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  Thu, March 15, 2012


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NFL CANADA





Zicarelli's NBA trade wrap
By Frank Zicarelli, QMI Agency


Former Cleveland Cavaliers' point guard Ramon Sessions was traded Thursday to the L.A. Lakers. (REUTERS)


Kobe Bryant has a new backcourt teammate as the “Gone Fishing’’ sign was officially erected in Hollywood.

While Ramon Sessions is no Chris Paul, he does provide the Lakers with a capable point guard as L.A. makes its push for the playoffs at a time when Bryant is seeking his sixth title.

In Bryant’s previous five championship runs, Derek Fisher served as the ultimate foot soldier, a lethal spot-up shooter whose late-game dramatics helped the Lakers to their title wins.

Sessions comes to the Lakers via Cleveland in a package that sent former Raptors swingman Jason Kapono back to the Cavs, while Fisher was sent to Houston in a deal that sent underachieving Jordan Hill to L.A.

The Rockets were very busy on trade deadline day, adding that much-coveted big, but it wasn’t Pau Gasol, who was part of that NBA-nixed deal that would have sent Paul to the Lakers.

While Marcus Camby hasn’t done much of anything with the free-falling Portland Trail Blazers, perhaps the move to Houston for this one-time Raptors’ cornerstone will re-ignite him.

Houston jettisoned lottery flops Jonny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet to Portland.

Portland desperately needs a new direction and parted ways with Gerald Wallace, who was sent to New Jersey, which rid itself of Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams and a protected first-round draft choice.

In other moves, San Antonio re-acquired Stephen Jackson, who’s been traded twice in one week, in a deal that saw Richard Jefferson peddled to Golden State.

The day’s three-team deal involving the Clippers, Nuggets and Wizards, L.A. addressed its need at shooting guard with Nick Young’s arrival from Washington.

JaVale McGee ends up in Denver, while Nene goes to Washington.




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