So much for the predicted trading deadline dud.  After much fretting about salary cap and luxury tax issues, NBA teams made four trades, including a certifiable blockbuster that involved a new address for future Hall of Famer Gary Payton.

Even more improbably, there were no obvious losers.  The trades are defensible and reasonable for each team involved.  Both sides in every swap got something they wanted.  And that something at least has the potential to serve them well on the court.  In immediate terms, three Eastern Conference teams battling for the final playoff spots made moves that improve their chances of reaching the postseason.

The Blockbuster

Seattle?s Gary Payton and Desmond Mason to Milwaukee for Ray Allen, Kevin Ollie, Ronald Murray and a conditional first round pick.

Milwaukee has now cornered the market in aging point guards who complain about their contracts.  Payton rejoins former coach George Karl in Milwaukee, and figures to contribute to the Bucks? high-scoring offense.  He?ll also do something that will be mysterious to most of his new teammates ? play defense.

In the short term, the Bucks are the clear winner in this deal.  Payton is better than Allen, and Mason is vastly superior to Ollie and Murray.  It?s a terrible deal for them, however, if Payton doesn?t re-sign, or if Payton begins to decline.  At 34 years old, a sudden drop-off is possible.  Having Mason included may be a huge benefit down the line.  Mason is supremely athletic and plays with toughness and confidence.  He will be a useful player in Milwaukee.

For the Sonics, it?s an admission that the team wasn?t going anywhere with Payton and that they need to rebuild.  Crafting a unit around an old guy makes about as much sense as the Kim storyline in 24.  Seattle could have waited until after the season and dumped Payton and Kenny Anderson, which would have left them with $7-9 million to pursue free agents.  Sonics? brass rightly decided that Allen was better than anyone they could get with $7-9 million, or in a sign-and-trade with Payton during the summer.

The Short and the Long

Seattle swapped Kenny Anderson for New Orleans? Elden Campbell.

With Baron Davis and Courtney Alexander parked with injuries, the Hornets needed backcourt help.  Anderson was effective with the Celtics last season and will get ample playing time in New Orleans ? something he wasn?t getting behind Payton in Seattle.  Anderson will stabilize the backcourt and should help the Hornets make the playoffs.

Campbell started the season hurt, and never could retake his starting spot from Jamal Magliore.  He?ll man the middle for the Sonics, who are always searching for tall guys who can play.

By adding Campbell and Allen, the Sonics can put an intriguing team on the floor.  Allen, Rashard Lewis and Brent Barry are elite three-point shooters.  Vladimir Radmanovich is a perimeter power forward.  Campbell is a proven scorer in the post, and defenses will be unable to double him because of the considerable long-range firepower.  Seattle isn?t a playoff team this season, but they should be fun to watch, and could play spoiler down the stretch.

The Marks Brothers

Boston sent Shammond Williams to Denver for Mark Blount and Mark Bryant.

It seems redundant to say that a trade involving Denver was ?minor?.  Bryant and Blount qualify as stiffs, though they can help Boston by setting picks, boxing out, and grabbing a rebound if it bounces their way.  Neither will be permitted to even consider attempting a shot.

The Celtics gave Williams an opportunity to become their starting point guard, but he ultimately lost out to undrafted rookie J.R. Bremer.  Williams will get playing time in Denver, but doesn?t figure to be around long.  Like Blount and Bryant, his contract expires after the season and the Nuggets figure to jettison Williams in pursuit of quality players.

The Genius?

Memphis traded Drew Gooden and Gordan Giricek to Orlando for Mike Miller, Ryan Humphrey and Sacramento?s 2004 first round pick.

Reactions to this trade comes in two stages.

Stage One ? Good deal for Orlando.  Tracy McGrady is an elite player who desperately needed a big man to do anything.  Miller is a nice complimentary scorer, but doesn?t rebound or play defense.  Gooden figures to become the immediate starter at power forward and shore up the Magic?s awful frontcourt.  Giricek can make up for some of Miller?s scoring.  This will help get the Magic into the playoffs, and they?ll be able to acquire additional frontcourt help in the offseason.

Stage Two ? Wait, Jerry West runs Memphis.  West?s reputation is such that many are willing to toss out reasoned, logical, well-formed opinions.  On the surface, it looks like Orlando gave up a decent player in exchange for a much improved front line.  But does West know something no one else does?  Why does he want Miller so much?

The bottom line is that it?s good for both teams.  After making the deal, the Grizzlies lineup is more balanced and versatile.  Jason Williams has improved at point guard under Hubie Brown.  Michael Dickerson, Miller, and Shane Battier will share the shooting guard and small forward positions.  Pau Gasol, Stromile Swift and Lorenzen Wright share the power spots.  Hmm.  Memphis looks better, and might not be far from being a competitive team.

The Lonesome Loser

The Washington Wizards were wise not to trade off any of their promising youngsters, but still qualify as this season?s deadline losers.  While standing pat was a smart move, it won?t help them make the playoffs this year.  Milwaukee, New Orleans and Orlando are ahead of Washington for the last three Eastern Conference playoff spots, and all improved by making deals.  The Wizards will have to improve from within to move past any of these teams, something difficult to do during the season.  Unless someone ahead of them falters with chemistry problems, it looks more and more like Michael Jordan?s latest final game will be sooner than he?d hoped.