There was an art to deals that helped Lakers get Steve Nash, others

Give and take

The Lakers acquired Steve Nash and a few promising reserves as the result of recent trades that were largely salary dumps. A breakdown of the deals:

Sent: Derek Fisher and a first-round draft pick to Houston on March 15, 2012.

Acquired: Jordan Hill.

The Lakers used the $3.4 million Fisher was owed for the 2012-13 season to help offset the cost of re-signing Hill for two years and about $7 million.

Sent: Lamar Odom and a second-round draft pick to Dallas on Dec. 11, 2011.

Acquired: A trade exception and a first-round draft pick.

The Lakers saved $17.8 million in salary and luxury taxes for the 2011-12 season, and used the trade exception as part of their deal to obtain and sign Nash in July this year. Earlier, the Lakers sent the first-round draft pick to Houston as part of the Fisher deal.

Sent: Sasha Vujacic and a first-round draft pick to New Jersey on Dec. 15, 2010.

Acquired: Joe Smith, Sergei Lishouk and two second-round draft picks and a trade exception. The Lakers saved about $8 million in salary and luxury taxes and used the draft picks to get Darius Morris (2011) and Robert Sacre (2012). They did not use the trade exception.