Some of us in the “Madden Era” of video games often view professional sports trades only on the surface. With analysts, blogs, in-depth reports and the intricate details of games these days, many like to claim to be a little more than just Monday Morning Quarterbacks; we’re Monday through Sunday general managers, too.

But lost in the transactions are the more personal side — and effect — of the players, teammates and families involved. When a player gets traded from Los Angeles to Miami, they have to up and move their entire well-being. New houses need to be purchased, new schools to be enrolled into and new friends to be made. We see someone like Shaq taking a bit of time trying to adjust to the fast-paced Suns team after his trade to Phoenix; what about his family’s adjustment? That would seem to be much harder.

New Orleans Hornets big-man Tyson Chandler broke down his perspective on the recent trade which sent his teammate and friend, Bobby Jackson, to Houston, along with two other players and a 2nd round draft pick, in order to acquire Bonzi Wells and Mike James.

On the surface, the trade gives the Hornets depth. But on the other hand, New Orleans lost more than just a great player, Chandler explains in his NBA.com blog:

I always understand that it’s a business. The team is just trying to get better, trying to get deeper. To get something good like that, you’re going to have to give up something good. I understand the basketball decision of it and I understand Jeff Bower’s position. Even if I was the GM, just because I was friends with somebody doesn’t mean I would keep them on my team. The ultimate goal is to make the basketball club better.

But I look at it from both ends. We’re losing a friend and a great teammate. But on the business side, I can understand it, because we just got deeper and it will help us in the long run going into the playoffs.

These trades mature players quickly, whether they like it or not. They are always forced into viewing the game as the business it is, but the notion only comes to fruition when it hits home:

I had an appearance after practice yesterday, but I went over his house after that. He was packing and my daughter was in the room with him, because my wife took my daughter over there to play with the kids before they left. My daughter was helping him pack, bringing him hangers and just spending time. He and her had gotten really close, because he would always come, pick up my daughter and take her with his girls to the movies, Chuck E. Cheese, the museum, or just on family outings.

He was just sitting in there, getting his stuff together and we were actually watching the game, Miami and Houston. He was in there watching his team now. Normally, we’re teammates watching the game together, but he was watching the team he was about to go to. He was just moving slow and I could tell that he was going to miss everything.

The breakdown is one of the best ones yet by any NBA blogger. It’s touching, honest and smart. And, of course, quite depressing.

I’m headed to GameStop first thing in the morning to trade in a my NBA Live ‘07…