Grading Every NBA Trade Deadline Move
The NBA Trade Deadline is exploding. After weeks and months of rumors and rumors, we have hit an explosion with moves and moves galore. Today I will be going every move and grading it for both sides.
Denver Gets A Backup Center
The Nuggets got Javale McGee for nothing, trading Isaiah Hartenstein and two second round picks for the 3x champ. The Nuggets definitely miss Mason Plumlee but now can get a competent backup center behind Jokic. Good move for the Nuggets. The Cavs don’t get a good player back, but they get a couple of picks for their rebuild. The Cavs get two 2nd round picks, an unprotected one in 2027 and a protected one in 2023. A good trade for both sides.
Nuggets Grade: A
Cavs Grade: B-
Nikole Vucevic To The Windy City, Magic Rebuilding
Bulls Get: Nikola Vucevic, Al Farouq-Aminu
Magic Get: Wendell Carter Jr, Otto Porter, Two FRP (2021, 2023)
Wow, this was unexpected. But it’s the right move for both teams. From the Bulls perspective, their young guys don’t all fit. Carter has his minutes reduced because he just doesn’t fit. Now the Bulls are bringing in an All-Star center and wing defender. Vucevic is under contract until 2023, so the Bulls have one of the best scoring centers in the league for a while.
The Magic get two unprotected first round picks this year and in 2023. They also get a good young center in Wendell Carter, who is still good, it’s just that it didn’t work in Chicago. Otto Porter has a massive contract but he’s a free agent this summer and I would advise the Magic to not try and retain him. The Magic trade away their franchise center but get a good haul back.
Bulls Grade: B+
Magic Grade: A
Celtics Get More Scoring For Cheap, Orlando Continues Rebuild
Ok Orlando, this wasn’t a good trade. You’re giving up a very good scorer in Fournier for two second round picks. I feel like that’s two little, you couldn’t have gotten a player or something? I mean you are getting picks but I feel like you got robbed on this one. I mean you got Jeff Teague, but you waived him so essentially you got two second round picks.
From Boston’s perspective, they’re trying anything to salvage the season. I’d imagine Fournier is coming off the bench to try and help a very weak bench. I like this move however I don’t know if Boston can keep him long term with Fournier being a free agent this summer. This seems like he’s good for the 2nd half of the year move and they didn’t have to give up much to get him, so good move for Boston.
Oh and Boston gets rid of Teague who was a bust of a signing, giving more PG minutes to Pritchard.
Magic Grade: C
Celtics Grade: A
Aaron Gordon To Denver, Orlando Continues To Clean House
Denver Gets: Aaron Gordon, Gary Clark
Magic Get: Gary Harris, RJ Hampton, 2025 Protected FRP
This is a very weird trade for Denver, but it’s simple for Orlando. Gordon was a hot trade commodity and you got another good haul. Although the pick is protected, it’s still a FRP. Gary Harris is very inconsistent and injury prone and with him being an free agent next summer, don’t expect him to be on Orlando for long. RJ Hampton didn’t play much for Denver, but the 2020 first round pick now gets a chance to show what he’s good. Orlando does get a young asset but I doubt the FRP gives them much. Harris isn’t doing anything so the Magic didn’t get a lot for Gordon, but it’s likely the most they could have gotten.
This was a steal for Denver who in essence gets a Jerami Grant lite player in Gordon. You’re giving a FRP (not worth much, Denver is good), a young player in Hampton who didn’t play much, and Gary Harris who has fallen off. Gordon and McGee help the frontcourt defense and the duo of him and MPJ at forward is so weird, but it’s not bad. I imagine Gordon is coming off the bench and brings some much needed bench scoring and wing defense to Denver. Good move for Denver as they try and make another deep postseason run.
Magic Grade: C+
Nuggets Grade: A
Heat Get Shooting, Kings Get Defense
Both teams filling big needs. The Heat acquire Nemanja Bjelica, a guy who has been a good shooter his whole career. He doesn’t play much for the Kings and is a defensive liability, but the Heat desperately need shooting and they got a career 39% 3-PT shooter.
The Kings get defense for a guy they weren’t playing. Mo Harkless is a solid wing defender and should definitely be getting minutes because the Kings have a terrible defense. Chris Silva might play, but I doubt it. The key for the Kings here is getting some defense.
