Dwight Howard agreed to stay with the Orlando Magic for another season, ensuring he wouldn't pull a disappearing act this summer via free agency.
The Lakers and Boston Celtics held on to their respective Big Threes, hoping they would add up to one more trip to the Finals.
Steve Nash was still Phoenix's point guard, though it remained doubtful he would be going to the playoffs with the less-than-scalding Suns.
"The uncertainty has come to an end!" Lakers forward Pau Gasol tweeted a few hours after Thursday's trade deadline. "Happy to continue wearing the @Lakers uniform! Now time to focus in playing basketball and winning!"
Howard mercifully halted the drama and the "Dwight Watch" countdown on the Orlando Sentinel's home page with hours to spare by waiving the early termination option in his contract.
That move will keep the six-time All-Star, who had requested a trade in December, with the Magic through the 2012-13 season, provided the uncertainty that hijacked the league's attention over the last four months doesn't repeat itself.
"It's not as easy as some people think," Howard said of his decision in Orlando, Fla. "It's been very hard. We're talking a career-changing event. Most people don't see that. I'm very loyal and I've always put loyalty above anything."
The teams that consummated trades Thursday put winning first, whether it was for this season or — in theory, at least — more successful days to come.
San Antonio revisited its championship past by acquiring Stephen Jackson from Golden State, which flipped the forward two days after obtaining him from Milwaukee. Jackson won an NBA title with the Spurs in 2003 and should provide an upgrade over Richard Jefferson, the player San Antonio surrendered in the deal along with a first-round draft pick.
Eastern Conference contenders Indiana and Philadelphia bolstered their benches, with the Pacers adding guards Leandro Barbosa and Anthony Carter from Toronto for a second-round draft pick and the 76ers getting swingman Sam Young from Memphis for Ricky Sanchez.
Denver might help itself more Friday than it did Thursday, when the Nuggets said goodbye to center Nene as part of a three-team trade that netted them Washington's enigmatic JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf while sending the Wizards' Nick Young to the Clippers. The move was made in part to free up salary cap space so that Denver can sign restricted free agent Wilson Chandler to a long-term contract, which could happen as soon as Friday.
The Clippers may emerge as big winners in the deal with the Nuggets and Wizards after acquiring Young for a pittance: reserve Brian Cook and a second-round draft pick, both of whom were headed to Washington. Young, the former USC star armed with one of the league's best turnaround fadeaway jumpers, will assume the shooting guard spot vacated by Chauncey Billups after his season-ending Achilles' tendon injury.
There will be no filling the void in Lakers fans hearts following the departure of Derek Fisher. The Lakers bid adieu to the veteran point guard following 13 seasons and five championships spread over two stints with the franchise. They traded Fisher and a conditional draft pick to Houston for forward Jordan Hill, a move that became necessary to alleviate a logjam at point guard after the Lakers acquired Ramon Sessions from Cleveland earlier in the day for reserves Jason Kapono and Luke Walton as well as a first-round draft pick.
Houston added another veteran presence in Portland's Marcus Camby, whom the Rockets acquired for guard Jonny Flynn, center Hasheem Thabeet and a future second-round draft pick.
The slumping Trail Blazers pretty much put their entire franchise up for grabs, firing coach Nate McMillan and trading Gerald Wallace to New Jersey for Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams and a future first-round draft pick. Okur and Williams both have expiring contracts and probably won't be around for Portland's rebuilding efforts, which won't include Greg Oden after the team waived the oft-injured center.
Getting Wallace positions the Nets to make another run at Howard via trade because the Magic was believed to have wanted Wallace as part of a package also including New Jersey center Brook Lopez and future draft picks.
Howard's decision to stay put scuttles those hopes … at least until the next moving day comes around, anyway.
