Ric Bucher's post on Utah Jazz | Latest updates on Sulia

Overall perspective on trade deadline activity: contrary to the pablum put out by the league -- and regurgitated

by some in the media -- the new CBA has put a drag on making moves for several reasons. First: fear of super luxury tax has almost every team, including the big market ones, reluctant to do anything that is going to put them in jeopardy of paying it. Big market teams already are kicking in money to smaller markets in the revenue sharing system, so they're apparently loathe to add more to the coffers of their less-wealthy opponents. Second: Because of that fear, first-round picks have become far more valuable and less likely to be used to sweeten deals because they offer the potential of acquiring a talented player at a below-market price.