Heat Grade: B
Kings Grade: B+
Portland Gets More Offense, Raptors Get Downgrade
Portland Gets: Norman Powell
Toronto Gets: Gary Trent and Rodney Hood
As a Blazers fan, I couldn’t love this deal more. Gary Trent has been very good this season, however he’s a RFA this summer and Portland didn’t have the money to pay him. While we will miss him, Powell is an upgrade. Rodney Hood has been terrible this season and now you’re bringing in Powell who is a certified bucket getter off the bench. Powell is another guy who can close games and is a better defender than Trent who was overmatched with a weak Portland perimeter.
Powell is shooting 44% from 3 and is averaging 19.6 points. Powell does have a PO that he will likely opt out of. But paying him instead of Trent is the better move.
The Raptors are doing this to clear cap space, as if they waive Baynes and Hood they could create about $20 million in free agency this summer before trying to re-sign RFA Trent. While Powell has been very good for the Raptors this season, he was going to be paid top-dollar. The Raptors are trying to make a splash in free agency, or at least get better. Keeping Powell wouldn’t have enabled the Raptors to do so. While losing Powell and not getting any draft picks hurts, don’t be surprised if the Raptors swing big in free agency.
Also Trent is a lot younger than Powell, so they can get a cheaper Powell with a potential splash in free agency. The Raptors are playing the long game here and it just might work.
Blazers Grade: A
Raptors Grade: B
East Contenders Add Pieces, Thunder Grow Future Wealth
76ers Receive: George Hill, Iggy Brazdeikis
OKC Receives: Tony Bradley, Austin Rivers, Two Second Round Picks (2025,2026)
Knicks Receive: Terrence Ferguson
This trade doesn’t feature many impactful players, I’ll just go over the important details.
For the 76ers, you had dreams of Lowry and got George Hill. Got to hurt a bit. But George Hill is a good floor general and another good playmaker outside of Simmons. Should be solid off the bench.
OKC gets Tony Bradley who looked really good starting in place of Embiid. Austin Rivers is on a small contract and the Knicks didn’t need him. OKC also gets two more picks, giving them 34 projected picks over the next 7 years. 17 of them are FRP. 17 of them are second round picks. Sam Presti continues to hoard the wealth.
The Knicks get Terrence Ferguson who’s had off the floor troubles. I don’t know if he’s playing but he used to be a good defender. Austin Rivers was out of the rotation and I doubt that Ferguson does much.
76ers Grade: B+
OKC Grade: Picks
Knicks Grade: N/A
Exchanging Potential In The East
Bulls Get: Troy Brown Jr and Mo Wegner
Wizards Get: Daniel Gafford and Chandler Hutchison
This trade could be weird because a lot of these guys are unproven. The Bulls get a energy guy in Mo Wegner who can be a spark plug. He’s a definite defensive upgrade from Lauri Markkanen and should help fill the hole left by Wendell Carter’s departure to Orlando. Troy Brown has potential and he wasn’t used much in DC.
The Bulls get better pieces for right now as well as a guy (Troy Brown Jr) with potential
Washington gets a decent center in Daniel Gafford (who isn’t starter material), and Chandler Hutchison has some potential with him not playing much and him only being 24 years old. I hope that Washington doesn’t start Gafford because he has terrible as a starter for Chicago. Their center rotation is now Lopez and Gafford. Not great but Gafford will be a good backup once Thomas Bryant comes back healthy.
The Wizards make their center rotation weirder and lose one of their better defenders banking on development. Risky to say the least.
Bulls Grade: B
Wizards Grade: C
How Much Shooting Is Enough?
If it was ever possible for the the Jazz to have more shooting, they did that with this move. The Jazz are giving up a future 2nd round pick to Toronto for Matt Thomas who is shooting 42% from 3 this season. Matt might not play much, but the Jazz love shooting so he’ll fit right in.
The Raptors are doing this to free up a roster spot in a potential Lowry trade. As of right now they have 45 minutes to make a trade, and this Thomas trade gives them more flexibility if a Lowry trade did in fact happen.
Jazz Grade: Shooting
Raptors Trade: Picks
Clippers Finally Get A Floor General
Clippers Get: Rajon Rondo
Hawks Get: Lou Williams and Two Second Round Picks
As a person who thinks the Clippers are very good, this move truly makes them contenders. Rondo is a savvy PG who proved he still has some left in the tank after the 2020 Bubble. The move to the Hawks was a flunk and now LA gets him for nothing. Lou Williams hasn’t been the same this year and while LA is losing the last of their limited draft capitol, Rondo should complete them.
