FanHouse CalvinBooth

The 3 PM ET trade deadline in the NBA has come and gone, and while there were plenty of big names rumored to be on the move, few teams actually had the guts to pull the trigger. There were plenty of deals made, however, including one that might have one Eastern Conference team feeling like it's back in the title conversation. A wrap-up of today's events after the jump.

Don't be surprised that the worst team in the league has also been the most active on the trade circuit this week. Sacramento continues its cost-cutting measures this morning, according to Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee. The Kings have sent Shelden Williams and Bobby Brown to Minnesota for the expiring contracts of Rashad McCants and Calvin Booth.

Brown is the only player in the deal with money owed in 2009-10, and it's a whopping $736,000 player option. But there is in fact a compelling storyline here: McCants and new teammate Francisco Garcia have an ongoing blood feud.

Via The700Level, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports a rumored deal between Philadelphia and Minnesota has gone down, sending Beautiful Calvin Booth, Rodney Carney and a pick to the Wolves for nothing but a $2.8 million trade exception. The real prize for Philly general manager Ed Stefanski: even more salary cap breathing room to chase someone like Elton Brand or Josh Smith. Here's Woj:

Getting Carney and Booth off the cap gives the Sixers the chance to offer a starting salary of approximately $14 million a season.

If Atlanta wasn't going to match a contract starting at $11 million for Smith (a disputed rumor), will they even be able to play a straight face if the Sixers offer something like a flat $13 million per year, five-year contract? Or, Philadelphia could go big in year one -- $14.75 million is the max for a four-year veteran, but Stefanski expects to have $14 million as stated above -- and taper the contract down to $12 million by the final year.

For Brand, the 76ers could now offer about five years, $80 million ... which is right in the middle of the Clippers' ($70 million) and Warriors' ($90 million) offers. Watson wrote about the expanded interest in Brand last night; now, that interest has a feasible outlet.

Elton Brand has a generous offer on the table to stay with the Clippers, and an even larger offer on the table to bolt for the Warriors. But while most of the discussion surrounding his options has centered on those two teams, it's at least possible that he might bolt California completely and head back east.

That's crazy talk, right? Probably, but according to ESPN's Marc Stein, the 76ers have officially thrown their hat in the ring. It's true the Sixers have been connected to restricted free agent Josh Smith since the offseason began, but the team wants to do it's due diligence by gauging Brand's interest before tying up their finances by signing Smith to an offer sheet and waiting seven days while the Hawks decide if they're going to match it or not.

I can't say I'm completely surprised -- Smith has all the potential in the world, but Brand is a proven product and (when healthy) one of the most consistent big men in the game today. Smith would make the Sixers a joy to watch; Brand would get the Sixers out of the first round.

Like all major sports, pro basketball is filled with cult figures. For some reason, D.C. seems to be the Mecca of intriguing/bizarre/lovable personalities. Case in point: Calvin Booth, a nominal figure in Washington's grand scheme over 3-1/2 disjointed seasons, is getting more accolades from the Wizards community than notice from folks in his new home of Philadelphia.

Dan Steinberg of D.C. Sports Bog shares his fondest notes, which include a real photo of Booth dressed like a wizard. FanHouse bossman Jamie Mottram shares another photo, one I assume/pray has been enlarged and framed. Bullets Forever offers a highlight.

But on matters of D.C. and pro basketball, we always feel obliged to turn to noted contributor-to-the-world Unsilent Majority. This emailed quote shows he's dealing with the loss using anger.

Philly just got 7% uglier.