LOS ANGELES -- If it's possible to give the correct answer to an open-ended question, San Antonio Spurs general manager R.C. Buford did exactly that when I asked him what stood out about Thursday, trade deadline day in the NBA. Buford praised the speech Monty Williams gave at the service for Williams' wife, Ingrid.
That was the best possible response. On a day the league annually becomes its most ruthlessly businesslike -- reducing players to commodities to be bartered for draft picks, luxury tax savings and sometimes even cash -- Williams injected a much-needed dose of humanity.