He’s also not a playoff choker, so that helps.
Lou Williams returns home to Atlanta, but after eating chicken wings, Williams has never been the same. The Hawks are hoping that he can provide bench scoring but he’s a FA after this season. Now the Hawks don’t have a backup PG with Kris Dunn being out. While Rondo wasn’t playing, I think that the Hawks didn’t add anything of value in this deal.
Clippers Grade: A+++
Hawks Grade: D
Kings Add More Depth, Raptors Build Future
The Kings are getting Terence Davis from Toronto for a future 2nd round pick. The Kings have added depth with the likes of Mo Harkless, Delon Wright, and Terrence Davis. Davis is a solid scorer who never got consistent minutes with the Raptors. Davis is a solid player and makes the Kings get some more depth, something they’ll need if they want to be a top-10 team in the West.
While this does make the Kings guard rotation so full, it’s a good move. Here’s the Kings Guard Rotation
De’Aaron Fox
Buddy Hield
Tyrese Haliburton
Delon Wright
Terrence Davis
I don’t get this move by the Raptors. Davis is young and could be a solid piece in a rebuild. With the Norman Powell departure he would have gotten more minutes. But now he’s gone for a 2nd round pick. I just don’t get that.
Kings Grade: B+
Raptors Grade: D
The 11th Hour Victor Oladipo Miami Heat Trade
Heat Get: Victor Oladipo
Rockets Get: Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, 2022 FRP Swap
The Heat now get another consistent scorer. Outside of Butler and Adebayo, nobody on this team is consistent. Not Nunn, Robinson, Herro, or Dragic. Getting Oladipo might help that and give the Heat the right offensive push they need. Now here’s a problem that might happen. Oladipo is a free agent this summer and while he wants max money, he’s not worth it. I don’t think Miami should sign Oladipo to a max deal, anything under that is fine. But I find it hard to believe that Oladipo will be with the team long.
You could have had Caris Levert. Instead now you have two aging guys and one pick. Good job Houston. I knew it was a bad idea when they swapped Levert for Oladipo and now the move looks even worse. Bradley is 30 and Olynyk is 29. Not exactly teeming with youth. While they did get a FRP, it’s the only good asset they got from the trade. I know Oladipo’s value wasn’t great, but Houston got next to nothing back.
Heat Grade: B
Rockets Grade: F
Daniel Theis To Chicago In Center Swap
Ok Boston, now this is stupid. Daniel Theis has been one of your best centers this year. If anybody, trade Tristan Thompson. The Celtics get Mo Wegner back, but the Bulls robbed the Celtics on this one.
Boston gets a defensive center in Wegner, now meaning that Robert Williams likely takes the starting role. This does open things up for Williams which is nice, but I would have gotten rid of Thompson. Theis is solid defensively and much more offensive than Wegner.
Yesterday the Bulls had Carter Jr and Gafford. They now have Vucevic and Theis. Wow, what an upgrade. Theis is solid defensively, giving the Bulls a defensive frontcourt of Aminu, Young, and now Theis. That should help hide the vulnerability on defense, Markkanen. I love this move by the Bulls.
Celtics Grade: C
Bulls Grade: A-
Mavs Get More Shooting, Pelicans Lose Little Shooting That They Had
Mavs Get: JJ Redick and Nicolo Melli
Pelicans Get: James Johnson, Wes Iwundu, Second Round Pick
The Mavs have talent around Luka, but it’s inconsistent. Getting Redick provides shooting. Love this move, considering you gave up next to nothing. Dumping James Johnson’s massive contract is another W.
The Pelicans don’t know what they’re doing. Giving up one of the only shooters the team has for no shooting in return. This team doesn’t know how to build around Zion and Ingram. Also getting a massive James Johnson contract. Very epic.
Mavs Grade: A-
Pelicans Grade: D-
Drummond And Aldridge Become Free Agents
Both former All-Stars have been bought out by Cleveland and San Antonio respectively. Both will likely be signed by contending teams.
Update: Heat a frontrunner to sign Aldridge once officially bought out. Aldridge expected to talk to multiple teams.
Update: Drummond is expected to go to LA and sign with the defending champs. I doubt he helps with anything because LA’s center room is very bad compared to last year. Gasol and Drummond, that’s really bad.
What Are Your Thoughts From The Trade Deadline? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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