the aging Derek Fisher had trouble doing.

With the trade deadline now behind, teams can focus solely on preparing for the playoffs and making a run for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.