As a teacher, writer, and basketball aficionado, it seems only natural that I combine these skills by grading the NBA mid-season trades in the 2010 season.
Utah Jazz |
 ; |
| Added: | Lost: |
| N/A |
G Ronnie Brewer Future 1st Round Pick |
Cash/Salary Impact:
They saved some cap space in letting Brewer go to the Grizzlies (2.7 million this season and 3.7 million next season).
Report Card:
This does not do much for them this season, but the Jazz are a decent team and should be able to attract a nice role player in the off-season that could fill his shoes. With the Jazz up to 3rd in the West, they are looking strong. In this kind of economy, these salary dumps are quite common, but this was not a good basketball move.
C-
LA Clippers |
 ; |
| Added: | Lost: |
|
G Steve Blake—7.6 ppg and 4.2 apg career F Travis Outlaw—slasher and scorer, 9.6 ppg career F Drew Gooden (9th team)—11.8 ppg and 7.8 rpg |
G Sebastian Telfair G Ricky Davis (waived) F Al Thorton C Marcus Camby |
Cash/Salary Impact:
The Clippers’ management decided to tighten their belts a little, and how could you blame them with the team’s record so far this season? They waived Davis’ $2.4 million dollar contract. Otherwise, it seems as though they basically gave away Camby’s expiring $7.6 million, not getting much in return.
Report Card:
The Clippers were not having a successful season anyhow, so I guess they’ve given up. The Clippers are not the Denver Nuggets—they’re not trading Camby (their leading rebounder) and somehow still improving. On the plus side, LA traded age for youth even though it was big for small. Outlaw is a good, young player and a slasher/shooter that should step in and help replace the loss of Thorton.
C
Memphis Grizzlies |
 ; |
| Added: | Lost: |
|
G Ronnie Brewer—athletic slasher, 10.4 ppg |
N/A |
Cash/Salary Impact:
They might sign him to an extension next season, but he got injured in his first game with the Grizzlies.
Report Card:
Hopefully, Brewer gets healthy soon because he’s a nice addition to their bench.
C+
Washington Wizards |
 ; |
| Added: | Lost: |
|
G Quinton Ross—4.4 ppg career, defender F James Singleton—3.3 ppg career F Drew Gooden (acquired in Butler deal, and then packaged for Thorton)—11.8 ppg and 7.8 rpg F Josh Howard—15.3 ppg career F Al Thorton—13 ppg career (The rights to) F Emir Preldzic (6.8 ppg in Euroleague) C Zydrunas Ilguaskas (who they will presumably waive)—13.9 ppg and 7 rpg 2010 1st Round Pick (Cavs) Future 2nd Round Pick (Kings) |
G DeShawn Stevenson F Antawn Jamison F Caron Butler F Drew Gooden F Dominic McGuire C Brendan Haywood |
Cash/Salary Impact:
Getting Jamison off the books puts the Wizards in the sweepstakes for a big off-season pickup. Unfortunately, in the backlash from the Arenas-Crittenton incident, I doubt they’ll be signing any big names in the off-season.
Report Card:
Howard and Thorton are nice young pick-ups that the Wizards can build around. These moves also provide cap space. But, these moves also essentially forfeit the rest of the season. However, the season was “shot” anyway because of Arenas, so this was really the only move for them. Their grade would have been lower for such downgrades, but, in their position, this was as good as could be expected. Knowing their situation, other teams were probably looking to take advantage of the Wizards, so that they made some decent moves is impressive.
C+
Chicago Bulls |
 ; |
| Added: | Lost: |
|
G Ronald Murray—9.9 season/career G Acie Law and 1st round pick F Joe Alexander—4.7 ppg and good athlete F Hakim Warrick—10.2 ppg season/career 1st round draft pick (Charlotte) |
F Tyrus Thomas G John Salmons |
Cash/Salary Impact:
In the long run, this is helpful to create some cap space for the summer and a potential run at Chicago native Dwayne Wade (or other free agents).
Report Card:
This is a good move looking forward to this summer, but this does very little to improve the team for this season. Considering that the team is in 6th place in the East, this seems like a downgrade. This was expected though, as Thomas had recent issues with the coach and Salmons has been under-performing all season.
