Some Trade Deadline Links

• From Chad Ford's chat:

Manny (statesboro ga) [via mobile]: Any news of the hawks in trade talks.

SportsNation Chad Ford: No ... they're still the Hawks

• Shoals has a brief, wonderful think piece at freedarko:

I'll keep this brief, but think about it: Only a few years ago, time barely existed in the Association. Market value for players was relative, and set each summer. GM's threw out huge deals, rarely considering how they'd hog-tie the team down the road. Max extensions created the illusion of franchise guys, though it was never quite clear who feted whom. Then came the mini-max, which urged teams to win now, and at the same time, opened the door for players to be free of a huge deal sooner rather than later (who knows, we might yet see that side of the coin). 2010 had everyone thinking about cap space two years down the road. And now, with money dearer than ever, suddenly dumping Brad Miller's contract—which expires in 2010—is worth it just for one year of savings.

• For a very reasonable price, I would have been available to tell Orlando this two weeks ago.

Unless something unexpected happens, this will be the Hoopinion trade deadline post.