2014 NBA Trade Deadline Grades

The NBA trade deadline came and went without a star player being moved but that’s not a surprise. However; we did have a good number of trades happening with the 76ers being the most active. With the ten trades that went down at the deadline I graded the deal for each team. Trades were first reported in the order that they are graded.

TRADE 1: Kings and Nets

Kings: get Jason Terry, Reggie Evans

Nets: get Marcus Thornton

Grades: Kings (D) Nets (C+)

WHY?: The Kings were looking to dump Thornton’s contract and save some money, unfortunately for them they couldn’t do any better than Terry and Evans and save them only a million dollars. If the Kings can agree to buyouts with either or both players by March first to allow them to sign with playoff teams there grade will incase to an A. The Nets don’t understand what the point of the luxury tax is for so adding another million dollars in salary and a bunch of tax penalties doesn’t matter to Russian billionaire Owner Mikhail Prokhorov. The Nets get a minimal upgrade in Thornton over Terry.



Terry (left) and Evans (right) get swapped for Thornton (middle).

 

TRADE 2: Lakers and Warriors

Lakers: get Kent Bazemore, Marshon Brooks

Warriors: get Steve Blake

Grades: Lakers (C+) Warriors (A)

WHY?: The Lakers had no use for Blake and by shipping him off they save some luxury tax money and get a trade exception for about $2.8 million they can use all the way up to next year’s trade deadline. The Warriors traded for Jordan Crawford back in January to be the backup point guard and it unbearably failed. Bringing in Blake gives the Warriors a veteran backup point guard to play behind and with Stephen Curry much like Jarrett Jack did last year.

Blake, in his first Warriors practice, will provide veteran experience coming off the bench.

 

TRADE 3: Cavaliers and 76ers

Cavaliers: get Spencer Hawes

76ers: get Earl Clark, Henry Sims, two second round picks

Grades: Cavaliers (B) 76ers (B-)

WHY?: The 76ers have been looking to unload Hawes for a first round pick for the last two months, unable to do so they unload him for a couple of non-guaranteed contracts and a pair of second round picks (a theme for the 76ers on this day). The 76ers had no long term plans for Hawes since Nerlens Noel is their future at center so dumping him for a couple of picks without taking back long term salary is a good move. The Cavaliers are making one last hard push for the playoffs and adding Hawes gives All Star MVP Kyrie Irving a pick and pop player who can space the floor for Irving to create. The reason the Cavaliers didn’t get a higher grade is because Hawes is an unrestricted free agent this summer and likely won’t return next year. However, two second round picks and some bench players isn’t a horrible deal for a player rental to make a playoff push.

Hawes ability to stretch the floor and shoot the three will fit well in the Cavaliers offense. 

 

TRADE 4:  Heat and Kings

Heat: get conditional second round pick

Kings: get Roger Mason Jr. (waived right after trade approval), cash considerations

Grades: Heat (B-) Kings (C)

WHY?: This is a very simple trade; the Heat pay the Kings enough cash (plus a little extra for helping out) to cover Mason’s contract (that the Kings waived right away). Now the Heat have an open roster spot for the all-important March first date when player buyouts must be done for players to play in the playoffs. The Kings by rule have to give the Heat something so the Heat will receive the Kings 2015 second round pick if it is between picks 56-60 (which won’t happen) so the Heat won’t receive anything in reality.

The deal is all about money for the Kings. A lot of money!

 

TRADE 5: Bobcats and Bucks

Bobcats: get Gary Neal, Luke Ridnour

Bucks: get Ramon Sessions, Jeff Adrien

Grades: Bobcats (A) Bucks (B)

WHY?: The Bobcats are making a playoff push and while many believed Ben Gordon’s expiring contract would be used in any Bobcats deal, it wasn’t and Gordon might be a player looking for a March first buyout. The Bucks were looking to add a shooter and grabbed Neal, who has been dying to get out of Milwaukee since he signed their in the offseason. The Bucks have been trying to get rid of Neal and his two year $6.5 million dollar contract. The reason why the Bucks don’t get an A grade is because they should of tried to get a second round pick in this deal. Considering the Bucks traded away two of their trade assists in one deal without getting anything valuable back. Sessions may also be a playing looking at that March first buyout.

Ridnour (left) and Neal (right) will provide scoring and stability to a shaky Bobcats bench. 

 

TRADE 6: Wizards, Nuggets, and 76ers

Wizards: get Andre Miller

Nuggets: get Jan Vesely

76ers: get Eric Maynor, two second round picks (one each from Wizards and Nuggets)

Grades: Wizards (A) Nuggets (C+) 76ers (C+)

WHY?: The Wizards turn two players sitting on their bench into one of the better veteran point guards on an expiring deal. The Nuggets trade Miller who has been away from the team since the start of 2014 because of a clash he had with Head Coach Brian Shaw. The 76ers get two second round picks (see the 76ers theme?) to take on Maynor and the remaining year on his contract after this year (something the Nuggets weren’t willing to do).