B-
Houston Rockets |
 ; |
| Added: | Lost: |
|
G Kevin Martin—a great shooter and scorer, but recovering from an injury. 19.8 ppg this season, but 24.6 last season (and over 20 ppg in the last 3 seasons) F Jordan Hill—Rookie, 8th pick, 4 ppg F Jared Jefferies— a long defender, 5.3 ppg and 4.4 rpg F Hilton Armstrong—3.5 ppg career 2011 first round pick, option (Knicks), 2 picks total |
G Tracy McGrady F Carl Landry |
Cash/Salary Impact:
Tax relief, cap space
Report Card:
This would have been a solid trading season for the Rockets, or at least a wash, but the Rockets had to, begrudgingly, include the coveted Carl Landry in the deal for Martin. Landry was a good building block for the future, and he’ll be missed. Nonetheless, the Rockets have done better than most expected this season—despite the absence of T-Mac, Yao, and Artest—so, they should have no problem attracting free agents over the summer. Swapping McGrady for Martin was a smooth move, but losing Landry makes the deal a little less-sweet.
B-
Sacramento Kings |
 ; |
| Added: | Lost: |
|
F Carl Landry—scorer, rebounder, 16.1 ppg and 5.5 season F Joey Dorsey—1.3 career G Larry Hughes—injured, scorer, but inconsistent, 9.6 season, 31 games |
G Kevin Martin G Sergio Rodriguez |
Report Card:
They essentially made a decent move. Both Martin and Rodriguez are effective players, but getting Landry is a good pick up. Can they get out of Hughes’ contract this summer? That could help them acquire some other talent. Essentially, they traded small for big, or Martin for Landry. Hughes is a nice throw-in although he is inconsistent and has been injured. This should really be a C+, but with the emergence of Rookie of the Year candidate Tyreke Evans, he’s made Martin expendable, at least in the eyes of the Maloof Brothers.
B-
New York Knicks |
 ; |
| Added: | Lost: |
|
F Tracy McGrady (and his expiring contract)—one of the greatest scorers of the last decade, McGrady averages 21.9 ppg career, but 3.2 ppg in 6 games this season G Sergio Rodriguez—a slasher, scorer, 3.9 career, 6.0 season G Eddie House—7.3 ppg, 39% 3’s (season) F J.R. Giddens—1.1 ppg F Bill Walker—1.0 ppg F Brian Cardinal—5.4 ppg career |
G Nate Robinson G Larry Hughes F Darko Milicic F Jordan Hill F Jared Jefferies |
Cash/Salary Cap Impact:
- Over $9 million in salary cap space
- Possibility to add two max-contract players in the summer of 2010; however, it has also been suggested by New York Times writer Howard Beck that in order to sign 2 max free agents, the Knicks would have to let go of David Lee.
Report Card:
Overall, the Knicks moves were very good. They’ve got McGrady’s expiring contract, and a chance to resign him for less. The Darko-Cardinal swap was essentially swap although Cardinal’s I.Q. could play well into Coach Mike D’Antoni’s system, although it seems as though the Knicks do not plan to retain Cardinal as he does not appear on the Knicks’ official roster. Thus far, T-Mac’s 26 points in his first game as a Knicks indicates that he might really be ready to play some ball. However, in the next game, he was held to 15 points and banged his knee, making him questionable for their next game. Before we will know for sure what he has left, we’ll have to see some consistent play from T-Mac.
B
Charlotte Bobcats |
; |
| Added: | Lost: |
|
F Tyrus Thomas—7.9 ppg and 5 rpg this season. C Theo Ratliff—good shot blocker, 13th time being traded. 7 ppg and 6 rpg in his career |
G Ronald Murray G Acie Law Future Draft Pick |
Cash/Salary Impact:
The addition of Thomas’ contract (this season and next combine for over $10 million)
Report Card:
Adding some solid size to this team was the right move. Adding Ratliff and Thomas was decent, albeit perhaps more than they wanted to pay. Thomas is a good player and should be a nice, young addition. So far, Ratliff and Thomas have looked like the defensive presence the Bobcats have lacked. While Thomas and Ratliff are not like adding McGrady or Martin, the Bobcats did not give up much to acquire them. This increased size will help them make the playoffs, and, perhaps, win a game or two.
