The supposed trade deadline for the National Basketball Association has passed, and there are already some results. It was supposed to be an opportunity for some big names to exchange addresses. But it will take some time for some of the players to adjust to their new teammates. Such as Marcus Camby, Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, “Catfish” Travis Outlaw, Tracy McGrady, Kevin Martin, and just to name a few players without top billing.

First, Marcus Camby is a legit 6’11 shot-blocker with plenty of length. Marcus can run the court with great stride and grace. The increased visibility regarding the lack of defense in the middle has left the Portland Trial Blazers with no choice but to find a stopper in the paint. Looking at the Trail Blazers lineup, it looks like they are a playoff team. But it will take time for Marcus Camby to establish himself as a Blazer. For example, Marcus did not disappoint against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night with 18 rebounds and four blocks. It will probably take a few weeks for Marcus to practice with his new teammates and become more familiar with the team’s plays. Personally, I didn’t like trading “Catfish” Travis Outlaw and Steve Blake for a 35-year-old center. But the Portland Trail Blazers have been known to make strange player moves.

Second, I hope Antawn Jamison was nervous against the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday night. Jamison’s shooting debut was 0-for-12. I know “King” LeBron James expects something completely different in the next few games. Antawn should help by coming off the beach with his 20-point-per-game average. He is a sound engineer with a professional attitude. I expect Jamison to contribute more in the upcoming playoffs and regular season games. The Cleveland Cavaliers will definitely be in the Eastern finals. It’s up to LeBron James and O’Neal to help with the smooth transition from Antawn. So he looks out for a big playoff series between Cleveland, Boston, Atlanta or Orlando. The way LeBron executes and provides leadership, the sky is the limit for Cleveland.

Third, The Catfish has left Portland, Oregon. I was disappointed that the Trail Blazers traded to Outlaw. I’m embarrassed that my Trail Blazers are known for setting up good players and trading them. It appears the Blazers made the move just to guarantee a playoff shot. Wasting the future for instant gratification is not a great concept. Outlaw is a very good small forward who can run the floor, play above the rim, play in the fourth quarter and be a great teammate. For example, in overtime against the Utah Jazz on Sunday, the Blazers lost a 25-point lead because players didn’t step up. Outlaw would have provided points down the stretch to help Brandon Roy. If the Blazers really want to make the playoffs, someone other than Brandon will have to produce at crucial moments. Hopefully, Travis Outlaw will get a chance to prove himself in Los Angeles. Ex-Blazers have been known to hunt down the Trail Blazers again, and Travis will be one of them.

Meanwhile, Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood should help the Dallas Mavericks. Both players are great partners and very selfless players. Haywood is long and can fill the middle. I think Caron Butler just needed a chance to play for a contender. Caron’s skills will definitely show during the playoff run. The Dallas Mavericks have been winning since they made the trade. I know that Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd are pleased with the strong offensive and defensive efforts of their new teammates.

Last but not least, Tracy McGrady is a fine player and an All-Star. I don’t know about her arrogance in the locker room. Tracy seems to annoy people and doesn’t fit into certain teams if he isn’t the main focus. I think the Knicks hired McGrady because of salary and fan attendance issues. The Knicks have a chance to land a big free agent in 2011. I think the Knicks are using Tracy McGrady as a pawn to lure players like LeBron James. It’s not a bad move to land McGrady, but what if it’s not enough to provide an incentive for other free agents? To illustrate this point, if Tracy McGrady scores like he did the other night in his home debut with the Knicks and stays injury-free, free agents should come running to New York. Also, the Houston Rockets will be even better with Kevin Martin. Martin, Brooks and Ariza’s backcourt should be one of the most explosive in the league. Houston is starting to get really scary and it’s going to be a tough exit in the playoffs. Martin will provide Houston’s missing score at the other guard position. Great comeback for the Houston Rockets and hopefully the Trail Blazers won’t have to watch them during the playoffs.

To conclude, the NBA player movement is all about competing for position to win the NBA title. The team to chase are the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant. It’s not bad to raise the stakes over commercial players, but only time will tell if certain teams are successful. It probably wouldn’t have mattered if the Lakers had moved a player or not. The Lakers are the Hunted, and they are resting Kobe to repeat and the fifth title. The new look of certain teams will improve their chances, but it will probably be just another move to take on the cream of the crop and lose. After all, the playoffs will be exciting for the NBA and the fans.