Miller will provide a veteran leader and playmaker to the Wizards second unit.

 

TRADE 7: Rockets and Nuggets

Rockets: get Jordan Hamilton

Nuggets: get Aaron Brooks

Grades: Rockets (C+) Nuggets (D-)

WHY?: Pretty boring trade especially after the three team deal above. The Rockets and Nuggets swap bench players who were doing very little for their old team. The reason why the Rockets got a C+ is because they took Brooks (who they have traded now twice) and got back a young prospect in Hamilton, who was a first round pick three years ago and never got a chance to show what he can do with consistent minutes. The Nuggets get a D- because while they needed a point guard with Miller traded and starter Ty Lawson hurt, they gave away a former first round pick to get a guy who won’t be with the team next year and all Denver has to look forward to is the draft. So instead why not sign a free agent point guard for the rest of the year and play Hamilton to see what he can do? Changing my grade now to an F!!!

The Nuggets get an F on this trade. Horrible decision!!!

 

TRADE 8: Raptors and Spurs

Raptors: get Nando De Cole

Spurs: get Austin Daye

Grades: Raptors (C) Spurs (C)

WHY?: Probably the most boring trade of the deadline. Both teams get a grade of a C because this trade could have never happened and no one would care. Both players were stuck on the bench doing very little for their old team. I can only imagine what the conversation between Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford and Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri…

·        Buford: Hey Masai how’s the deadline going?

·        Ujiri: Nothing, quiet you?

·        Buford: Same, wanna make a deal?

·        Ujiri: What did you have in mind?

·        Buford: I’ll give you De Cole

·        Ujiri: For?

·        Buford: uhh?.. A bucket of fried chicken and a two litter of soda?

·        Ujiri: HAHA anything else? Maybe some mac n cheese?

·        Buford: Nah not a fan of mac n cheese… how about Daye?

·        Ujiri: Sure why not? But no chicken and soda then!

·        Buford: HAHA okay deal

·        Ujiri: Cool. Most painless deal ever

·        Burford: Agreed

·        Ujiri: When are we going to have dinner R.C.?

·        Buford: When you find a wife that can cook? HAHA

·        Ujiri: -SLAM!!!- Hangs up phone

And that is how the Daye and De Cole trade happened (I WISH!!).

 

TRADE 9: Clippers, Hawks, and 76ers

Clippers: get draft rights to Cenk Akyol (from Hawks)

Hawks: get Antawn Jamison

76ers: get Byron Mullens, second round pick

Grades: Clippers (C-) Hawks (B) 76ers (C+)

WHY?: The Clippers are playing the luxury tax so removing both Jamison and Mullens saves the Clippers some money plus opens two roster spots for the March first buyout date. If the Clippers add a player or two come early March their grade will go up toward the B+ range since neither Jamison nor Mullens were playing much for the Clippers anyways. The Hawks just need a body that is healthy enough to play basketball right now and adding the savvy veteran Jamison for the draft rights to a guy playing in Turkey who will never play a game in the NBA. The 76ers gain a second round pick to take on Mullens contract and pay him for the rest of the year. The Clippers are first in line to sign recently bought out Glen “Big Baby” Davis.

Davis, just bought out by the Magic, could provide depth to a very thin Clippers front court.

 

TRADE 10: Pacer and 76ers

Pacers: get Evan Turner, Lavoy Allen

76ers: get Danny Granger, second round pick.

Grades: Pacers (A-) 76ers (B+)

WHY?: The Pacers traded Granger’s expiring contract and turn it into two players designed to give the Miami Heat trouble in the playoffs. Turner gives the Pacers depth at both guard spots and the small forward spot. Allen gives the Pacers a big physical body to guard against the pick n roll. The only downside is it might seriously mess with the team’s chemistry after Granger swallowed his pride and accepted his sixth man role. The 76ers looked like they couldn’t find someone to take Turner and were just going to hold to him. But last minute, of course, the 76ers take part in their fourth trade of the day and ship off two players not in their long term plans for the expiring contract of Granger; who is a very likely to be bought out in time for that March first date and net them yet AGAIN a second round pick (their sixth of the day!!). I originally gave the 76ers a B+ because they will save some money if they can agree to a buyout with Granger and failed to get back a first round pick for Turner (much like Hawes) but being clutch in the last few minutes of the deadline and finding a deal for Turner I’m re-grading them and giving them an A+!!

76ers get a grade of an A+ after making smart moves for their future.