Grading The Biggest Trades (So Far)
The NBA has had a couple of big trades in the past couple of days. Chris Paul to the Suns, Jrue Holiday to the Bucks, Dennis Schroder to the Lakers are just some of the bigger trades that have happened in this weird offseason. Today I will be going over all the major trades and giving my thoughts and opinions.
(There was a trade sending Bruce Brown (Detroit) to Brooklyn. But that was kind of minor so I’m going to be skipping that)
Suns Receive: Chris Paul and Abdel Nader
Thunder Receive: Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque, 2022 FRP
The Suns went for it all this offseason as they got a real star PG to pair with Booker and Ayton. The Suns proved that they were on the rise in the bubble, and they want to keep that going by acquiring Paul. I like the move because while losing Oubre hurts, Jerome and Lecque weren’t big parts of the lineup and by 2022 you would hope that they would be contenders. With Paul alongside Booker and Ayton, now the Suns are a real playoff team. They still have Saric, Bridges, and Cam Johnson. The Suns really did a good job with this trade, and now they should look ahead to the playoffs.
Grade: A-
The Thunder are in obvious rebuild mode. They sent Dennis Schroder to LA and now CP-3 to the desert. The Thunder are going full rebuild, and they also got some good pieces. They got yet another first round pick, adding to their endless stash. Kelly Oubre Jr. is very good and has high value if they want to flip him. Ricky Rubio might have some value, although I doubt it with his age. The Thunder are unlikely to keep him and will likely flip him. Jerome and Lecque are trade assets for any other trades Sam Presti wants to do. The Thunder did a good thing my moving off of Paul. They get rid of his massive contract and now officially get to move on to a new era of Thunder basketball.
Grade: B
Bucks Receive: Jrue Holiday
Pelicans Receive: George Hill, Eric Bledsoe, 5 FRP (Two Pick Swaps)
The Bucks have flamed out of the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, and it’s clear that they need to make improvements to their team. I suggested they trade Bledsoe, Hill and a few picks for CP-3, who is now in Phoenix. But they did the same thing with Jrue Holiday. Holiday is an excellent defender and shooter and will compliment Giannis nicely. The Bucks don’t need the picks, they need to win a title to make Giannis sign that super-max extension and stay in Milwaukee for the long-haul. The Bucks didn’t lose many of their core and now they might be in a better position to win in the East as Holiday is a very good player and should help this team a lot.
Grade: A-
The Pelicans have done it again. They have fleeced another team. Jrue Holiday for Eric Bledsoe and George Hill was already decent. Bledsoe is an All-NBA Defender and Hill played one of his best seasons with the Bucks in 2020. But getting 5 more FRP is insane. They got a bunch of picks from LA for AD last summer, and now they’re adding to the pile. It’s like the Thunder 2.0. Now you have Lonzo, Bledsoe, Ingram, and Zion. They do need an upgrade at center, so they might trade some of the picks that they have and try and upgrade Derrick Favors down low. But this is also a very good trade for New Orleans as they got an AD type haul for Jrue Holiday. No disrespect to Jrue or anything, but this was a great trade for New Orleans as well.
Grade: A+
Blazers Receive: Robert Covington
Rockets Receive: Trevor Ariza, 16th Pick 2020 Draft, 2021 FRP
The Blazers have been one of the better teams in the West for a while, but they always seem like one piece away. This trade really helps them. Ariza was getting older and they needed an upgrade at wing with Rodney Hood injured and Nassir Little looking like a bust. Covington is 29 years old and significantly better than Ariza. He can shoot and defend, things that the Blazers need. The Blazers are never bad enough to have a good draft pick, and the 16th pick in this draft wouldn’t have gotten them much. The Blazers are getting much better with this trade, and they should be happy about what they got.
Grade: A-
The Rockets needed this trade for a multitude of reasons. Harden and Westbrook are on the way out, and this franchise is like a dumpster fire. They didn’t have any draft picks for trades, and this is how they got some. They got a couple of draft picks so that they can trade Russell Westbrook easier. I expect them to try and fleece the Nets if they trade James Harden, but these two draft picks really help them if they want Russell Westbrook gone, which it seems like they do. The Rockets are going full rebuild mode, and with these picks they are in a better position to get more. Ariza is old and the Rockets will probably just trade him as well.
Grade B+
LA Lakers Receive: Dennis Schroder
OKC Thunder Receive: Danny Green, 28th Pick 2020 NBA Draft
After winning the title, the Lakers went right back to work improving their team. With rumors that Rondo was on the way out from Hollywood, the Lakers got his possible replacement. Schroder was one of the best 6th men in the league for OKC, and is one of the most efficient guards in the league. Schroder doesn’t need to be great as passing on a team with Lebron. Schroder will make it even tough to guard the Lakers with his slashing ability and 3-point shooting. The Lakers weren’t going to get much with the 28th pick, and Danny Green was unreliable all playoffs long. This move really improves the team, and it will make the Lakers much more dangerous on offense.
Grade: A
The Thunder are selling their team and fast. But this trade they didn’t net much. But they couldn’t expect much for the Lakers. They certainly weren’t getting Lebron or AD, so their options were limited. They got another first round pick, which they can use for another young player in order to develop. Danny Green is going to be flipped, so we’ll see what they get from that. I think that OKC would have gotten a better deal if they want anywhere but the Lakers. This trade doesn’t show Schroder’s worth. The Thunder are just cleaning house and starting over after how last season ended.
Grade: C-
Bucks Receive: Bogdan Bogdanovic and Justin James
Kings Receive: Donte DiVincenzo, Ersan Ilyasova, and DJ Wilson
This one surprised me the most. There have been no rumors that the Kings wanted to trade Bogdan. In fact I thought Buddy Hield was going to be gone. Bogdan is a solid shooter and scorer, and he will help this Bucks teams off the bench. The Kings didn’t have to give up much outside of Bogdanovic, but this moves puzzles me. Either they know that Buddy Hield is going to stay, or they’re going completely crazy. The Kings are in a weird spot. They are talented enough in the West, but this move shows that they could be rebuilding. The Kings didn’t get much in return, the one good piece being Donte DiVincenzo.
Grade: D
The Bucks have been pretty active during the offseason so far. Acquiring Jrue Holiday and now Bogdan Bogdanovic. Bogdan will help with scoring off the bench. But this move is much riskier than the Holiday trade. Obviously you gave up less, but Donte DiVincenzo was a great young player. He was also an excellent defender, something that Bogdanovic is not. Bogdan better be good, otherwise this move will be a flop for Milwaukee. But if he plays well, this move will be excellent in keeping the Bucks more dangerous on the offensive side of the ball. Not to mention the spacing that Bogdan brings. This is a boom or bust move by Milwaukee.
Grade: B-
What Are Some More Trades That You Would Want To See? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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