Winners and losers from NBA trade deadline day

After a couple of moves Wednesday that saw Marcus Thornton head East to Brooklyn and Steve Blake off to the Warriors, Thursday's actual trade deadline day in the NBA saw nine mostly inconsequential trades involving 21 players go down.

Despite the media teasing of star-studded names being available before 3 p.m., the deadline was as underwhelming as usual. There's no hiding that.

But even in a day filled with mostly mundane moves, there are always winners and losers. So on that note, here are the victors and the saps from a somewhat busy, yet mostly insignificant day:

Winner: Pacers
As outlined here, while Evan Turner has his flaws, he can be a very nice piece of the pie as a lesser option in an offense, which he'll surely be in Indiana after posting a nasty .486 True Shooting Percentage on a 20.8 usage rate (including a 24-plus usage rate this season) through nearly four years in Philadelphia. In addition, the Pacers added another solid defensive, rebounding big man to their intimidating front line in Lavoy Allen, and they were able to nab these two 25-year-olds by dumping Danny Granger's expiring contract and a 2015 second round pick.

Yeah, not bad for a team already squarely in the championship discussion.

Loser: Thaddeus Young (Winners: Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen)
While Turner and Allen get to make the move from a team that may not win more than three games the rest of the season to a legitimate title contender, Young, who has been Philly's best player (17.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.1 SPG, 1.8 APG, 17.04 PER) out of a sorry bunch has to remain in town for at least a little while longer to see this team continue to play for lottery balls.

Considering Spencer Hawes got sent to Cleveland and Granger, Byron Mullens, Eric Maynor, Earl Clark and Henry Sims got exiled to Philly, you can make the argument that they are all losers today, too.

Winner: Sam Hinkie
The final deal of the day, which almost seemed like a favor to Indiana more than anything else, was certainly a questionable one for Hinkie and the Sixers, but Thursday as a whole was an alright showing for the rookie General Manager and Daryl Morey protege. The Sixers got a whole lot worse (which in itself is an accomplishment when you consider how bad they already were) as they set their sights on Milwaukee and the top of the Draft Lottery, added a remarkable six second round picks over the next three years to an already impressive stash and did it all while taking on a grand total of just $3.1 million when it comes to salaries beyond this season (The combined value of player options for Maynor and Mullens. Clark and Sims have fully unguaranteed deals next season while Granger is an expiring deal).

Hinkie didn't acquire any first round picks as he continues to bottom-out, and that has to be disappointing. But the Sixers got worse while adding future assets without taking on much salary at all going forward. For a tanking team, that's a win.

Loser: Cavaliers
While Hinkie and the Sixers stockpile second rounders like nobody's business, the Cavs are content making it rain second round picks for all of their competitors, clearly undervaluing these potential market inefficiencies.

By forfeiting two second round picks for Spencer Hawes, who is on an expiring deal, the Cavaliers have essentially forfeited four second rounders (and potentially a first) over the last two months to bring in two players who almost certainly don't have a place in the team's future beyond April. And what's worse, they have probably done so without getting much better, if at all.

Of course, if the Cavs can sneak into the No. 8 seed, then those kinds of reckless, shortsighted decisions will have paid off...right? Right? RIGHT??? (This paragraph brought to you by Dan Gilbert).

Winner: Wizards
They needed an upgrade at backup point guard behind John Wall, and they got one in Andre Miller without sacrificing much to do so. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a great trade for Washington, but it's solid enough on a stinker of a day to convince me it's a good one.

The futility of the day has simply warped our interpretations of the quality of the moves made, much like the futility of the Eastern Conference has to a few of its teams, Washington included (HEYO!).

Speaking of which, can anyone figure out the random 11th hour deal between the Raptors and Spurs? San Antonio traded a somewhat serviceable bit player in Nando de Colo for a completely unserviceable Austin Daye, who might be one of the worst players in the Association right now. Seriously, check out this 2013-14 player compare:

On second thought, it's the Spurs. It's Gregg Popovich. Daye will probably be dropping threes on Miami or Indiana in The Finals in a few months.

Winner: Clippers

Any time a legit contender can trim nearly $2 million off of their luxury tax bill without getting worse, that's a win. Moving on...

Loser: Roger Mason Jr.
In a clear sign of things to come later in the day, the second deal of the day saw Roger Mason Jr. - who has played just 260 minutes this season in Miami - traded to Sacramento for a "highly protected" 2015 second round pick, where the Kings, who will likely never receive said pick, immediately waived him.

Mason then told David Aldridge that he's not sure where he wants to play next, because you know, guys who are traded with no regard for their actual (fading) abilities can just pick and choose their destinations. Maybe Mason means that he's not sure whether he wants to play overseas or not? Either way...losing.

Loser: All of us
Mason at least has that not too shabby, nearly $1.4 million salary this season and about $14 million in career earnings to fall back on. Most fans, on the other hand, only had their empty hopes of a potential NBA trade deadline for the ages, which was quickly undone by names like Gary Neal, Byron Mullens and Henry Sims.

Talk about depressing.

Wait, the Thunder host the Heat tonight? And Russell Westbrook is back?! And we get to watch it? WINNING!

You know who won't be in attendance for that game? The recently traded-for-nothing Roger Mason Jr.