NBA Trade Grades

[mvblair2]

Mr. Blair's 2011 Trade Grades

Not that anybody cares, but I just spent four hours grading papers and an hour grading NBA trades. This is a typical Friday night for a charismatic guy like me.

I also thought of some great, insulting nicknames. I'm going to post them on the ESPN message boards to make fans of these teams really, really incensed. If KG sees what I'm calling Boston, he is going to flip!

ATLANTA HAWKS, B (FATLANTA HAWKS)
GET: Kirk Hinrich, Hilton Armstrong
GAVE: Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, Maurice Evans, 2011 pick

Hinrich is an improvement over Bibby. I like Hinrich. Great defender. Atlanta still isn't cracking the top of the East, though.​

BOSTON CELTICS, C (BOYSTOWN CELTICS)
GET: Nenad Krstic, Jeff Green, 2012 pick
GAVE: Kendrick Perkins, Nate Robinson, Semih Erden, Luke Harrengody

Krstic can give Boston some very efficient points. He can body up Dwight Howard for a quarter, but he'll give up some points. Despite his ugly face and attitude, Perkins was a burly guy...but does Boston need burly now that they have Shaq and his son, Baby Shaq?​

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS, B- (CHARLOTTE NOCATS)
GET: Joel Pryzbilla, 2011 pick, 2013 pick
GAVE: Gerald Wallace, Sean Marks

They weren't going anywhere, so the picks are nice​

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS, B (CLEVELAND HANDSOME FANS)
Get: Baron Davis, 2011 draft pick, Semih Erden, Luke Harrengody
Gave: Mo Williams, Jamario Moon, $?

I'm a fan of Erden. He'll be our starter next year. He could be nice. But essentially they traded a gimpy PG for a fat PG. Not great. That 2011 pick might be nice if it's high enough.​

DENVER NUGGETS, A- (DENVER FUCKITS)
GET: Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, 2014 draft pick, two second round draft picks, $3 million
GAVE: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncy Billups, Renaldo Balkman

They milked New York for a lot of extras. I truly think that Denver was ready to bluff, but New York blinked. Everybody loves a shooter like Gallo, but Chandler is going to be the hidden gem. I really like his game.​

HOUSTON ROCKETS, C (HOUSTON KNOCK-OFFS)
GET: Goran Dragic, Hasheem Thabeet, 2011 pick, 2013 pick
GAVE: Aaron Brooks, Shane Battier

Dragic is a great pick-up. I'm not really sure what happened with Aaron Brooks. He seemed OK to be. But Dragic is young and very, very smart. A few draft picks are nice, but why give up Battier for so little? He is the prototypical glue guy. I would give Houston an "A" just for getting Dragic, but giving up Battier for so little was a mistake...they should have tried to milk a contender.​

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS, D (LOS ANGELES CLIP-THE-RIMS)
GET: Mo Williams, Jamario Moon
GAVE: Baron Davis, 2011 draft pick

Why give up the draft pick?​

MEMPHIS GRIZZILES, B (MEMPHIS GRIZZLY MAMAS)
GET: Shane Battier
GAVE: Hasheem Thabeet, 2013 pick

Battier is going back to Memphis. That's nice.​

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES, C (MINNIEMOUSE TIMBERMICE)
GET: Anthony Randolph, Eddy Curry, $3 million
GAVE: No idea

Eddy Curry still has potential....right?​

NEW YORK KNICKS, B+ (NO YORK KNICKS)
GET: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncy Billups, Corey Brewer, Renaldo Balkman, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, thousands of bandwagon fans
GAVE: Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, 2014 draft pick, two second round draft picks, $3 million

I gave them a good grade because they got what they wanted, but they sure paid a heavy price. They got suckered into paying too much when they could have had him for a lot less this summer by forcing Carmelo to play his hand. They're still below Boston, Miami, Chicago, and Orlando in the East on account of their inability to pronounce the word "defense."​

NEW JERSEY NETS, D (NEW JERSEY NOPES)
GET: Deron Williams
GAVE: Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, 2011 draft pick, 2012 draft pick

I assume Williams will resign. He's a tough customer and the kind of PG you want running your team. But Harris is no laughing stock and Favors (whom I really haven't seen) is apparently bursting with potential. Plus, two first round picks? Come on, Prokhorov. You shouldn't be so desperate for a media star.​

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS, B (NEW ORLEANS HAIRNETS)
GET: Carl Landry
GAVE: Marcus Thornton, $

Everybody likes Carl Landry​

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER, A+ (OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER-THIGHS)
GET: Kendrick Perkins, Nate Robinson, Nazr Mohammed
GAVE: Nenad Krstic, Jeff Green, 2012 pick

Traded away a veteran center for a younger veteran center with more muscle? That's a good trade. OKC is young and looking good. I thought they were kind of media darlings last year, but Sam Presti is doing some great work for this roster. Too bad they're still not in Seattle.​

SACRAMENTO KINGS, D (SACRAMENTO QUEENS)
GET: Marcus Thornton, $
GAVE: Carly Landry

The Kings team lacks identity, so picking up a mediocre player at the NBA's toughest position isn't the best thing to do.​

