Rating the Deadline Trades 2012

1. Warriors deal Ellis, Udoh to Bucks for Bogut, Jackson

Warriors get:
• C Andrew Bogut
• G/F Stephen Jackson

Bucks get:

• G Monta Ellis
• C Kwame Brown
• C Ekpe Udoh

Warriors: Grade B

One of the rare trades, where i'm a bit divided over which team came out better. The overall consense is more or less that both teams didn't really went out as winners of this first Blockbuster trade of the deadline. The Warriors were shoping Monta Ellis for years, and had deals mentioned that most of the time underestimated the worth of the player in my eyes. Ellis is a typical over the top talent who blew out, but couldn't make the team a winner with his impact, same as Iguadola and Granger for Philly and Indy (one-on-one trades between those teams where often mentioned). Now the Ws really get something big for their guy, that's a good news. Andrew Bogut really is a top 3 Center in this league when he is in shape and without injuries. Why I believe this risk makes sense is, that Bogut never really had chronical physical issues. He just had bad luck. He is 27, and has 6 or 7 years of full effect in his body. Also Bogut is a guy, who really makes a team better and a good night of him usually turns out to be a win for his ballclub. The Warriors take the gamble here, but made the right move at the right time (Bogut never was available until now). Next to their boy Monta Golden State had to sacrifice their future Center they build up for 2 years now, Ekpe Udoh. Drafted 2010 at pick 6 he automatically was thought of being a draftbust. But this year he turned out to be the guy the Warriors were searching for: An elite defender. The Bucks will have their fun with him. With Bogut in the run, the Ws not really are in need of Udoh anymore, so that switch makes sense. The last step they had to take was to get back a huge contract in Stephen Jacksons, but as they were even ready to trade this one for an even bigger one (Jefferson, see below), this financial hit they were more than ready to pay for a guy like Bogut. And finally, let's not forget this one: The Warriors will just get their 1st round pick of the strong 2012 draft, when they "make" it to be one of the 7 worst teams. Right now, they are at nr. 9 turning the chart upside. With an injured Bogut and no high scoring machine in Ellis for the rest of the way, they should achieve that goal easily.

Bucks: Grade B-

The problem the Bucks had to solve was the request for a trade by Bogut. To give away such a talented bigman is no easy decision.We guess, the Warriors was the best (and only?) one on the table. 4 positive things come out of this trade: With Monta Ellis the Bucks get a long needed offensive punch. As the Bucks are a teameffort club with no real star this destination makes somewhat sense for Ellis, who disliked the not ending trade chatter of the last years and also requested a final decision short before the deadline. He somewhat doesn't fit into the crowded wing rotation of the Bucks, having guys like Ilyasova (switched to PF recently), Delfino, Dunleavy and Harris. Also he will form another PG duo in Milwaukee as he had it in GS. But he could finally be a better fit into this team than many people think. Time will tell. Second off the Bucks get an interesting substitute at Center with young man Ekpe Udoh. He provides the Bucks with a characteristica they love: Defense. With his Rookie contract he is a nice player for the Bucks future. Thirdly the team got rid of the huge contract of Stephen Jackson, they get themselves some cap room for the future. And in the fourth place: The Bucks made there team better for this season by trading 2 players in good shape for 2 a guy who will be out for the rest of the season. As they play for the 8th seat in the east right now, that move makes sense for short term planing too.

2. Wallace moved to Nets for high Lottery Pick

Nets get:
• F Gerald Wallace
Blazers get:
• F/C Mehmet Okur
• F Shawne Williams
• Top 3 Protected first-round pick

Nets: Grade E+

As the Deron Williams Trade one year back was a desperate move for an forced win-now mode without thinking twice, this years addition of Gerald Wallace was. Of course the Nets had to make a move to show their top guard that they are able to bring things to New Jersey, but to give away a Top pick they will most certainly lose, in a deep and good draftclass, to get an overaged, expensive, often injured wingman back, that is somewhat ridiculous. That's basically what the trade was about. Not to understand me wrong, I consider Wallace as a great player, but if you look what Portland had to give away one year ago to get him (Michael Jordan sent him away for basically nothing), this move looks like a crappy one. And - again - one that makes a clear path to an own build up future nearly impossible.

Blazers: Grade A

One year ago, it was the Jazz, who took advantage of the desperation of the Nets, now it's the Blazers who were in place for an favourable deal. There would have been much more interesting possibilities as I mentioned (the addition of Jamal Crawford as well for example), but the Blazers just lost a big contract of a spiral down player. Together with their own lottery pick they are capable now to add 2 high class players of the upcoming draft. The future now looks much brighter than before. The only little bad thing about the trade is the 3 M $ contract of Williams for the next season - a displeasure they Blazers can surely handle.

3. Lakers land Sessions

Lakers get:
• G Ramon Sessions
• F Christian Eyenga
• Rights to swap Heat's 2013 first-round draft pick
Cavaliers get:
• F Luke Walton
• F Jason Kapono
• 2012 first-round pick (lottery-protected)

Lakers: Grade A-

The Lakers were in the run for a PG, and after it was rumoured that Sessions is more or less of the table, we thought, such a trade wouldn't go down. In opposite now, the Lakers landed Sessions, got rid of several uncomfortable contracts, and blew off the trade between the Blazers and T-Wolves to get Beasley. Kaponos Million doesn't matter as much as Luke Waltons 5,8, that remain also for next year. Sessions has a fair contract while being a young, useful PG. Additionally they get Christian Eyenga, a 1st round talent, who may see playing time in the right surrounding again. The only thing the Lakers had to sacrifice here, was their own 1st rounder, which will be a pick in the mid 20ies. They will live with this.

