We pulled our Team Transactions Data over the previous 10 Trade Deadline periods to examine the levels of activity in period leading up to the deadline.

The below is an annual average of the number of players acquired by each team (click on any of the below links to see a year-by-year infographic).

Sacramento Kings: 2.7
New York Knicks: 2.3
Houston Rockets: 2.2
Oklahoma City Thunder: 1.8
Cleveland Cavaliers: 1.7
New Orleans Hornets: 1.7
Denver Nuggets: 1.6
Memphis Grizzlies: 1.6
Charlotte Bobcats: 1.6
Atlanta Hawks: 1.5
Brooklyn Nets: 1.5
Milwaukee Bucks: 1.5
Portland Trail Blazers: 1.5
Chicago Bulls: 1.4
Golden State Warriors: 1.3
Boston Celtics: 1.2
Orlando Magic: 1.2
Los Angeles Clippers: 1.1
Phoenix Suns: 1.1
Washington Wizards: 1.1
Dallas Mavericks: 1.0
Minnesota Timberwolves: 1.0
Toronto Raptors: 0.9
Philadelphia 76ers: 0.8
Utah Jazz: 0.7
Indiana Pacers: 0.6
Los Angeles Lakers: 0.6
Miami Heat: 0.6
Detroit Pistons: 0.5
San Antonio Spurs: 0.5

The following are the collective breakdowns by year:
2003: 14
2004: 36
2005: 48
2006: 44
2007: 22
2008: 45
2009: 45
2010: 51
2011: 51
2012: 29 

MILWAUKEE – As eight years with the Toronto Raptors ended, Jose Calderon had finally arrived to inevitability. He knew the likelihood of a trade that would leave him elsewhere and it came to fruition in a three-team deal sending him to the Detroit Pistons. Still, there was an emotional moment for Calderon once he heard about the closure with his first organization outside of Spain, and then came bracing for a more permanent move to the United States, bracing for new challenges.

Just four games in, Calderon has already injected the Pistons with a new sense of confidence. Lawrence Frank marvels about Calderon’s calmness and leadership, and the coach has begun to rely upon the 31-year-old to smooth over the offense and, more importantly, rub his knowledge on Brandon Knight. The Pistons undoubtedly remain confident in Knight as their point guard of the future, but they realize this trade will be most successful if Knight absorbs Calderon’s pace-changing brilliance and approach toward running the offense.

Calderon has been received well within the Pistons’ locker room, reuniting with former teammate Charlie Villanueva. And if there’s anyone who can spark the maligned Villanueva, it’s his ex-point guard on the Raptors, Calderon. For Calderon, the first step was to prove that he can play at a high level and the 23 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and three 3-pointers he dropped in Saturday night’s 105-100 road win over the Bucks will go a long way.

He has embraced the challenges so far, met with one sense of responsibility: Helping everyone. From Knight and Villanueva to Greg Monroe and eventually Andre Drummond, Calderon knows he’ll need to have a leadership impact on all of them, understanding the endless push needed in this process – whether it leads to a strong fight for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference or a surprise playoff appearance.

“For sure, I’m going to try to help Brandon,” Calderon told RealGM. “I’m here to help everybody try to get this team better and try to get everybody better. That’s what I try to do all the time and we can win more games good. I’m here for whatever they need me to do.”

With his fingerprints all over the Pistons’ free-flowing offense over the past four games, the transformation Calderon has brought to them is clear so far. The ball isn’t sticking without movement for long stretches anymore. There’s constant pace, constant direction from Calderon.

So far, Calderon has been everywhere, even tipping in a missed layup by Knight on a two-on-two fastbreak in the first quarter Saturday. So far, so good, and Calderon is confident in the growth that remains.

“It’s going pretty good, it’s going to be better,” Calderon said. “There have only been four games and a couple practices. We just need some time, but I feel comfortable with these guys. They’ve treated me great, they’re welcoming with open arms, and I’m really happy with the way they’ve been treating me so far.”

Frank has already made clear his faith in Calderon by starting him from the jump. When there were lulls and careless mistakes for the Pistons on Saturday, Frank turned to Calderon, wanting him to be aggressive in stabilizing the offense. At the same time, Calderon never looks in a rush offensively and brings unselfishness that showed in a big way late in the fourth quarter when he appeared to have an easy layup as he drove right but swung the ball out beyond the arc to Villanueva – who missed this attempt before ultimately hitting the game-winning three-pointer.

“That’s what a point guard does,” Frank said. “Not just settling us down, but making some key shots. To have [Calderon] to be able to give confidence to the group with his play, he’s impressive.”

There was always a feeling in Calderon’s mind that a trade out of Toronto was inevitable, a process quickened this season given his expiring contract. The two sides probably would have been better off parting ways a few years ago to give the Raptors value and Calderon more years on his career to play for a contending team. Yet each season, Calderon would show them his worth, show them reasons to wait.

