BOSTON CELTICS
Players Acquired: G Nate Robinson
Players Lost: G Eddie House, G J.R. Giddens, future first or second round pick
Grade: C
I don't know how I feel about the Celtics trading one of their most popular, fan-favorite bench players that was a key piece in winning their title in 2008. However, House, like most of the Celtics this year, has been mostly lackluster. J.R. Giddens is essentially a throw-in who has some potential, but the jury is still very much out on him. I hate it when teams get an option of what they want to give another team later on, like "a first OR second round pick". I would never let another team choose, as every GM is out for his team's best interest (except Chris Wallace sometimes). In Nate Robinson, you get a guy who could be a great fit and a new crowd favorite, or an annoying, team-chemistry-killing gnat. He can be a really effective and crowd pleasing player, but he can also look for his own shot too much, kill chemistry, fight everyone in sight and alienate 100% of NBA fans in the dunk contest. This team's move just wreaks of mediocrity, and they deserve a C.
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Players Acquired: F Tyrus Thomas
Players Lost: G Acie Law, G Flip Murray, protected first round draft pick
Grade: A-
I had heard some rumors that said the Bulls were looking for 2 first round draft picks, and I immediately thought Thomas is not worth that many. He is a still relatively raw player with a seemingly massive potential with his insane athleticism. But he has had some off court troubles, which I feel are never worth it. I am willing to give him a chance in a new city though. And I DO think he is worth two non consequential players and ONE first round draft pick. It will be interesting/terrifying to see how Thomas adjusts to his new situation with Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace as his new alpha dogs. I do think Charlotte got a damn good deal in this trade.
CHICAGO BULLS
Players Acquired: G Acie Law, G Flip Murray, F Hakim Warrick, F Joe Alexander, protected first round draft pick
Players Lost: F Tyrus Thomas, F John Salmons
Grade: A-
You might think that since I favored Charlotte in their trade with the Bulls, I don't think the Bulls also made good deals at the deadline. The Bulls trades were very strategic, and they acquired a good amount of expiring contracts in both deals, which will allow them to be major players in the free agent extravaganza this summer. Both Tyrus Thomas and John Salmons play positions that are very fillable by this season's mega free agency class. Plus, Thomas clearly did not fit in Chicago and needed to be moved. The Bulls did well to position themselves in great position this summer.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Players Acquired: F Antawn Jamison, G Sebastian Telfair
Players Lost: C Zydrunas Ilgauskus (he'll be back), rights to F Emir Preldzic, 2010 first round draft pick
Grade: A
LeBron now has the second scorer sidekick he has always wanted. It still remains to be seen if Jamison will be able to handle the second fiddle role, but come on, who WOULDN'T want to be LeBron's number two en route to a title not named Kobe or Wade (and he's not even out of the question)? They lost Ilgauskus for a little bit before the Wizards waive him and he resigns with Cleveland. And other than that they lost a no name player and one draft pick in a shaky draft coming up in June. And Sebastian Telfair is good enough to get minutes on this team, but I don't know if he will let himself get to the point where this will happen very often. Overall though, I think Cleveland may have just bought some trophy polish with the addition of Jamison.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
Players Acquired: F Caron Butler, C Brendan Haywood, G DeShawn Stevenson
Players Lost: F Josh Howard, F Drew Gooden, F James Singleton, G/F Quinton Ross
Grade: B+
Dallas did a really good job in adding the right pieces this trade deadline. I think Butler is just as good as Josh Howard with half of the hassle, and Brendan Haywood is a dynamite pick up to bolster the Mavs' front line to throw at the Lakers and Nuggets in the playoffs. DeShawn Stevenson's bad contract drops their grade from an A- to a B+, but Stevenson does have some game that can be valuable off the bench for the Mavs. I think the Mavs have definitely improved themselves and toughened up for the playoff push.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
Players Acquired: G Kevin Martin, C Hilton Armstrong, F Jordan Hill, F Jared Jeffries, the right to swap first round picks with the Knicks in 2011, Knicks' first round draft pick in 2012
Players Lost: G/F Tracy McGrady, F Carl Landry, F Joey Dorsey
Grade: B
I really like Kevin Martin on the Rockets from an entertainment standpoint, but not as a fan of a different Western Conference team. However, losing Carl Landry lowered their grade in my opinion. He was one of their main try-hard overachievers that made them so tough to play against. Martin can score like crazy, but brings little to the table defensively, whereas Landry made a few necessary baskets a game and was one of their best defenders. Still, Kevin Martin has more game changing potential than Landry in total. Also, they got Jordan Hill and Jared Jefferies, who have loads of potential, especially now that they are out of the deathtrap of hoop gloom that is the Knicks. They essentially replaced Carl Landry with two players with higher celiings. And Hilton Armstrong has proven to be a serviceable backup center in past seasons in New Orleans.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Players Acquired: G Steve Blake, F Travis Outlaw, F Drew Gooden
Players Lost: C Marcus Camby, F Al Thornton, G Sebastian Telfair
Grade: B-
