Trade Bonanza Grades

CLEVELAND:
Get: Antwan Jamison, Sebastian Telfair
Give: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Draft rights to some Euro Prospect, 2010 first-round pick

Good trade for good team, CLE keeps hickson and might get Z back through buy-out. Bassy might get some minutes as Boobie and Herpes boy just don't hack it as a pg. not that Bassy ever “hacked” it as PG but hey, if lebron can put him in his place and make him play PG and not crazy-ball, even better for Cleveland.

KD’s grade: A-

DALLAS:
Get: Caron Butler, Branden Haywood, DeShawn Stevenson
Give: Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross, James Singlton

Another good trade for an already decent squad. Getting butler over the much-maligned Howard is good, but Haywood seems to be way more than just a throw-in. It takes size to get past the Lakers, and Dallas has gained some (as soon as Dampier gets back on the court). Oh, and they gave up nothing but headaches.

KD’s grade: B+

HOUSTON:
Get: Kevin Martin, Jordan Hill, Jared Jeffries, Hilton Armstrong, Knicks 1st round pick 2012
Give: Tracy McGrady, Carl Landry, Joey Dorsey

Kmart-Brooks backcourt still has to prove itself, though I see more gloom than glory for this pairing. Add that to the huge injury concerns that come with Martin, and I’m almost ready to call Kmart “Tmac-light”. However, the rockets do steal Hill and another 1st round pick, and get another role player in Armstrong. Plus, Jeffries’ defense will fit in just perfectly with the rockets.

KD’s grade: A-

PORTLAND:
Get: Marcus Camby
Give: Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw, Cash

Well, there goes Roy’s running mate. They did gain some size with Camby, but its really just plugging the holes, and defensively, I just don’t see Marcus/LaMarcus doing good together. I’m really not sure the Blazers got better with this trade, plus Camby will be gone by the end of the year. There could probably have been more out there than giving up Blake and Outlaw for an aging rent-a-center.

KD’s grade: C-

SACRAMENTO:
Get: Carl Landry, Larry Hughes, Dominique McGuire, Joey Dorsey
Give: Kevin Martin, Sergio Rodriguez, Conditional 2nd Round Pick

Landry is the best player they got and I’m assuming he’ll get placed into rotation ASAP. The best thing the kings did was to get rid of Kmart, as they dare not stunt the growth of ROY candidate Evans. For some odd reason, I actually like this trade for Sacramento.

KD’s grade: B-

CHARLOTTE:
Gets: Tyrus Thomas, Theo Ratliff
Give: Acie Law, Flip Murray, Future 1st rounder, Conditional 2nd Rounder

Fail on so many levels. 1st off, Law is the guy that LB forced them to pick when they really wanted Brook Lopez. Tyrus Thomas and LB will get into eachothers grills by march, and both will be wrong and both will be right! Thomas got oh so much to learn, and LB has oh so much to teach!

KD’s grade: C+

CLIPPERS:
Get: Travis Outlaw, Steve Blake, Drew Gooden
Give: Marcus Camby, Al Thornton, Sebastian Telfair

In gut-wrenching-anticipation of Blakes return (can you return if you’ve never really been there??) the clippers got rid of their log-jam at the PF/C spot and gained a trust-worthy back-up to Bdiddy. Too bad they got rid of Thronton who would have blossomed in this new up-tempo game plan they have since Dunleavy Sr. stepped down. If Blake heals and finally breaks the Clipper curse, I’m loving this trade. Till then, they have to settle for the grade I give them.

KD’s grade: B-

MILWAUKEE:
Get: Royal Ivey, Primo Brezec, John Salmons 2010 2nd Rounder and a whole bunch of pick swapping
Give: Joe Alexander, Hakim Warrick, Fransisco Elson, Jodi Meeks

This trade has a hole bunch of “who the heck is that??”-type of players. However, I can’t fault the Bucks for trying to get better now and trying to squeak into the playoffs which will probably earn them a god-almighty spanking by the Cavs in the 1st round. Not sure what their plans with Salmons are after this season.

