Can Danny?

The trade deadline came and went without a lot of big deals. That means that this offseason could be a very interesting one and that, for the rest of this season, a number of teams are going to have some very big questions that they need answered before the playoffs.

1) Who will be bought out?
This is the question that most contenders are asking themselves. With the Cavs, Celtics, Spurs, and (for the most part) Lakers not swinging a deal, it seems like they are going to need to go after some buy-out bargains to shore up their weak spots. The C's have a hole at the swingman spot that needs to be addressed. If Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens can't step up, the C's may have to look at the NBDL or other free agents to fill the void.

2) The 8th Spot
The Race for the 8th seed in the East is going to be brutal. (In fact, the race for the last three spots in the playoffs might come down to who can lose the least). The Pistons have lost four straight and seem to be a rudderless ship. Philly is good but not great while Milwaukee has been decimated by injuries. Hell, even Miami is one extended period without Dwyane Wade away from the lottery.

As for the teams that are currently on the outside looking in, the Bulls helped themselves the most by adding Brad Miller (who is the Bulls best center since... Brad Miller) and John Salmons. Salmons is a bit of a wild card but he is the Bulls best option at the starting shooting guard spot alongside Derrick Rose. He plays defense (and can guard bigger PG's like Deron Williams to help Rose out) and can shoot the ball consistently. The moves might just get Chicago back into the playoffs.
The Knicks had the second best deadline day by giving up nothing for Larry Hughes and Chris Wilcox. Wilcox gives the Knicks a legit starting center and you have to think that fighting for the playoffs on the biggest state in basketball in Mike D'Antoni's offense while playing for a contract is going to bring the best out of Wilcox. Hughes also could improve his numbers in D'Antoni's offense. He's probably their best pure shooting guard but Nasty Nate Robinson has been doing well and Wilson Chandler might also fight for some minutes. He should start but, then again, he should have started in Chicago as well. It should be interesting to see how he fares.
New Jersey didn't make a move which helps their chances. Keeping Vince Carter gives them hope but I'm not sure how much of a chance they really have. Devin Harris, Vince, and Brook Lopez basically have to keep playing near perfect basketball for the team to have a legit shot.
Charlotte made their moves before the deadline and they are getting healthy with DJ Augustin back and Gerald Wallace on the way. I wouldn't put it past them to make a run. I would have also given the Pacers a chance but now that Danny Granger might be out three weeks, I don't think they'll be able to pull it off. The Raptors? I'm not seeing it. In fact, things could turn downright ugly there if they don't watch out.
As for the lowly Wizards, it's probably time to tell Gilbert to focus on blogging and not even bother coming back this season. They should spend the rest of this year watching college hoops and keeping tabs on Ricky Rubio and Brandon Jennings.

3) Is Kyle Lowry ready for prime time?
I think he is but there are going to be a lot of eyes on the PG position in Houston. Lowry, Aaron Brooks, and Luther Head are a nice trio but they don't have a ton of experience. I'm a big fan of The Schoolyard Bully and think he will help the Rockets. Lowry, Ron Artest, and Shane Battier could be the best defensive backcourt in the NBA. As for ex-Rox Rafer Alston, he's a lot like Jameer Nelson. Good but not good enough when it comes to the second season. He helps the Magic tread water but they are still a notch below Boston and Cleveland in the East.

4) How will the non-trades affect Portland, Phoenix, and New Orleans?
If Tyson Chandler didn't seem driven in the first half of the season, how is he going to respond to being traded and then sent back to New Orleans? I'm not sure how that's going to work out but it doesn't seem good.
I have higher hopes for Amare. They dumped the coach he didn't like, seem to be back to running, and he can't be thrilled with the rest of the NBA for lowballing the Suns. If Alvin Gentry plays his cards right, he could have a very motivated Stoudemire and Shaq for the rest of the season. I might even hang pictures of LaMarcus Aldridge and Wally Sczcerbiak in their respective rosters.
Portland just put a lot of pressure on their youngsters. Deals were turned down because of the likes of Aldridge and Nicolas Batum. In some cases, I understand why they wouldn't give up too much for Amare (contract issues), Richard Jefferson (ditto), and Gerald Wallace but Batum and Aldridge better play well in the second half or the Portland fan base will start playing the "What if..." game while daydreaming of Amare and/or Jefferson in Portland.
Some people might throw Cleveland into this group but I don't think they had enough to get Amare and the ownership probably wasn't interested in having Shaq, Wallace, Big Z, and Varejao on the books for a couple years. Can't blame them although Shaq and LeBron might just have convinced me to move the Cavs ahead of the C's. And who wouldn't be watching a Shaq and LeBron vs. Kobe Finals?
I'd also mention Baron Davis and the Clippers in here but I just can't imagine Baron really spends enough time following basketball anymore to realize that the Clippers couldn't give him away. Mayeb he does and will be a man possessed for the rest of the season but I doubt it.

5) Will any of this matter?
Probably not. The Lakers and Celtics still seem to be the frontrunners. Cleveland, San Antonio (if healthy), and the Rockets are probably the best bets to knock of the reigning conference champs.
But it's crazy to think that after all of these year of being labeled a #1 bust, Joe Smith is finally looking like someone who could help a team to a World Championship.