The NBA Trades were numerous and complicated for two different reasons. Some teams were looking to get better for the playoffs while others were looking to create space under the salary cap. Teams like the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards were content on dumping salaries and going into the 2010 free agency with the most available cash to lure what might be the best class of free agents that the NBA has ever seen. The moves that were made by the following three teams have changed the pecking in the conferences just one week after the deadline. The Dallas Mavericks made a drastic move in the now to improve defensively. The Cleveland Cavaliers went after a scoring forward in Atwan Jamison and are now a defensively challenged team. The Bulls did some wheeling and dealing for tomorrow but are now one of the hottest teams coming out of the trade deadline.

The Dallas Mavericks cashed in immediately by trading Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, James Singleton and Quinton Ross for Brendan Hayward, Caron Butler and DeShawn Stevenson. The Mavericks defense has improved dramatically over the seven games since the trade holding their opponents to 43.6% shooting from the floor. That was a drastic improvement over the 52.9% they allowed in the eight games before the trade. The Mavericks have won six of their last seven games with impressive victories over the Suns, Lakers, Magic, Heat and the Hawks. The Mavericks are 3.5 games ahead of the Spurs in the division and are now a serious threat to contend in the Western Conference.

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost three straight games after trading Zydrunas Ilgauskas the rights to Emir Preldzic and a first round draft pick in 2010 to Washington for Jamison. Ilgauskas has been bought out of his contract by the Wizards and looks to be willing to sit out 30 days and go back to the Cavaliers. There are a few teams that will tempt the 7-3 center before the month is up. The Cavaliers have bounced back quickly winning their last three games but have not been the same defensive force that they were prior to the trade. Cleveland has allowed a 100 points or more in four of six games for an average of 105 points a game. With Shaquille O'Neal out with an injury, the Cavaliers are now extremely thin in the post and are playing .500 since the trading ended.

The Chicago Bulls look to continue their current push to the playoffs by keeping their best players a round point guard Derek Rose. They were able to unload the contract of the problematic Tyrus Thomas for a future first-round draft pick, Flip Murray and Acie Law. The Bulls also sent John Salmons and two second round draft picks for Joe Alexander and Hakim Warrick. The Bulls have seen the emergence of rookie Taj Gibson since putting him in the line-up. The Bulls have come charging out of the gate winning six of their last seven games and will still have around 20 million to go shopping once the season is over.
 

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