The NBA free agent market is pretty much over and done with after the last big-name in Tracy McGrady deciding to sign with the Detroit Pistons recently, but that doesn’t mean that teams around the league aren’t still considering making trades as the Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, New Jersey Nets and the New Orleans Hornets.

Reportedly, both the Hornets and the Rockets were content with letting some of their best players hit the road this summer after just one season with the team.

Point guard Darren Collison had a very impressive season last year in the absence of All-Star Chris Paul as the rookie out of UCLA averaged 12.4 points, 5.7 assists and 1 steal per game. Apparently, the UCLA alum was good enough last season to have a considerable amount of trade value this offseason as the New Orleans Hornets have sent him to the Indiana Pacers in part of a four-team deal that sent the Houston Rockets Trevor Ariza to New Orleans in exchange.

The other two teams involved were the Indiana Pacers and the New Jersey Nets. The Pacers received Darren Collison and two-time NBA champion James Posey in this deal and sent Troy Murphy to the Nets.

New Jersey sent Courtney Lee to the Houston Rockets.

Ultimately, I believe all four of these teams improved their rosters through these trades, but the one team that will be much improved is the Indiana Pacers who have been looking for an All-Star caliber point guard over the last couple of years.

With Darren Collison running the point and Danny Granger being the team’s leading scorer, the Indiana Pacers might be able to get back into the playoffs next season as Larry Bird has built a solid young core of players.

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