NBA Trade Deadline Grades

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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2014 NBA Trade Deadline


Indiana Pacers Get: Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen
Philadelphia 76ers Get: Danny Granger and 2015 second-round pick

As Ricky Bobby would say, "I play for keeps." This is clearly what the Pacers are doing right now. They are giving the go-all-in, stand-up, pace-around moment at the poker table by flipping Granger's expiring contract for Turner, who should end up being one hell of a sixth man for Indiana. The Pacers entered the day with the second-best record in the league, and while most of the top teams around the NBA - including the Heat - either did nothing at the deadline or made a very minute, non-impactful deal, Indiana added a dynamic, versatile wing player who could cement the Pacers' status as the team to beat in the East.

Meanwhile, the 76ers continue to blow up their roster faster than the exes blew up the fun for the original six of this season's Real World Ex-plosion cast. Philadelphia GM Sam Hinkie is taking tanking to a whole new level.

Grade for Pacers - A
Grade for 76ers - D

Paul Banks' Take: Evan Turner sent to Pacers for Danny Granger, No Clear Winner/Loser in Swap

We knew Evan Turner was being dealt today, on NBA Trade Deadline day, but no one would have thought he'd land in Indiana. Turner was sent from Philadelphia along with Lavoy Allen to Indiana in exchange for Danny Granger.

This deal doesn't make a whole lot of sense for the Pacers. They are hitting their stride right now and looking really good. Indiana has been the team to beat during this NBA regular season, but the main goal is to hold off Miami for the No. 1 seed. I guess Danny Granger wasn't fitting in. I'd wager Larry Bird believes that Turner will be a better option coming off the bench.

Now, Turner doesn't have to be the No. 1 option on his team. And he won't have to worry about living up to the hype and expectations of being a No. 2-overall draft pick. So perhaps Turner will thrive as a role player instead of a franchise player.

Granger probably won't stay in Philly for long as he's an expiring contract. The 76ers will let him go after the season to free up cap space. Philadelphia also will have two lottery picks, so this will be a total rebuild. We know that Sixers were going to blow things up, as they were going nowhere. The team is bad, attendance is worse, and the club's leading scorer, Turner was the first to go. He had the most trade value of anyone on the Sixers.

Evan Turner does have talent, it's just that he hasn't lived up to it so far. However, in evaluating this trade in terms of upside, maybe Evan Turner actually has more long-term upside than Danny Granger - even if it takes Turner 16 shots a game to score 17 points per game.

Now Turner is in a best-case scenario, going from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the best. We haven't seen the best from him yet. We soon will, I believe.

Cleveland Cavaliers Get: Spencer Hawes
Philadelphia 76ers Get: Earl Clark, Henry Sims, and two second-round picks

With Andrew Bynum flaming out in Cleveland and Anderson Varejao once again banged up, the Cavaliers add a needed big man without really having to give up anything of real value. Hawes adds some needed versatility to the Cleveland frontcourt since he can stretch defenses with his outside shooting (did you know he's shooting nearly 40% from three this season?) I actually really like this deal for the Cavaliers even if Hawes is terrible defensively ... then again, so is this team as a whole.

Grade for Cavs - B+
Grade for 76ers - B

Charlotte Bobcats Get: Luke Ridnour and Gary Neal
Milwaukee Bucks Get: Ramon Sessions and Jeff Adrien

Ridnour and Neal add depth to the Bobcats' backcourt but I can't see those guys providing a huge upgrade over Sessions, unless you talk about needing some shooters. The Bucks save about $3.25 million in cap space by shedding an unhappy Neal. If I were the Bucks, I would have given away anyone on my roster not named Giannis or John.

Grade for Bobcats - D+
Grade for Bucks - A-

Washington Wizards Get: Andre Miller
Denver Nuggets Get: Jan Vesely

Philadelphia 76ers Get: Eric Maynor, Washington's 2015 second-round pick, Denver's 2016 second-round pick

The Wizards were looking for an upgrade at guard behind John Wall and Bradley Beal, and Miller brings experience and leadership to a team looking to make a playoff push. The Nuggets made this move to shed the $4.6 million that the unhappy Miller is owed next year, but I would have liked to see them get more in return. The Sixers got involved in this deal because they now love second-round picks more than I love Jimmy Fallon (and I LOVE Jimmy Fallon.)

Grade for Wizards - A-
Grade for Nuggets - B
Grade for 76ers - B




Sacramento Kings Get: Jason Terry and Reggie Evans
Brooklyn Nets Get: Marcus Thornton

Thornton is making $8.7 million next season. That's a ton to pay for a chucker who doesn't do much besides occasionally blow up for a 30-plus game. I guess Terry and Evans weren't doing anything special in Brooklyn though, and the Nets needed to swing for the fences a bit to try and add a spark for their hopeful playoff push.

Grade for Kings - B-
Grade for Nets - D+


Golden State Warriors Get: Steve Blake
Los Angeles Lakers Get: Marshon Brooks and Kent Bazemore
This was a straight-up salary dump for the Lakers and will save them about $4 million in luxury tax. Golden State recently traded for Jordan Crawford but were still looking to add some backcourt depth, and Blake is still good for 12 minutes a night behind Stephen Curry. The Warriors win this trade big time since Brooks and Bazemore weren't really factors in their rotation.

Grade for Warriors - A
Grade for Lakers - C+


Houston Rockets Get: Jordan Hamilton
Denver Nuggets Get: Aaron Brooks
Brooks replaces Miller as Denver's backup point guard. Hamilton adds some depth and athleticism to Houston's wing. Yawn.

Grade for Rockets - A-
Grade for Nuggets - C+


Toronto Raptors Get: Nando De Colo
San Antonio Spurs Get: Austin Daye
This isn't even worth 140 characters.

Grade for Raptors - C
Grade for Spurs - D


Phiadelphia 76ers Get: Byron Mullens
Los Angeles Clippers Get: Second-round pick

The Sixers own about 612 second-round picks and needed to add a big since they dealt Hawes and Allen earlier in the day. I don't get this trade from the Clippers' standpoint since it depletes their thin frontcourt even more.

Grade for 76ers - C-
Grade for Clippers - D


Atlanta Hawks Get: Antawn Jamison
Los Angeles Clippers Get: Draft rights to Cenk Akyol

This is a worthless trade like the Kings acquiring Roger Mason from Miami. Both are all about saving some coin in the luxury tax and opening up a roster spot to sign a potential free agent since both Jamison and Mason will be released.

Grade for Hawks - D
Grade for Clippers - D







Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]



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