KD’s grade: D

MEMPHIS:
Get: Ronnie Brewer
Give: 2011 Protected 1st Round Pick

I’m not sure why either team did this trade. Looking at the Memphis side of the deal, Brewer wasn’t even needed as he now comes off the bench behind Mayo, Conley, Gay, and really doesn’t do anything good enough to warrant too much playing time.

KD’s grade: D

MINNESSOTA:
Get: Darko Milicic
Give: Brian Cardinal

This trade saves the Knicks another $1million and its really the only reason I can see for this trade to happen. Neither will crack the rotation, though both teams will say they got what they wanted, while both names are almost forgotten in most NBA circles. What has happened to Detroits’ once highly regarded 2nd over-all pick? And to think they could have had Wade or Bosh or Melo!! Still hurts!

KD’s grade: who cares

SPURS:
Get: Future 2nd Round Pick
Give: Theo Ratliff

Sure Theo hasn’t been getting any PT but I really thought his knees are being saved for a play-off push starting right about now. Well, a lot hasn’t made sense in SA this year, so I’m not surprised the Spurs shaved his salary off the books.

KD’s grade: who cares

UTAH:
Gets: Future 1st Round Pick + cash
Gives: Ronnie Brewer

Not sure why Utah thought it would be smart to let go of their leader in steals. A low-maintenance guard who might not lead your team in scoring, but does everything good enough a coach like Sloan would want to keep around. Oh, and they just p*ssed off Deron Williams who only signed a 3-year deal

KD’s grade: D

KNICKS:
Get: Tracy McGrady, Eddie House, Brian Cardinal's expiring, JR Giddens, Bill Walker, Sergio Rodriguez
Give: Darko Milicic, Larry Hughes, Jordan Hill, Jared Jeffries, 2011 1st Round Flip (HOU) and 2010 1st Round Pick

So they swap picks, give up the 2012 1st rounder and give up 2010’s 1st round pick in Jordan Hill. Basketball-wise, this just doesn’t make any sense. But what has made sense with the Knicks these past decade? They do however free up cap space for this summers Free Agency hoolapalooza, so good luck.

KD’s grade: B (if they land at least one marquee player), D if they don’t.

BULLS:
Get: Joel Alexander, Hakim Warrick, Flip Murray, Acie Law and future 1st Round Pick
Give: John Salmons, Tyrus Thomas, 2011/12 2nd Round Picks

Another team in the hunt of 2010 Free Agency. They did get rid of an ulcer when they gave away Thomas.

KD’s grade: C

WIZARDS:
Get: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Josh Howard, Quinton Ross, James Singleton, 2010 first round pick, rights to Emir Preldzic, Future 2nd rnd + cash
Give: Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson, Branden Haywood, Antwan Jamison, Dominic McGuire

So the Wizards are cleaning house. By virtue of his humongous contract, Arenas is still the ‘face’ of the franchise and the Wizards are going to suck for a long, long time.

KD’s grade: D
CELTICS:
Get: Nate Robinson
Give: Eddie House

Some may say that house was a great shooter and good fit in the Celtics rotation. However, it has become more and more apparent that with Rondo on the bench, the Celtics' offense falls apart. Oddly enough, this discussion is about a career back-up pg who i assume was somewhat of a crowd favorite who gives too much sugar to his kid during games! Nate should give the Celtics an immediate spark off the bench and another player very similar to House in impact but with better finishing at the rim. I'm not sure why i like this trade for the Celtics, as long as Nate won't dance out of line.

KD's grade: B- just coz i think there could have been better trades out there for the C's

The author has no credentials other than what the voice in his head tells him to write. He also gave little to no merit to teams shedding payroll in anticipation of 2010 free agency as it is this mans opinion that at most, one big-time free agent will swap teams this summer.