In the end, Calderon’s value only grew and the Pistons found themselves with a deal that added a steady guard and moved Tayshaun Prince’s contract.

“The whole summer last year I felt like a trade could happen,” Calderon said. “I knew I was an expiring contract and it could happen any time. But until it arrives, it’s kind of weird. Yeah, it’s in the back of your mind, but it’s tough to leave after never being traded before.”

Over nearly eight seasons with the Raptors, Calderon developed comfort within the organization and city. He admits he doesn’t have a desire to bounce around at this point in his career, but he also understands the flexibility he’ll have this offseason. Yes, Calderon hasn’t made up his mind on his upcoming free agency. But for now, Calderon sees no reason why Detroit shouldn’t be his preference and where he can envision himself long-term.

“Yeah, I can for sure,” Calderon said. “At the end of the day, it’s an NBA team. I know everybody is asking me about that, but we’ll see what happens. Every door is going to be open. These guys are treating me great and let’s see how we finish the season. But yeah, for now I’d like to [stay].”

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MILWAUKEE – All around him, Tayshaun Prince is the lasting player for remembrance. The Detroit Pistons’ young core players ask him every so often about that 2004 championship, and Prince doesn’t boast about the winning, but rather tells them the process needed before the glory.

Only in Prince’s moments of calm and privacy, the phone calls run back and forth between him and Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton or Ben Wallace, reminiscing about the championship days. There’s still a strong brotherhood among players from that title team – whether some have dispersed around the NBA or have retired.

For his part, Prince is still the consistent, durable player coaches love. He and the Pistons have a comfort level together, too. When Prince signed a four-year deal with the Pistons before last season, he knew Joe Dumars gave him a generous contract that would maintain a relationship and reward him within the organization past his playing career.

Prince understands there are contending teams that he can bolster, organizations that have inquired about him. He remains a savvy defender and a versatile playmaker offensively, averaging 12.1 points and 4.7 rebounds this season. Some across the league believe Prince, at 32 years old, and the Pistons would be smart to move on from each other. Nevertheless, Prince is assured the Pistons won’t field trade offers for him, and the two sides have “never” discussed dealing Prince, agent Bill Duffy told RealGM.

“I know there are a lot of contending teams that I can help,” Prince told RealGM. “But right now, this is the team I have to help. Everybody wants to be in the position where they have a chance of winning a championship every year, but obviously it doesn’t work that way.”

After a brilliant run of seven straight trips to the Eastern Conference finals or beyond from 2002-08, these past four seasons have been a rebuilding period for the Pistons. Prince is the lone holdover to play throughout both eras, and there is a Piston-for-life feel with this mutual loyalty. And yet for Prince, all the losing in recent years has been difficult.

“It’s tough,” Prince said. “Nobody wants to be in this rebuild position. Everybody wants to be a winner … and be in a position to win a championship.

“It’s tough, but we’re trying to work our way back.”

The Pistons got off to a rough start, losing their first eight games, and a long road trip one contest into the season pushed them back. They’ve had flashes of terrific collective play since then and have won seven of their last 10 games. Still, winning consistently is a process the Pistons are continuing to grasp: A night after putting together an all-around effort in a 103-87 win on the road here against the Bucks on Friday, Detroit stumbled to a 90-87 loss to the Utah Jazz at home.

Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight are steadily developing, but Andre Drummond has been so impressive in a reserve role. His line on Friday night – eight points, 11 rebounds, four blocks and one steal in 17 minutes – perfectly encapsulated a season where he has averaged 7.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and nearly two blocks in 19.7 minutes. Lawrence Frank continues to bring Drummond off the bench, but privately Pistons management believes the tantalizing rookie is ready for an increased role and it is itching for him to start.

As of Sunday, the Pistons stood six games out of the playoffs. Even so, when asked about the Pistons’ postseason chances, Prince insisted: “Anything is legitimate in the East. Anything is legitimate. We have a lot of young guys that are working hard, grinding. I try to give them feedback on what it takes to win consistently, not just every once in a while.”

Prince has two more seasons on his contract, and he is beginning to reflect on everything. He’s lived two eras in Detroit, a glorious contending ride and a retooling process that he believes has now turned a corner. He still takes pleasure in the relationships formed with players on that title squad, but now he wants to share the same bond with this group. In Prince’s mind, there’s an even longer journey – stretching past his playing career – left with the Pistons.

“You look at Kobe [Bryant’s] situation right now where he’s been successful in this league every single year and now the [Lakers] are having a tough time,” Prince said. “That’s why you’ve got to cherish every moment, because you just never know when it’s going to end – or when it’s going to begin.”

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