NBA Trade Deadline: Young and Barbosa Traded, Dwight Howard Indecisive
The NBA trade deadline is drawing near, and last minute decisions must be made over players like Sam Young and Leandro Barbosa. Discussions over whether Dwight Howard will choose the Nets are also nearing their end.
The NBA trade deadline is today at 3 p.m., which could mean a lot of decision making in the next few hours.
Up first, the 76ers have agreed to a trade with the Grizzlies, and acquired Sam Young. According to CBS Sports, Young is in the final year of a three-year rookie deal making a little less than $1 million. Young was the 36th overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Grizzlies after being named first-team all Big East his senior season at Pit.
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In exchange the Grizzlies have given up their rights to Ricky Sanchez, who was acquired in 2007. Sanchez was originally drafted in the second round by Portland in 2005.
The Indiana Pacers have also narrowed in on a player pick, with rumors suggesting that they have acquired Leandro Barbosa. The team entered trades with an eight figure trading cap, and rumors that the owners would acquire a new player to avoid paying heavy taxes. It was later confirmed that the Eastern Conference will trade for Toronto Raptors guard Leandro Barbosa, in exchange for a second round pick.
Dwight Howard has also added drama to this season's trading, after he allegedly indicated to Orlando Magic that he could be interested in being traded off. Later Howard changed his mind and said he wanted to stay with the team. One of the most recent rumors suggested that Howard would not be opting out of his final year with Orlando as he had previously stated he would do, in order to become a free agent.
"They (Orlando) took a chance on me at 18 (coming out of high school), and what did I do?'' Howard asked. "I gave them everything I have, for eight years. Take a chance on me again.''
Howard had shown a previous interest in playing for Dallas or New Jersey, but was offered a deal with the New Jersey Nets instead.