B
Milwaukee Bucks |
 ; |
| Added: | Lost: |
|
G John Salmons—9.2 ppg career. He has been averaging over 18 ppg the last three years, but this season he’s down to 13 ppg G Royal Ivey—3.7 ppg G Jerry Stackhouse—18.2 ppg career, but has not averaged over 10 ppg since 2008. C Primoz Brezec—7.4 ppg, but he has not averaged over 10 ppg in 5 years. 0.7 ppg this season 2nd Round Pick, 2010 |
G Jodie Meeks F Joe Alexander F Hakim Warrick C Francisco Elson |
Report Card:
Considering what they’ve given up, the Bucks made some nice moves. The addition of Salmons may be helpful to stem the tide until Michael Redd is healthy. Also, since Redd is a pure shooter, and Salmons is a slasher/scorer, they could play well together. So far, Salmons seems to be relishing in his change of scenery.
B
Boston Celtics |
 ; |
| Added: | Lost: |
|
G Nate Robinson—12.5 ppg career F Marcus Landry—6’7 Rookie, 2.6 ppg |
G Eddie House F J.R. Giddens F Bill Walker |
Report Card:
This is a definite up-grade, but Robinson is a show-time performer, a one-man show. How will his style of play affect the chemistry of the Celtics? In the long run, there’s enough veteran leadership on this team to keep the 4th year guard in line with the team-first concept. Perhaps more importantly, House is a good shooter, especially from 3-point range where he can occasionally make timely buckets. That skill may be missed because while we know Robinson can shoot the three, he does not shoot as well as House, and Robinson has no playoff experience.
B
Portland Trailblazers |
 ; |
| Added: | Lost: |
|
C Marcus Camby—10 ppg and 10 rpg career, and currently one of the NBA’s leading rebounders |
G Steve Blake F Travis Outlaw |
Cash/Salary Impact:
They now have Camby’s expiring contract.
Report Card:
Camby more than replaces the oft injured Greg Oden, but only in the short-term as Camby is 35 years old. For this season, though, they are still in the playoff hunt. The loss of Outlaw, however, may hurt them in clutch situations, especially when they need another option besides the talented Brandon Roy.
B
Dallas Mavericks |
 ; |
| Added: | Lost: |
|
G DeShawn Stevenson—8.1 ppg career F Caron Butler—16.7 ppg and 6 rpg, career C Brendan Haywood—He is almost averaging a double-double this season (7 ppg and 6 rpg career). |
G Quinten Ross F James Singleton F Drew Gooden F Josh Howard |
Report Card:
The Mavs gave up a lot to make this trade work, but they got even more in return, including Caron Butler, the former Laker, who always has something to prove every time he faces off against Kobe Bryant and his former team. Nice upgrade.
B+
Cleveland Cavaliers |
 ; |
| Added: | Lost: |
|
G Sebastian Telfair—7.8 ppg and 3.9 apg career F Antawn Jamison—19.9 ppg and 8.1 rpg career. This season, his numbers are up from that. |
F Emir Preldzic C Zydrunas Ilgauskas 2010 1st Round Pick (to Wizards) |
Cash/Salary Impact:
In a tough economy, the Cavaliers made the tough, but ultimately good, decision to add salary. While I like Jamison the player, the Cavs cannot be happy about his contract. The man is 34 and he’s being paid about $39 million over the next two seasons, including this one.
Report Card:
Although Jamison is still playing like an all-star, he is getting old in basketball years. This move, as has already been seen, will temporarily alter the chemistry. In time, he’ll fit in nicely with the Cavs. He is, however, 34, which makes him a temporary upgrade.
A-
Most of these recent NBA trades show that many moves have been made to set teams up better for the summer of 2010. One thing seems clear: teams have set themselves up to pursue an Amar’e Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, or Dwayne Wade-type player. It is still unclear if, like Shaquille O’Neil, any of these players will really commit to changing teams and cities?
R.S. De France is a College and University instructor of English Composition. He has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Writing. One of his life-long pursuits has been writing and covering anything related to sports, specifically the NBA. Recently, De France, his wife, and another colleague started an internationally read magazine at Shwibly.com.
