NBA is quiet at trade deadline NEW YORK - The only trade involving Dwight Howard came last summer. The potent scorers that moved did so long ago. There was no eye-catching activity left for deadline day, resulting in minor deals Thursday to the disappointment of those hoping for a frenzy. Josh Smith stayed in Atlanta and the Boston Celtics' core stayed together, leaving J.J. Redick, dealt from Orlando to Milwaukee, as the biggest name to be traded. There were nine moves, nothing approaching a blockbuster. Players such as James Harden and Rudy Gay were traded far before the deadline, but with teams perhaps fearful of new penalties for the biggest spenders, Thursday was mostly quiet. "I don't think I've seen fewer trade deadline deals, ever," said Houston General Manager Daryl Morey, who completed two trades Wednesday. But I think it's a one-year blip. The Atlanta Hawks held on to Smith, and Utah kept Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson on a day when much attention was focused on both situations, since those players have value and could leave their teams this summer as free agents. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will continue wearing Celtic green, as will Rajon Rondo when he's healthy enough to put on a uniform again. The Celtics did make one deal, acquiring guard Jordan Crawford from the Washington Wizards for center Jason Collins and injured guard Leandro Barbosa. Those were the types of trades that were left after the big names that were available had already been moved. Oklahoma City sent All-Star Harden to Houston in the preseason, fearing it couldn't pay what last season's top sixth man would want after already giving lucrative long-term deals to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The Memphis Grizzlies broke up their frontcourt when they sent Gay to Toronto in a three-team deal with Detroit. Finances certainly played into it. The collective bargaining agreement that went into effect in 2011 came with much more punitive penalties for teams that repeatedly exceed the luxury tax and limits the options of those over the salary cap, and decisions Thursday were made with that in mind. Rebuilding after trading Howard, the Magic decided Redick wasn't in their plans. He was traded along with center Gustavo Ayon and reserve point guard Ish Smith to the Bucks for guards Doron Lamb and Beno Udrih, and forward Tobias Harris.