Houston Rockets (Grade: B-)
Acquired: DET 2016 1st Round Pick, PF Joel Anthony
Lost: PF Donatas Motiejunas, SF Marcus Thornton (Both traded to Detroit)
The Houston Rockets are one of the NBA’s most notable teams with their star players James Harden and Dwight Howard. I give them a B- for the trade deadline mainly from their good job on dumping a couple of players in which they do not need or use and gaining a 1st round pick from it. After making it to the Western Conference Finals last season the Rockets find themselves struggling with Howard who was seen as a possible target at the deadline.
Detroit Pistons (Grade: A-)
Acquired: SF Tobias Harris
Lost: PG Brandon Jennings, SF Ersan Ilyasova (Both traded to Orlando)
The Detroit Pistons get an A- for free agency for getting a great young talent in Tobias Harris. To lose players like Ilyasova and Jennings are tough but not the end of the world and easily replaceable. Tobias Harris is under contract for a few years and Detroit has a bright young star to add to their lineup with Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond.
Memphis Grizzlies (Grade: C-)
Acquired: PF Chris Andersen, SF P.J. Hairston, SG Lance Stephenson, 1st round pick
Lost: SG Courtney Lee (Charlotte), SF Jeff Green (LA Clippers)
I don’t see what a contender like the Memphis Grizzlies were doing by trading two starters for three role players. Jeff Green’s expiring contract dump and the 1st round pick the Grizzlies get are the only acquisitions they made that make the least bit of sense but adding a washed up Birdman, a D-League alumni, and a player past his prime was not the way to go.
Miami Heat (Grade: B)
Acquired and Lost: PG Brian Roberts (Portland)
Lost: PF Chris Andersen (Memphis), F Jarnell Stokes (New Orleans)
Not much to say about Miami besides they just dumped some unused players for cash. Not bad moves at all by a playoff contending Miami Heat
Orlando Magic (Grade: C+)
Acquired: PG Brandon Jennings, SF Ersan Ilyasova, SG Jared Cunningham, 2nd Round Pick
Lost: SF Tobias Harris (Detroit), PF Channing Frye (Cleveland)
The Orlando Magic were a team who I thought looked pretty good and possibly even sneak into the playoffs. In the weak East they still may but I think they either stayed the same or went downhill if anything. Adding veterans like Jennings and Ilyasova may be just what they need to advance but losing a player like Harris has to hurt in one way or another.
Charlotte Hornets (Grade: B)
Acquired: SG Courtney Lee
Lost: PG Brian Roberts (Portland)
The Charlotte Hornets are definitely not going to do much this season and probably won’t make the playoffs. An addition of a veteran like Courtney Lee was a good move and may add some life to the injury prone Hornets.
Portland Trail Blazers (Grade: B)
Acquired: PG Brian Roberts, C Anderson Varejao, 2018 1st Round pick, 2nd round pick
Another minor team in this years trade deadline, the Portland Trail Blazers are a team who is struggling and may not make the playoffs. These moves are very good for the future of the team though in adding a veteran center Varejao and a couple of future draft picks.
Utah Jazz (Grade: B+)
Acquired: PG Shelvin Mack
Lost: Two 2nd round picks (Atlanta & Chicago)
Utah Jazz were a small team in the trade deadline and rightfully so since they have played some great basketball this season. The Jazz have been a shock to everyone and adds some point guard depth to a weak PG lineup of Raul Neto, Trey Burke, and Dante Exum.
Atlanta Hawks (Grade: B-)
Acquired: PG Kirk Hinrich, 2nd round pick
Lost: SG Justin Holiday (Chicago), PG Shelvin Mack (Utah)
A couple of days ago the Hawks looked like they would be big shoppers at this years trade deadline when talks of trading Jeff Teague and Al Horford swirled around the league. After they backed out of trading either player these moves were decent to add some depth at point guard and gain a future draft pick.
Phoenix Suns (Grade: C)
Acquired: PF Kris Humphries, PF DeJuan Blair, 2016 1st round pick
Lost: F Markieff Morris (Washington)
It was a move they had to make to get rid of Markieff Morris since he was so unhappy in Phoenix. They added to role playing forwards and a first round pick for this upcoming draft which is much more intriguing
Washington Wizards (Grade: A)
Acquired: F Markieff Morris
Lost: PF Kris Humphries, PF DeJuan Blair (both Phoenix)
The other end of the Markieff Morris deal looks much brighter for a Wizards team that has struggled all season. They were able to dump a solid role player and a useless backup for one of the leagues up and coming talented scorers in Markieff Morris. John Wall can be happy now that he has a weapon on offense to rack up more assists.
New Orleans Pelicans (Grade: B)
Acquired: F Jarnell Stokes
Lost: 2nd round pick
The Pelicans have struggled all season long and in the past. They didn’t seem like a team who would trade or trade for anyone big this deadline since they have no potential this season. The trade for Jarnell Stokes was decent and it’s basically your typical Pelicans move.
Los Angeles Clippers (Grade: A-)
Acquired: SF Jeff Green
Lost: SG Lance Stephenson (Memphis), 1st round pick
The Clippers have been in the news a lot recently because of their star power forward Blake Griffin’s recent misconducts. The Clippers are a team that needs to win now and this addition was great for them since Jeff Green is exactly what they need (a versatile small forward). Losing a 1st round pick is a small price to pay for a team that wants to compete with the Warriors this season.
Denver Nuggets (Grade: B)
Acquired: SF Steve Novak, PG D.J. Augustin, two 2nd round picks
Lost: SG Randy Foye (Oklahoma City)
It seems like ever since the Nuggets traded Carmelo Anthony to the NY Knicks in 2011 they have been rebuilding. The Nuggets have fallen off the face of the earth and are constantly trying to rebuild their roster. This move is no different by acquiring an old 3-point bomber and a solid backup point guard. This trade was pretty even for both teams I would say.
Oklahoma City Thunder (Grade: B)
Acquired: SG Randy Foye
Lost: SF Steve Novak, PG D.J. Augustin, two 2nd round picks (all to Denver)
Just like I said before this trade seemed pretty even. I’m not sure how the addition of Randy Foye will boost the Thunder into a finals caliber team but we will have to just wait and see what happens.
Cleveland Cavaliers (Grade: C+)
Acquired: PF Channing Frye
Lost: SG Jared Cunningham, C Anderson Varejao, 2018 1st round pick, 2nd round pick (Orlando & Portland)
The Cavaliers are almost seen as a lock for the finals in an Eastern Conference that doesn’t contain much competition. These acquisitions definitely was a lot to lose for a league veteran at the level of Channing Frye. Varejao and Cunningham made sense since both are barely used but those two draft picks may come back and bite them.
Chicago Bulls (Grade: B+)
Acquired: G Justin Holiday, 2018 2nd round pick
Lost: PG Kirk Hinrich (Atlanta)
Not a bad move by Chicago who will make the playoffs but probably won’t contend without Joakim Noah who is injured for the season. Holiday is a solid role player and Kirk Hinrich was barely used anymore.
The Sports World According To Paul 