NBA Trade Deadline Madness. (GRADES)
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Man, what a CRAZY day in the NBA. The deadline chatter was very slow up until the last hour, then things went haywire. Tons of trades, many involving house hold names of all-star caliber, this was an epic day for the NBA. Let's get started going trade by trade, I'll give you the details and my thoughts on each trade.
Trade 1:
Phoenix receives: Danny Granger, Justin Hamilton, and 2 first round picks
The Phoenix Suns finally caved and traded Dragic to a team on his wish list. There were reports earlier in the day that Sacramento was making a push for him, but when Dragic's camp pretty much told everybody that he wouldn't resign with anybody that wasn't on his wish list, that chatter flat lined. The Suns knew they weren't going to get a really good package for Dragic and they didn't. They did make up for this trade by making later deals. Grade: C
Miami receives: Goran Dragic, Zoran Dragic, and John Salmons
Miami could have waited until free agency to go after Dragic, but seeing how the Knicks and Lakers with significant cap room were expected to go after him, the Heat did the right thing trading for him today. They gave up a lot of pieces including 2 first round picks, but the players they gave up were largely insignificant and the picks could end up being in the 20s. So giving all that up for a top 15 point guard who wants to commit there long term is a pretty good haul for the Heat. Grade: A-
New Orleans receives: Norris Cole and Shawne Williams
The Pelicans are expected to buy out Shawne Williams's contract so they basically just got Norris Cole. And seeing how they just gave up John Salmons who is on a steep decline, this was a pretty good job to get involved in this trade. GRADE: B
Trade 2:
Oklahoma City receives: Kyle Singler, Enes Kanter, DJ Augustin, Steve Novak
Reggie Jackson formally asked for a trade away from the Thunder a couple of days ago, and while the Thunder originally planned on getting Brook Lopez from the Nets, but this is a pretty good backup deal. OKC solidifies their bench with Singler, Augustin and Novak, while getting a good young center they can possibly put into their starting lineup. Also getting rid of Kendrick Perkins' contract was huge. GRADE: A+
Detroit receives: Reggie Jackson
Detroit gave up a lot for Jackson, and I'm not sure it was even worth it. Jackson ruined a lot of the Thunder's chemistry, so it'll be interesting to see how he works in Detroit. He's going to be a restricted free agent this summer so they could have traded much of their rotation for nothing. GRADE: C-
Utah Receives: Kendrick Perkins, OKC Protected 1st rounder, Grant Jerrett, Detroit 2nd rounder
This was your classic salary dump here. Kendrick Perkins is expected to be bought out by the Jazz, so that makes their involvement in this trade even more confusing. Enes Kanter was their #3 overall pick just 2 years ago and it was reported earlier they wanted a young player and multiple first rounders for him. So to just get Kendrick Perkins who you're just going to pay to go away? Doesn't make sense to me. GRADE: F
Trade 3:
Milwaukee receives: Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis, and Miles Plumlee
To say I was shocked seeing this deal is an understatement. Bucks traded away Knight who could have been an All-Star this year, but he was going to be a restricted free agent in the summer so the Bucks didn't take the chance on being out-bid and losing him for nothing. Now they get last years ROY as well as two great young prospects in Ennis and Plumlee. Plumlee got lost in the Suns rotation after they put Alex Len in the lineup, and now he could probably step right into the starting lineup and contribute. 3 good young players still on rookie contracts, and lots of future salary cap room. Milwaukee's future just got brighter. GRADE: A
Phoenix receives: Brandon Knight
After being forced into a Dragic trade earlier today, the Suns got a pretty good consolation. Knight has been playing at an all-star level this year, and he should be a good fit next to Bledsoe in the Suns starting lineup. Will be interesting to see if he resigns with Phoenix in the off-season, but for now it's a pretty good replacement for Dragic. Especially since they gave up 2 players that weren't in their rotation anyways. GRADE: B
Philadelphia receives: Lakers 2015 1st round pick (Top 5 protected)
I have no idea what the 76ers are doing. GM Sam Hinkie is just trading players left and right gaining draft picks, but the past picks he's drafted guys that were hurt or being kept overseas. 76ers have a stench around their franchise and with the Lakers likely keeping their top 5 pick, the 76ers future doesn't look any brighter after the day. Rough times still ahead for 76ers fans. GRADE: F
Trade 4:
Minnesota receives: Kevin Garnett