Cavaliers: Grade E

What did the Cavs think here? They give up one of the best backup PGs in the league for basically two guys who shouldn't be around anymore in the upcoming years, one of them they have to pay a painful high sum the next 2 seasons. They do it just to get a late round pick in the upcoming draft. That's somewhat mad crazy.

4. Lakers drop Fisher

Rockets get:
• G Derek Fisher
• 2012 first-round pick (acquired from Dallas in Lamar Odom trade)
Lakers get:
• F/C Jordan Hill

Rockets: Grade B+

The Rockets basically got an 1st round pick around pick 20 for taking Derek Fishers salary. They bought the pick for around 4 to 5 Million, which is an okay prize considering the deepness of the 2012 draft, the pretty high number (it's a more mid than late round pick), and looking what other teams were ready to pay for their late rounders (CLE nearly 10 Million, GSW even about 15 Millions for their picks). Jordan Hill was gone anyway, as the team didn't extend their team option for next season. 

Lakers: Grade D

The Lakers basically shredded a face of the franchise and buried a good 1st rounder for this effort. This trade next to the Nêne one showed the ugly face of the business NBA. Are the 4 Million that Fisher would earn next season really that terrible to take? Kind of ridiculous. Jordan Hill they could have picked up as Free Agent in summer anyway.

5. Blazers ship Camby to Rockets

Rockets get:
• C Marcus Camby
Blazers get:
• C Hasheem Thabeet
• G Jonny Flynn
• 2012 second-round draft pick

Rockets: B-

The Rockets may think, the addition of Camby brings them into the playoffs. Well, it's worth to take a flier on that i guess. They give up 2 non-rotation players who would walk in summer anyway, a mid second rounder, and some money for that effort (Cambys contract is bigger than the 2 of Thabeet and Flynn).

Blazers: B-

In Portland this trade should have even less impact. Thabeet and Flynn could turn out as better player here, than in their previous destinations, though the chances are pretty slim i guess. For both players it's the last chance to prove they could play on the NBA level, before they have to leave the league after their contracts are up in summer. The 2nd rounder, and the little money the Blazers could spare are nice additions in this minor trade here.

6. The Jackson-Jefferson switch

Spurs get:
• F/G Stephen Jackson
Warriors get:
• F Richard Jefferson
• G T.J. Ford
• Protected 2012 first-round pick

Spurs: Grade B-

The Spurs basically got rid of the 3rd year on Jeffersons ridiculous contract, worth 11 Million. That's something. Additionally to that they give Jackson the possibility to get back into the game with his old team. For this they had to sacrifice their 1st rounder in the upcoming draft, which would be in the very late 20s. As this is a deep draft, it's kind of a big oblation.

Warriors: Grade C

The Warriors really didn't want Jackson back on their team I guess. They can just do this deal (taking 11 Million voluntarily on their payroll, when they would really need that money for other additions), when they believe they can still get something out of Jefferson. If the 1st rounder turns out to be a good pick and player, this deal was worth it. Time will tell.

7. Three-team deal involving Nêne, McGee & Young

Wizards get:
• F/C Nene
• F Brian Cook
• Future second-round pick
Clippers get:
• G Nick Young
Nuggets get:
• C JaVale McGee
• F/C Ronny Turiaf

Wizards: Grade B

The Wizards finally pull the trigger and give up on their hope for the young core of their team. They give away McGee and Young (him for free), to select a Top 10 Center in best age, with a long contract, who they can savely install as second most important guy in their team now. Getting rid of so much talent surely hurts, but the Wizards were certainly aware of the fact, that both players would walk away in summer, so they made the situation into gold. Concerning Nêne Hilario: It's said the Nuggets had a "buyer's remorse", which sounds pretty shitty, cause have a look at the facts: Nêne played a lot of his games during the last 3 seasons. He is not injury prone, which was kind of the popular reason everybody was throwing around, when justifying the trade. He has no chronical injuries, as the main time he missed 5 years ago was because of cancer he defeated. All in all the Wizards got a more than solid player for giving up some talented knuckleheads. That's a good trade, fellas.

Clippers: Grade A

The Clippers basically got a young top shooter without a bigger commitment for free. The second rounder should be worth the flier for that. They got involved at a late stage for the trade (Young used his no-trade clause to not have to go to Denver), and had the luck, that they got this easy to say yes offer.

Nuggets: Grade E

Nêne took the long-term contract of the Nuggets just 3 months ago, while refusing a better contract giving him more money from the Nets. In gratitude for that Denver now traded him regardless of the past just like that, for an knucklehead of a player, who will most certainly walk in summer, unless the Nuggets are ready to overpay him drastically. Like with Derek Fisher and the Lakers it's always bitter to see such a crappy business move happen, trading a face of the franchise without having a no brainer deal on the table (which would still be hard to swallow, but more understandable), especially when it even doesn't make much sense like this one here. Nêne is in his best age, and can provide good defense and rebounding while being solide on the offensive end. The Nuggets just turned themselves around to be a non-star teameffort club, and Hilario just fitted perfectly in this system. The only reason I can understand they did this, is that their Brazilian really didn't had much upside anymore. But that would have been okay for a team that just finished the fast pace rebuilding process to get this roster a shot for the next 3 to 5 years. Instead they took a big baby nobody in the league wanted to have on their roster (Washington tried to get him out of town the whole season), who can really mess up the team chemistry if he continues to bring stupid moves on and offcourt. If they at least got Young. But as he refused to be here, Denver should really have blown this one off. They were obviously desperate to do the move, at a time Nêne was a low seller because of his recent injuries. Well done, Denver, just makes you the fool of the day.