The trade deadline is finally over in the NBA. There are surely some winners and losers in the deals. One issue that stands out the most is the ultimate losers, the small teams/markets. Teams in both markets made splashes, but where did all of the superstars go? To the big market teams. Where will the future free agent superstars go in next year's season? Probably to the teams with the larger markets.
When we compare a star to a superstar in this week's transactions, we think of a Gerald Wallace in comparison to a Carmelo Anthony. Or comparing a Aaron Brooks to a Deron Williams. On that note, think of the teams these four players went to. Gerald Wallace went to the Portland Trailblazers and Carmelo was traded to the New York Knicks. As for Aaron Brooks and Deron Williams, they were traded to the Phoenix Suns and the New Jersey Nets respectively.
Lately the balance of power is and will be clearly be shifting to the larger teams/markets. More proof of this occurring theme will arise soon. Keep an eye out during the 2012 NBA season when more superstars such as Dwight Howard, Chris Paul become free agents. Deron Williams also will be coming out of his expiring contract. If New Jersey can keep Williams happy he will indeed stay with his big market/team. They should have no problem doing so with more money to play with dependent what the cap will be after the negotiations.
There have already been whispers that Dwight Howard will focus more on the larger market teams simply because he is unhappy in Orlando as we speak, check his last interview after losing to the Sacramento Kings. Many NBA analysts imagine that he will head for the Los Angeles Lakers if he had his pick of teams. This scenario sounds like Shaq all over again. That would be another superstar leaving his smaller market team.
As for Chris Paul, he may very well be looking to relocate to a team with a larger market. There are still rumors even today that Paul would still love to play with another superstar of his stature. The point is that most of the superstars play for big teams. The New York Knicks are always in fan's mind when Chris Paul is mentioned ever since he said he would love to play with Melo.
There is an interview done by Lebron James that is very significant to this entire ordeal. he once mentioned shrinking the league. He explained that if it were less teams in the league, it would make the league more interesting. This move would take all of the best players off of the struggling teams and join them with the good teams. He said later that he was misunderstood, but he seems to have started a trend now.