PHOENIX SUNS, C- (PHOENIX PUNS)
GET: Aaron Brooks
GAVE: Goran Dragic, 2011 pick

Not sure about this one. Brooks might be good, but Dragic has so much potential. What does Brooks give you that Dragic doesn't have? Why give up a draft pick with it?​

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS, C (PORTLAND FAILBLAZERS)
GET: Gerald Wallace, Sean Marks
GAVE: Joel Pryzbilla, 2011 pick, 2013 pick

Wallace has never impressed me. Why go after him? Are they expecting Brandon Roy to fall out again? Do they need more scoring?​

UTAH JAZZ, A+ (UTAH HAZZ-BEENS)
GET: Deron Williams
GAVE: Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, 2011 draft pick, 2012 draft pick

Gotta' like what the Jazz did. They saw a potential problem in Williams and sent him off before he could start complaining like 'Melo. They got a good PG, a potentially great F (so I've heard), and some draft picks.​

WASHINGTON WIZARDS, C (WASHINGTON WHIZZERS)
GET: Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, Maurice Evans, 2011 pick
GAVE: Kirk Hinrich, Hilton Armstrong

Not really sure what Washington is trying to do. This doesn't really make them any better. Maybe they are preparing to package some players for trades before the draft?​

 

[CKR132]

The mock-offs were funny!

However:

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS, B (CLEVELAND HANDSOME FANS)
Get: Baron Davis, 2011 draft pick, Semih Erden, Luke Harrengody
Gave: Mo Williams, Jamario Moon, $?

I'm a fan of Erden. He'll be our starter next year. He could be nice. But essentially they traded a gimpy PG for a fat PG. Not great. That 2011 pick might be nice if it's high enough.

I thought the Cavaliers were referred to as the CLEVELAND CADAVERS? I am just joking.

Moving on, I am also glad that Harangody also is in the Cavaliers lineup where the Harangody is now a rebuilding piece for the franchise. The Cavaliers get a tough and hardworking player as well as a documented blue chipper.

But I honestly do not know the role that Baron Davis will bring to the team. Davis' contract situation alone is not ideal for a franchise that is re-building. A buyout perhaps on the horizon is brewing?

ATLANTA HAWKS, B (FATLANTA HAWKS)
GET: Kirk Hinrich, Hilton Armstrong
GAVE: Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, Maurice Evans, 2011 pick

Hinrich is an improvement over Bibby. I like Hinrich. Great defender. Atlanta still isn't cracking the top of the East, though.

I agree, Hinrich is far more capable of a facilitator on the offense compared to Bibby. Hinrich is also a surprisingly capable hard-nosed defender. Good trade for the Hawks as their plays of misdirections and overall half-court game will get better.

BOSTON CELTICS, C (BOYSTOWN CELTICS)
GET: Nenad Krstic, Jeff Green, 2012 pick
GAVE: Kendrick Perkins, Nate Robinson, Semih Erden, Luke Harrengody

Krstic can give Boston some very efficient points. He can body up Dwight Howard for a quarter, but he'll give up some points. Despite his ugly face and attitude, Perkins was a burly guy...but does Boston need burly now that they have Shaq and his son, Baby Shaq?

Boston has undertaken a huge risk by shipping out their pillar of defense on the paint with a mobile and european game inclined center. The burning question also is will the two O'Neals be healthy come the post-season war? Also, the Celtics got more than the wingman help as back-up to Paul Pierce where they acquired the versatile Green, whom they have drafted in the first place. I have a feeling Green will be an X-Factor on instances where they need to play small but do not expect Green to guard the likes of Boozer and Bosh in the paint as it had been proven that Green's post defense is a fatal flaw, but Green can guard the perimeter at his best. Also, the loss of Robinson means that the Celtics will also be risking that Delonte West is healthy come the post-season and by a longshot, rookie Avery Bradley can fill in a minute or two.

While the two draft picks gained, one each on two separate trades gives the Celtics a decent foothold on the foreseeable future where their aging trio retires. Good job addressing the future amply.

DENVER NUGGETS, A- (DENVER FUCKITS)
GET: Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, 2014 draft pick, two second round draft picks, $3 million
GAVE: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncy Billups, Renaldo Balkman

They milked New York for a lot of extras. I truly think that Denver was ready to bluff, but New York blinked. Everybody loves a shooter like Gallo, but Chandler is going to be the hidden gem. I really like his game.

I do hope that the Nuggets gel in time as their record indicates that they are still on the playoff hunt despite the loss of Anthony and Billups, which was replaced by solid good players in Gallinari, Felton and Chandler. The Nuggets suddenly have depth on each position, something that New York and Miami are still addressing at the moment.

HOUSTON ROCKETS, C (HOUSTON KNOCK-OFFS)
GET: Goran Dragic, Hasheem Thabeet, 2011 pick, 2013 pick
GAVE: Aaron Brooks, Shane Battier

Dragic is a great pick-up. I'm not really sure what happened with Aaron Brooks. He seemed OK to be. But Dragic is young and very, very smart. A few draft picks are nice, but why give up Battier for so little? He is the prototypical glue guy. I would give Houston an "A" just for getting Dragic, but giving up Battier for so little was a mistake...they should have tried to milk a contender.

