After the trade of Eddie House, the C’s bench was already shorthanded as they waited for the arrival of Nate Robinson.  But Robinson is stuck in NBA trade limbo, having to hop a flight to Boston to take a physical today, then fly back to the West Coast to join the team on its road trip.

Still, even with Doc Rivers’ attempts to hurry Robinson up, Nate the Great isn’t expected to join the team in time for tonight’s game against Portland.

Via ESPNBoston:

Rivers got on the phone immediately following the game and tried to get an express delivery on Robinson, but didn’t seem optimistic because the incoming backup point guard needed to get his post-trade physical Friday in Boston before he could even relocate to the West Coast and join the team.

Rivers wondered aloud why the NBA wouldn’t just have the trade deadline coincide with All-Star weekend.

“But why doesn’t the trade deadline end over the All-Star break? I don’t get why we have to come back for four more days. It’s such a good fit over All-Star break. Then when you come out of break, the deadline’s passed, all the [general managers] can go to the All-Star game and get it done. I wish that’s the way it happened. It would allow you to start the break with your [entire] team and allow guys to [join their new club] and not miss games like tonight, where we lose Eddie [House], and we’re not allowed to use Nate [Robinson]. We wouldn’t have that situation. I would love that to change.”

Rivers makes a very good point. It doesn’t make much sense to have the trade deadline a few days after the break. The current deadline makes it possible for players to do what Nate Robinson has had to do: Fly to the All-Star game, fly to New York to rejoin his original team, fly to Boston to take a physical, then fly to Portland to join the Celtics and possibly play in their game.

Things could be a lot easier if all trades were finished over All-Star weekend. I can only imagine Stern wants the NBA to have the All-Star break separate from the trade deadline so the league can receive separate publicity from both.