The Clippers acquired three players with proven NBA track records as effective role players. Blake is a good backup PG, Outlaw is clutch, and Gooden, however much of a joke he is as a person, he can play this game pretty well. It was good for them to get something for Marcus Camby before he breaks down. I was a fan of Al Thornton, and it hurts to lose his massive athleticism and potential (although you know the Clippers would ruin it somehow). Telfair is a good talent with a shaky attitude. They did pretty well for themselves.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
Players Acquired: G Ronnie Brewer
Players Lost: 2011 first round draft pick
Grade: B+
The Grizzlies get a great defensive guard with a healthy amount of offense to him as well in Brewer. He was a starter in Utah, and should help the Grizzlies be better defensively as they try to make the playoffs. It is always a crap shoot whether or not losing a draft pick will actually matter in the long run, so as of right now, I think the Grizzlies made out well in this deal.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Players Acquired: F Primoz Brezec, G Royal Ivey, F John Salmons
Players Lost: F Hakim Warrick, F Joe Alexander, G Jodie Meeks, F/C Francisco Elson
Grade: C+
The Bucks acquired a good scorer to add to the Jennings/Bogut mix. They also received some expiring contracts to leave them some cap space for the summer. They also gave up some expiring contracts and Jodie Meeks, who can absolutely fill it up. All in all this trade will benefit them slightly in the short and long run, but nothing overly exciting.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Players Acquired: F/C Darko Milicic
Players Lost: F Brian Cardinal
Grade: C
This trade was very boring and run of the mill. The Wolves get an alright player in Darko, and give up a non consequential player in Cardinal. Snooze.
NEW YORK KNICKS
Players Acquired: G/F Tracy McGrady, G Sergio Rodriguez, G Eddie House, G J.R. Giddens, future first or second round pick
Players Lost: F Jared Jeffries, F Jordan Hill, G Nate Robinson, Houston can trade 1st round draft picks with them in 2011, and a 2012 first round draft pick
Grade: B
The Knicks now have enough expiring contracts that they will have around $30 million in cap space this summer. That is enough to potentially get them two superstars from the mega free agent class. They got rid of three players that didn't really click with Mike D'Antoni. The only thing that brings their grade down to a B is that they are continuing to cripple themselves through the draft by trading draft picks like this. I hope it doesn't bite the Knicks in the ass, but bottom line they did what they needed to do.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Players Acquired: G Jodie Meeks, F/C Francisco Elson
Players Lost: G Royal Ivey, F Primoz Brezec
Grade: B
Jodie Meeks only knows how to do one thing, and that is flat out score. They gain a guy with great potential and loads of talent. Plus, even though they gave away two expiring contracts, they were able to gain one back for the sake of the offseason. This is a really solid deal for Philly, although it is not anything huge.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Players Acquired: C Marcus Camby
Players Lost: G Steve Blake, F Travis Outlaw
Grade: B-
The Blazers were able to get the Center they desperately needed, however fragile he may be himself. It is good for them that they were able to get one true Center for the playoff push. One plus is Camby's experience playing with Andre Miller. They lose a serviceable backup PG, and a player who has been injured this season but was clutch for this team last year. This deal just seems a little lukewarm to me, as Camby is old and fragile and Outlaw is tough to lose.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
Players Acquired: F Carl Landry, F Joey Dorsey, G Larry Hughes
Players Lost: G Kevin Martin, C Hilton Armstrong, G Sergio Rodriguez
Grade: B+
It's always tough to lose a player as special as Kevin Martin, no matter how much sense it makes, but it was the right move. They also lose a pretty good backup Center in Armstrong. However, they get a great character guy in Landry who will give you everything and overachieve every night. Hughes' expiring contract is a relatively hefty one which helps a lot for the offseason. This team is clearly working towards building around Tyreke Evans with a good mix of veterans and youngsters, and the Kings did a very good job this deadline working towards that goal.
UTAH JAZZ
Players Acquired: Memphis' 2011 first round draft pick
Players Lost: G Ronnie Brewer
Grade: C-
The Jazz lost one of their starting backcourt members for a first round draft pick next year, and draft picks are always a crap shoot as to whether they will work out or not. I don't know if Utah was having problems with Brewer or what, partially because I try to ignore things that happen in Utah, but I think this was a risky move with not even that much of a potential reward. We'll just have to see...
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Players Acquired: C Zydrunas Ilgauskus (not really), F Al Thornton, rights to F Emir Preldzic, F Josh Howard, F Drew Gooden, F James Singleton, G/F Quinton Ross, Cleveland's 2010 first round draft pick
Players Lost: F Antawn Jamison, F Drew Gooden, F Caron Butler, C Brendan Haywood, G DeShawn Stevenson
Grade: B+
The Wizards are starting to do what they need to do: clean house. They definitely lose some great players, but it was their time to leave. They get a great player in Josh Howard who could benefit from a change in scenery. The deals they completed before the deadline were the start of a goal of long term success for this team. They gained I would have given them an A+ if they would have cut Gilbert Arenas loose somehow, but overall I give them a high grade.
Phew...
Oh, and SCREW YOU, LAKERS
No comments:
Post a Comment