The Philippine Online Chronicles

NBA teams continue to shop for players as the trade deadline approaches. In what could be the biggest news so far, star point guard Deron Williams was traded by the Utah Jazz to the New Jersey Nets. Interestingly, Williams was sent packing weeks after longtime coach Jerry Sloan left the team after serving 23 years as head coach.

In related news, Carmelo Anthony’s first game as a Knick was a success as he helped the New York Knicks beat the Milwaukee Bucks earlier. Anthony was traded by the Denver Nuggets to New York yesterday.

NBA trade deadline news

Deron Williams to the Nets

After an explosive set of events that saw longtime mentor Jerry Sloan leave after 23 years, the Utah Jazz front office continues to gut the team by sending their franchise player Deron Williams to the New Jersey Nets.

In exchange for Williams, the Jazz will be getting Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, and two first-round draft picks including cash considerations.

After the trade was consummated, Nets coach Avery Johnson said that he’s happy that his team will be getting a top-caliber point guard in Williams.

Insiders have pointed out that the Nets pulled the trigger on Williams after they failed to acquire Carmelo Anthony, who was successfully traded to the New York Knicks.

Baron Davis goes to Cleveland for Mo Williams

In another deal, the Los Angeles Clippers agreed to send veteran point guard Baron Davis and a 2011 first-round draft pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.

The Cavaliers will now take up Davis’ USD28 million contract and he’s set to be paid USD13 million this season. On the other hand, Williams still has two more years left in his contract worth USD17 million.

Carl Landry traded to New Orleans for Marcus Thornton

After playing several high-quality seasons for the woeful Sacramento Kings, Carl Landry has a chance to rejuvenate his career after the Kings traded him to the playoff-bound New Orleans Hornets.

In exchange for Landry, the Kings will be getting shooting guard Marcus Thornton and cash considerations.

With the trade, Hornets coach Monte Williams is optimistic that Landry’s presence will greatly help power forward David West. Landry brings in solid rebounding and defense to the Hornets, who have lost some games due to poor bench play.

Atlanta gets Hinrich and Armstrong in exchange for Bibby, Crawford, and Evans

In their bid to compete against the elite teams in the East, the Atlanta Hawks sent starting point guard Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, and Maurice Evans to the Washington Wizards for Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong.

Bibby still has one more year left in his contract and there’s a good chance that he may not stay any longer with the Wizards. Evans, on the other hand, will be a free agent after this season while Crawford still has two more years left in his contract.

The acquisition of Hinrich gives the Hawks a combo guard who can effectively guard most point guards and some shooting guards in the league. Armstrong meanwhile addresses the Hawks’ lack of big men coming off the bench.

NBA: New York 114, Milwaukee 108

Carmelo Anthony has finally arrived in the Big Apple. With fans welcoming him with open arms, Anthony didn’t disappoint when the New York Knicks needed him at crunch time.

Anthony nailed two clutch baskets down the stretch to help the Knicks beat the visiting Milwaukee Bucks, 114-108. He finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds in his first game in a Knicks uniform.

Aside from Anthony, Chauncey Billups, who happens to be another newcomer, played big for the Knicks by tallying 21 points and eight assists. Toney Douglas had 23 points and Amare Stoudemire added 19.

For the Bucks, John Salmons dropped 27 points while Andrew Bogut finished with a double-double by scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

With 1:18 remaining in the game, Anthony drove the baseline to finish with a rim-rattling dunk. After that, he made a well-contested jumper with the shot clock winding down to finally seal the victory for the Knicks.

Boxing: Donaire climbs P4P ranking

Days after his sensational second-round knockout victory over bantamweight king and three-division champion Fernando Montiel, Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is now ranked as the third best boxer in the planet according to the latest rankings of The Ring magazine.

With the new rankings, Donaire is right behind Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. After Donaire, middleweight champion Sergio Martinez of Argentina and Pacquiao’s longtime nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez are ranked number four and number five, respectively.

Donaire jumped two places from the number five spot, overtaking both Martinez and Marquez.

The Filipino Flash last lost a fight 10 years ago and is now currently on a 25-fight winning streak. Before knocking out Montiel via a devastating left counter hook, Donaire pummeled and put to sleep high-quality opponents such as Vladimir Sidorenko, Hernan Marquez, Raul Martinez, and Vic Darchinyan.