The NBA Trade Deadline passed today at 3pm Eastern/ 2pm Central, so now it’s time to grade some of the more meaningful moves that were made:
1. Memphis Trades Hasheem Thabeet and 1st round pick to Houston for Shane Battier and Ish Smith.
Memphis (B): Essentially, the Grizzlies traded a failed draft pick and a future pick for the chance to make the playoffs this year. I think it’s a smart move, because the Grizzlies need a body that can help them out on D. Battier fits that mold. He’s strong on defense and can rebound.
Houston (C-): I understand what Houston was trying to do here. They clear up cap room and get a draft pick that could end up in the middle of the 1st round or a little higher. They also have someone to fill the void at center, and by fill the void I mean Thabeet can at least go stand on the court. He had the best opportunity to start and make an impact with Memphis and he fell flat. Really flat. Until he proves he can contribute, Houston doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt.
2. Houston trades Aaron Brooks to Phoenix for Goran Dragic and a 1st round pick.
Houston (B): Houston gets a solid backup in Dragic, and another first round pick. The future could be pretty bright for the Rockets if they cash in on these picks.
Phoenix (C+): Phoenix gets a good guard in Brooks, who can start learning immediately from proven veteran Steve Nash. I think they gave up too much to get him though, but I guess Houston wouldn’t have sprung for a 2nd round pick.
3. Atlanta trades Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, Maurice Evans and a 1st round pick to Washington for Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong.
Atlanta (B+): By swapping Hinrich for Bibby the Hawks are getting younger and more productive. They had to give up a promising rookie in Jordan Crawford, but they also get a young, athletic center in Armstrong who may just breakout in a new environment. I like the idea of Hinrich running with Joe Johnson and Josh Smith. That just turned into a scary offense with the ability to run up and down the court.
Washington (B+): I like the idea of Mike Bibby coming into this offense, because he will have the opportunity to become a mentor to John Wall. He’ll also be able to provide leadership to a team that has been lost for most of the season. Washington also gets a young guard that can prosper off of playing with Wall in Crawford, giving the Wizards a young duo that could contribute a lot in the future.
4. Sacramento trades Carl Landry to New Orleans for Marcus Thornton and cash considerations.
Sacramento (B+): Sacramento clears a lot of cap room with this trade, and they get younger. Thornton can give Tyreke Evans a few minutes off every night.
New Orleans (C): Carl Landry will help the Hornets, but I don’t understand how the NBA can approve this trade. I have to side with Mark Cuban on this one, I don’t get how a broke team that’s owned by the league is allowed to take on more money and give cash away in a trade. Doesn’t make sense.
5. Oklahoma City trades Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic to Boston for Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson.
Oklahoma City (A): Oklahoma City just became a big threat in the Western Conference. Nate Robinson will be a great backup for Brian Westbrook, and Kendrick Perkins will make a huge difference down low. I know Perkins is having some knee trouble, but I don’t think it’s very severe.
Boston (B-): The Celtics got a good replacement for Marquis Daniels (out for the year) in Jeff Green, and they get a capable backup for Kevin Garnett in Krstic. However I definitely think Krstic is a step down from Perkins
6. L.A. Clippers trade Baron Davis to Cleveland for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.
L.A. Clippers (B): The Clippers create a lot of cap room by shipping off Davis, and they get a capable guard in Williams and an electric wingman in Moon. Williams knows how to play with a superstar like Blake Griffin, and all he’ll really need to do is get Blake the ball.
Cleveland (C-): Cleveland gets an older player to go along with a large contract. They also get an attitude that will likely be unhappy going to a team with 10 wins. Don’t expect Baron Davis to skip and smile all the way to the Cleveland. I expect a lot of resistance and bitterness from him.
7. Utah trades Deron Williams to New Jersey for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, two 1st round picks and $3 Million.
Utah (A): Apparently Williams was shocked when this trade went through, but he shouldn’t have been. He helped the longest tenured coach in the NBA walk out in the middle of the season, and had started to really wear out his welcome. Meanwhile, the Jazz get a good point guard in Harris, along with a young, incredibly promising power forward in Favors. They also managed to squeeze two 1st round picks and 3 million bucks out of the Nets, who looked really desperate to get a deal done after losing out on ‘Melo.
New Jersey (D): This is a huge waste of assets and money for the Nets. Now they have to prove to Williams that he can win in New Jersey (good luck with that) or he walks when his contract is up. If that happens the Nets are left with Brook Lopez and Sasha Vujacic. Whoopee.
8. Denver trade Carmelo Anthony, Chauncy Billups, Anthony Carter, Shelden Williams and Renaldo Balkman to New York for Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mosgov and 3 1st round picks. Minnesota sends Corey Brewer to Denver and recieves Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph from New York.
Denver (B+): Yes, Denver lost arguably their two best assets, but they got a TON in return. If they can convince Gallinari and Felton to stay once their contracts are up, they can use those three picks to build a team that can continue to contend at the same level as they have been with Anthony.
New York (A): They won the ‘Melo lottery. Sure they gave up a lot, but now they have a draw for players like Chris Paul who has said that he’d like to play in New York. This is a long haul victory for the Knicks.
Minnesota (B): Minnesota had to get involved for logistics, and they ended up getting two players for one. Brewer had been underachieving with the T-Wolves, never quite living up to his potential. Now it looks like the Wolves will buy out Curry, opening up some cap space to bring in a wingman to help out Kevin Love. Hey who knows, maybe Ricky Rubio will have second thoughts and want to come play too…
