According to the Arizona Republic's Bob Young The Suns got the high-energy forward they've been looking for, and a first-round pick they would have had to give to Orlando. The Magic got salary-cap relief and a shooter in Jud Buechler.

But what exactly did the Los Angeles Clippers get out of the trade that brought the Suns Bo Outlaw? The Clippers waived guard Vinny Del Negro, who went there from the Suns, and Orlando sent cash and acquired an option from the Clippers to swap second-round picks in 2005. That's not much to facilitate a deal that could improve the Suns' chances of finishing in the top eight of the Western Conference and qualifying for the playoffs - perhaps at the expense of the Clippers.

The LA Times reports that the Clippers' moves were made for salary-cap purposes for next season, the team said.

It was critical to the Suns for a couple of reasons. The obvious one is that the Suns no longer owe a first-round pick to Orlando. But because the pick was conditional, it made it difficult for the Suns to include first-round picks in any other deals because league rules do not allow a team to part with their own first-round pick two years in a row.