→Pros: Landed a much-needed interior defender, rebounder and shot-blocker who brings toughness. ... Now has an experienced reserve center to play behind Nenad Krstic and mentor young guns Serge Ibaka, Byron Mullens and D.J. White. ... Bumped its stockpile of draft picks in 2010 to five. ... Got rid of two players who weren't needed and would have been season-long bench warmers. ... Didn't mortgage any future flexibility by acquiring an expiring contract.

→Cons: Thomas is injury-prone and might not be physically able to serve as the answer in the middle. He's played in more than 65 games only twice in his career and is coming off a torn MCL.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

→What they got: Damien Wilkins, Chucky Atkins.

→Pros: They can save about $3.29 million this season if they pay Atkins only the $760,000 he's guaranteed for next season. ... Wilkins' contract is an expiring deal that is much cheaper than Thomas' and will help Minnesota in its efforts of rebuilding its roster.

→Cons: The Wolves gave away two second-round picks, including one that likely will be in the top seven of the second round. ...Minnesota has long needed depth up front, and the Wolves just traded some of it away to cut salary. The Wolves are now back at square one and in need of interior depth behind Al Jefferson and Kevin Love.