Bulls trade deadline: how'd the competitors do?

So, the Bulls did nothing. As expected, as always expected. That's fine, we knew they did their work earlier in the year, and CBSSports.com's Ken Berger reported shortly before the deadline that they were comfortable with their room below the luxury tax, even after factoring in bonuses and future 10-day contracts. I do kind of wish we heard any kind of rumor if only to signal to us that they're doing their jobs, but alas.

So Thibs's team is on the floor, and he wouldn't have it any other way because he's crazy and needs to sell that to his crazy team while he plays 7.5 guys the rest of the way. There wasn't much movement around the rest of the league, as GMs are getting smarter and/or contracts are less onerous than before due to the new CBA. No first-rounders were dealt either (too bad, my favorite-formatted draft site has no updates), another indication that teams are preferring to do their work in the offseason, which is a bit strange to me because the season is over then, but whatever.

One team that is going for it in 2014 is the Indiana Pacers, who at no cost upgraded their backup wing spot from a still-hobbled Danny Granger to the Sixers' Evan Turner. Turner isn't as good as his counting stats indicate, and this isn't an earth-shaking move, but clearly the Pacers were valid challengers to Miami as it was and every bit helps. The key difference in the two players is they can more likely count on Turner to be healthy and useful in the playoffs, whereas Granger was still a variable.

That's all out of the realm of what Bulls fans are concerned about, except perhaps more hatred of Indiana as the picked up Derrick Rose's high-school nemesis. SBNation has a handy post of all the moves from yesterday. How did the Bulls contemporaries do?

Bobcats: Probably the most important, since not only are in the Eastern Conference playoff race, we get their 2014 pick if they make it. They looked to upgrade their backup guard situation, trading Ramon Sessions to the Bucks for Luke Ridnour and Gary Neal (also sending away unused big Jeff Adrien). Sessions may actually be the best player of the lot, but the Bobcats do get two guys instead of the one, and more importantly they're better 3-point shooters. Maybe it's just me, but to me that could've been done by just playing Ben Gordon and Jannero Pargo more, right?

Wizards: Acquired Andre Miller as their new backup PG, a spot they signed Eric Maynor for, but he was a bust (and was dealt in the deal, as was other bust - in the lottery pick sense - Jan Vesley) and Garrett Temple had been manning the spot. Temple actually hadn't been that terrible, but Miller is an upgrade. As long as their coach doesn't do what other coaches seem to do with Andre Miller, which is over-play him in 2-PG lineups because of 'savvy'.

Raptors: Traded Austin Daye to the Spurs for Nando De Colo. I honestly thought Daye went unsigned this year and didn't realize he was in the league. De Colo seems like he may play, so a win for them of the smallest magnitude. I woulda loved if the Bulls did a pointless swap like this.

Nets: Did their trade earlier in the week, trading some of their old dead weight (older and deader than the rest, it's relative) for the Kings' Marcus Thornton. This is what Brooklyn does: use their only remaining asset, cash, to at least attempt to get better. Thornton is in the worst season of his career, but is 26 and in a bad situation, so there's possibilities for improvement where there wasn't with Jason Terry. (it's also a sign the Kings are at least out there trying to make moves, indication that they want to improve and maybe get the Bulls that top-10 protected 1st round pick sometime in the next few years)

Cavs: Keep pushing for that #8 spot, though they're 7 games behind the Bulls so I guess they don't matter, only if they push the Bobcats out of the playoffs. They traded a couple second-rounders for Spencer Hawes, who can't hurt. I bring it up more to reference this handy chart of all the incoming/outgoing picks. While Cleveland sent a ton out this year between their Hawes and Deng trades, they had plenty in the stash. Meanwhile the Sixers became a running joke in how many 2nd round picks they bought yesterday, but did have some obligations from the previous regime to consider.

And now it's buyout season. The Bulls are even involved, as KC Johnson reports (or maybe just suggests?) they have interest in Roger Mason Jr.. KC's been saying the past week that the Bulls may sign someone for the full season instead of doing the 10-day dance, and since we don't exactly know what the payroll will be (after incentives) I'll assume that's possible. There are other interesting names getting jettisoned as we speak, from Big Baby Davis down to the Pacers Orlando Johnson (I just remember he was a 2nd round target a couple years ago). For the teams in the Eastern playoff race with the Bulls, the Nets did open up a roster spot and could sign a player using their Disabled Player Exception, and the Atlanta Hawks (who've lost 7 straight) have similar flexibility.