Can't help but hate this trade for Minnesota. Sure the sentimental value is nice, but Garnett can't produce on the court at a real credible rate anymore, and he's going to retire after this year. Grade: D
Brooklyn receives: Thaddeus Young
I really like this trade for the Nets. Similar to Garnett, Young is on the last year of his deal, but he's on a smaller contract, and likely won't be getting a raise in free agency. Good fit next to Lopez/Plumlee and could be a good piece for their future. Grade: B+
Trade 5:
Denver receives: Trade Exception
A salary dump plain and simple. McGee wasn't contributing with the Nuggets and was making 12M per season, so they get his salary off their books and get an exception they can use to bring in another player in a future trade. GRADE: C+
Philadelphia receives: JaVale McGee and future 1st round pick
Not sure if McGee will be bought out by the team or not, but the Sixers basically did this trade for the draft pick. Not sure either when the pick is going to be, but coming from Denver it could be decent. GRADE: C+
Trade 6:
Denver receives: Thomas Robinson, Victor Claver, Will Barton and a 1st round pick
Denver didn't get multiple first rounders like they wanted, but getting T-Rob as well as a 1st round pick is pretty good. Nuggets weren't going anywhere this year anyways, so it was good for them to maximize on Afflalo. GRADE: B-
Portland receives: Arron Afflalo
Portland was making it very clear in recent days that they wanted either Afflalo or Wilson Chandler from the Nuggets and they got Afflalo. He's a great perimeter defender and a pretty good 3 point shooter as well. The 3 players except for Robinson weren't getting many minutes, and the 1st round pick will likely be in the mid 20s so this was a pretty good deal for the Blazers. GRADE: B+
Trade 7:
Sacramento receives: Andre Miller
Ramon Sessions was having an up and down year for the Kings so they decided to ship him off for the veteran Miller. Miller played under George Karl in Denver and he can still contribute to a young team. Decent pull for the next couple years. GRADE: B-
Washington receives: Ramon Sessions
The Wizards weren't happy with Miller's defense against other guards so they traded him for Sessions. He's quicker and could be a better fit as the backup to John Wall. GRADE: B
Trade 8:
Boston receives: Isaiah Thomas
I like this trade for Boston. Thomas is still a good young point guard and even though they likely won't make the playoffs, Thomas could be a good fit next to Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley in the backcourt for a team that needed another scoring punch after trading Jeff Green earlier this season. GRADE: B+
Phoenix receives: Marcus Thornton and CLE 2015 1st round pick
In the last of Phoenix's deals, they get Marcus Thornton who can score off the bench as well as a 1st round pick. Even though the pick will be in the 20s, they got 2 pieces for another player that wasn't happy with his role with the Suns. GRADE: B-
Trade 9:
Houston receives: KJ McDaniels
I really like KJ McDaniels. He's a really athletic SF who is already a great wing defender and that's something Houston needed off the bench. Canaan wasn't getting many minutes in Houston anyways so trading him and a 2nd rounder isn't a big loss. GRADE: A-
Philadelphia receives: Isaiah Canaan and 2015 DEN 2nd rounder
This was a decent move on Philly's end. McDaniels took a 1 year deal because he knew he was going to play well and then leave in this summer. So instead of losing a good young player for nothing or having to overpay to keep him, they got another future pick and a guy that can give them minutes that they're going to need after they traded MCW and Tony Wroten is out for the year. GRADE C
Trade 10:
Houston receives: Pablo Prigioni
After trading Canaan for McDaniels, the Rockets had a need for a backup point guard. Prigioni was solid in NYC and should be pretty solid for Houston as well. 2 second round picks for a top playoff seed is a pretty good deal to get a veteran point guard who can help you in the playoffs. GRADE B+
New York receives: Alexey Shved and 2 second round picks
The Knicks showed an interest in trading Prigioni a couple of weeks ago in order to let him play for a contender. He's in his late 30s and might have left for a Euro team after his contract, so to get 2 2nd round picks, even if they are low picks, a decent return for Prigioni. GRADE: B-
Trade 12:
Detroit receives: Tayshaun Prince
Similar to the T-Wolves getting Garnett, this seems like just a feel good story to me. Prince was expected to be bought out after the deadline, so to give up a solid contributor in Jerebko was confusing for me. GRADE: D+
Boston receives: Jonas Jerebko and Luigi Datome
I've always liked Jerebko as a player. Will be solid off the bench and is solid in just about all aspects of his game. I consider Boston lucky that they didn't have to give up any draft picks in this deal. GRADE: C+