Seems to me like a move for the immediate uncertain future surrounding the franchise. Semi-Rebuilding mode.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS, D (LOS ANGELES CLIP-THE-RIMS)
GET: Mo Williams, Jamario Moon
GAVE: Baron Davis, 2011 draft pick

Why give up the draft pick?

A veteran shooter in Williams gained on exchange with a veteran point guard in Davis that is physically imposing and crafty too. Davis' timely passes to Griffin would be missed, but the shooting touch of Williams will be a pressure release for Griffin's passing skills.

MEMPHIS GRIZZILES, B (MEMPHIS GRIZZLY MAMAS)
GET: Shane Battier
GAVE: Hasheem Thabeet, 2013 pick

Battier is going back to Memphis. That's nice.

Battier adds the defensive resume to the emerging man-to-man and collective clawing defense by the Grizzlies. Or they may end up securing a buyout. Too bad the OJ Mayo trade did not proceeded with the permitted period as McRoberts would have added front court depth.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES, C (MINNIEMOUSE TIMBERMICE)
GET: Anthony Randolph, Eddy Curry, $3 million
GAVE: No idea

Eddy Curry still has potential....right?

Two words: Expiring Contract. On Eddy Curry as Anthony Randolph is an intriguing player that could be another good piece for the Timberwolves rebounding and perimeter heft.

NEW JERSEY NETS, D (NEW JERSEY NOPES)
GET: Deron Williams
GAVE: Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, 2011 draft pick, 2012 draft pick

I assume Williams will resign. He's a tough customer and the kind of PG you want running your team. But Harris is no laughing stock and Favors (whom I really haven't seen) is apparently bursting with potential. Plus, two first round picks? Come on, Prokhorov. You shouldn't be so desperate for a media star.

The Nets have made it known that they wanted to trade Harris as well as the slow progress of the rookie, Derrick Favors, landed the Nets with a legitimate star. But there is the uncertainty if Williams will stay beyond his current contract.

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS, B (NEW ORLEANS HAIRNETS)
GET: Carl Landry
GAVE: Marcus Thornton, $

Everybody likes Carl Landry

A sound acquisition that bolsters the Hornets' depth on the front court as Landry is a solid contributor off the bench.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER, A+ (OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER-THIGHS)
GET: Kendrick Perkins, Nate Robinson, Nazr Mohammed
GAVE: Nenad Krstic, Jeff Green, 2012 pick

Traded away a veteran center for a younger veteran center with more muscle? That's a good trade. OKC is young and looking good. I thought they were kind of media darlings last year, but Sam Presti is doing some great work for this roster. Too bad they're still not in Seattle.

I like this trade. The Thunder get two veteran centers that has championship and playoff experience that greatly fortifies the Thunder's half court defense and the move I believe is aimed at the half-court wars that teams like the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers have been engaging for so many years.

SACRAMENTO KINGS, D (SACRAMENTO QUEENS)
GET: Marcus Thornton, $
GAVE: Carly Landry

The Kings team lacks identity, so picking up a mediocre player at the NBA's toughest position isn't the best thing to do.

I disagree, Thornton is not a mediocre player as Thornton is a capable scorer on the guard spot and many teams regret not signing Thornton on the past summer, particularly the New York Nets and the Minnesota Timberwovles. The Kings addressed the need for scoring off the bench as well as the shooting guard depth initially aimed after the injury of Francisco Garcia and now Thornton has to fill in the gap left by the injured Evans. Thornton, Head and Taylor will be sharing minutes at the two guard spot.

PHOENIX SUNS, C- (PHOENIX PUNS)
GET: Aaron Brooks
GAVE: Goran Dragic, 2011 pick

Not sure about this one. Brooks might be good, but Dragic has so much potential. What does Brooks give you that Dragic doesn't have? Why give up a draft pick with it?

Brooks is a capable scorer and would fit in with the uptempo game of the Suns.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS, C (PORTLAND FAILBLAZERS)
GET: Gerald Wallace, Sean Marks
GAVE: Joel Pryzbilla, 2011 pick, 2013 pick

Wallace has never impressed me. Why go after him? Are they expecting Brandon Roy to fall out again? Do they need more scoring?

Front court depth related move where Wallace provides the athleticism, hustle and rebounds on the wing. While Roy's health is still in question.

UTAH JAZZ, A+ (UTAH HAZZ-BEENS)
GET: Deron Williams
GAVE: Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, 2011 draft pick, 2012 draft pick

Gotta' like what the Jazz did. They saw a potential problem in Williams and sent him off before he could start complaining like 'Melo. They got a good PG, a potentially great F (so I've heard), and some draft picks.

Better than nothing I guess. Harris has a huge role to fill while Favors continue to develop.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS, C (WASHINGTON WHIZZERS)
GET: Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, Maurice Evans, 2011 pick
GAVE: Kirk Hinrich, Hilton Armstrong

Not really sure what Washington is trying to do. This doesn't really make them any better. Maybe they are preparing to package some players for trades before the draft?

I honestly do not know.