The Jarrett Jack buddy system didn't ultimately preserve Chris Bosh's tenure with the Raptors and it won't be the single factor to shift the balance for Dell Demps' ability to keep Chris Paul, but this weekend's trade does improve those crucial odds.

New Orleans managed to improve their roster by acquiring one of the NBA's best backup point guards in Jack, who is also big enough to defend shooting guards and share the floor with Paul.  We have seen Paul enjoy great success over the years playing beside a fellow point guard at the other guard spot, whether it has been Jannero Pargo or even Speedy Claxton as early as his rookie season.

Furthermore, the fiscally challenged Hornets managed to dip below the luxury tax by means of this trade.  Unlike the Jazz during the 09-10 season when Kevin O'Connor gave away both Eric Maynor and Ronnie Brewer, Demps won't be forced to make a demoralizing tax motivated trade.

The Hornets turned a first round pick into Jerryd Bayless, who has now been turned into Jack.  Considering New Orleans has made a habit of selling picks in June, the equation represents a minor sea change of how the franchise is now doing business.

From Toronto's perspective, Jack's usefulness entirely disappeared as soon as Bosh checked out on the franchise and he of course doesn't fit into their rebuilding agenda.  Even though he proved to be worth the contract that was considered excessive at the time, the price-tag was no longer prudent for the Raptors' purposes.

Bayless is a bit of a flier at this point in his career, but he has at least proven capable of providing instant offense off the bench. Since Bayless has been traded twice in a month, the value of that offense might be dubious, but at least a few teams out there still want to see what might be latent.

Putting in context how my excitement for Bayless has waned, I must embarrassingly admit to being a bit higher on him than Russell Westbrook during the lead up to the 2008 NBA Draft, so kudos to Sam Presti for choosing wisely there.  

The minutes situation has never been great for Bayless, but I foresaw a point guard who was a safer bet and would largely play off the ball and that was what could have happened with Brandon Roy when he was with the Blazers.

Bayless has been more hindered by the limitations of his approach than any lack of pure ability, which allows his potential to remain alluring, but it also means there is now a good chance he will never 'get it' on the level where a team feels comfortable giving him the keys to the offense in any substantial way.

Trading for Bayless is all about asset accumulation for the Raptors, a purgatory familiar to teams that lose their best player from an already limited roster. Hopefully one or more of their young players can emerge, or at least offer enough for a team trying to unload a big ticket contract that at least adds the semblance of a franchise player.

If there are a few Bayless jerseys visible on the streets of York in a few weeks, it is not a safe bet to necessarily assume they will still be current much longer than Victoria Day. This is a 'why not give it a try' trade, rather than Toronto finally finding a permanent block of their future.

In a piece of interesting randomness, this is the second time Bayless and Jack have been traded for each other, as the Blazers and Pacers consummated a multi-player deal on the night of the 2008 NBA Draft.

David Andersen and Peja Stojakovic are the ancillary members of this trade, while the contract of Marcus Banks will probably be traded at least once more before it finally meets his merciful end at the conclusion of the season.

Andersen is the only player of the three capable of bringing anything meaningful to the involved teams (1). He only contributes offensively, but Chris Paul could make him dangerously efficient on that end of the floor.

At the end of it, this trade is a continuation of the mission Demps has instituted from the very moment he was hired by the Hornets; get better on the floor and become more fiscally sound. New Orleans has proven to be amongst the elite in the Western Conference and are in infinitely better shape now than where they were on the night of Melo's wedding.

Grade for Hornets: A-

Grade for Raptors: B+


Notes

1.) If Stojakovic receives a buyout from the Raptors, he could instantly become a game-changer for a playoff team desperate for a spot-up shooter.