Until the last minute, no blockbuster trade was made, and the only big name to change hands was Danny Granger. Yet, the former All-Star is not the same franchise leader he used to be.

The main reason he's an asset now is because he is an expiring contract. He's not a bad player, but injuries have ravaged him. ESPN analyzed the Pacers' decision:

"While Granger is back on the court consistently for the first time in two years, team president Larry Bird clearly didn't want to wait around hoping that Granger would get healthy enough to become a serviceable scoring threat again. Indiana's season will be a failure if it doesn't win the title, and with Stephenson set for free agency this summer and David West's biological clock ticking, Bird had to make this move. 

The deal is a no-brainer in terms of guaranteeing bench production during the playoffs, and it becomes even rosier when you realize that re-signing the newly acquired Evan Turner in the offseason could be a good consolation prize if there isn't enough money to re-sign Stephenson. "

Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird said in a statement (Pacers.com): "We felt we needed to make this trade to strengthen the core unit and our bench. In Evan and Lavoy, we think we got two really good players that can help us and we look forward to what they can bring.''

The Indiana Pacers needed to look at the present. They had already mortgaged their future (draft picks traded for Luis Scola) and now they have to let go of the past. In the last 30 years, only 8 teams have won the championship. The Pacers believe this year is their best chance to join this exclusive club.

For the players, trades are beyond their control. They will suddenly be left out of the team bus, or receive an SMS or a tweet telling them not to attend practice anymore. For Evan Turner, it meant an extended season.

From SI.com: "This is about as easy as it gets. Turner is going from a 15-win team to a championship contender that started 15-1 and won its 15th game before Nov. 29. Yes, Turner will need to find a way to fit into a much narrower role with the Pacers, but every competitive player - especially those in a contract year - would prefer to work toward a title chase rather than deal with a full-on tank."

Turner is an experiment. He will get limited minutes playing behind the tandem of Paul George and Lance Stephenson. But if he could make the most of those minutes at the big stage, he will get a ton of offers in the summer.