Spurs, Raptors, Sixers, and Nets Earn A's: Breaking Down The NBA Trades

Cleveland acquires Shaquille O’Neal from Phoenix for Sasha Pavlovic, Ben Wallace, a 2010 draft pick, and cash.

Since Cleveland should be a title contender next season, the draft pick they gave away shouldn’t be anything of value. Ben Wallace occasionally played impact defense, but he’s a complete offensive non-factor, and Sasha Pavlovic is a non-athlete.

So the Cavs certainly didn’t give anything up to get Shaq.  But are they better with him?

Since Shaq can only operate within eight feet of the hoop, he clogs up vital driving and screen/rolling lanes for teammates—namely LeBron.

Remember how Amare Stoudemire complained about Phoenix’ offensive system no longer providing him with open dunks? That’s what happens when Shaq’s defender doesn’t have to leave the paint and can protect dive cuts to the rim.

Since LeBron has no pull-up game, how will he react to having his runway to the hoop congested with Shaq traffic? It may require him to turn into more of a jump shooter, taking away from his strengths.

Defensively, any screen attacking Shaq will result in an open jump shot—no if’s, and’s, or but’s. Shaq’s also incapable of guarding any player that can face up, and he lacks the quickness to deal with athletic post players.

In fact, the only players who Shaq can guard, are slower brutes that won’t leave him in the dust so he can bang them around.

He’s also not as good a rebounder as he once was, but he’s so big that loose balls in his vicinity should be his.

What Shaq can still do is get deep position on the block and overwhelm all but the best post defenders into easy shots and foul trouble. He’s the first true low post scorer the Cavs have had in the LeBron-era, and for the first time the Cavs will be able to employ a multifaceted inside-outside offense.

However, Kendrick Perkins and the rest of Boston’s strong-armed goons have the defensive might to keep Shaq out of the paint where he can’t hurt them.

Dwight Howard’s too long and quick for Shaq to handle, and as Howard’s individual defense improves, he should be able to neutralize Shaq’s offense.

The rest of the teams in the Eastern Conference don’t matter.

So while the Cavs are still formidable, they’d still look up at a healthy Boston and Orlando.

Grade: C

Phoenix acquires Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, a 2010 draft pick, and cash from Cleveland for Shaquille O’Neal.

While Phoenix considers themselves in a transition phase, it’s not unreasonable to think that they can make the postseason with their current starting lineup. With Shaq out of the paint, new driving lanes should appear for the Suns gang of gunners, which should rejuvenate Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire.

And if Phoenix does decide to start over, Wallace and Pavlocic come off the books after this upcoming season, shedding nearly $20 million dollars in cap space. And a draft pick never hurts when looking toward tomorrow.

On the court, the contributions of Pavlovic and Wallace will be negligible. Pavlovic doesn’t have the athleticism to succeed in Phoenix’ open court game.

Wallace’s complete lack of offense will bury him on the bench, though he could still provide brief minutes as a hard working defender in place of the inept Robin Lopez.

But looking at the bigger picture, the trade isn’t about getting better this year. It’s about setting the sun on Phoenix’ decade long run with the hopes of a bright tomorrow.

Grade: C

Atlanta acquires Jamal Crawford from Golden State for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton.

Jamal Crawford is a reckless but talented scorer whose wild athleticism hasn’t yet been tamed. This isn’t necessarily because he’s selfish, but because he’s never had a stable coaching situation to provide discipline and refinement to his game.

Entering his tenth season, Crawford has had Tim Floyd, Bill Berry, Bill Cartwright, Pete Myers, Scott Skiles, Lenny Wilkens, Herb Williams, Larry Brown, Isiah Thomas, Mike D’Antoni, and Don Nelson.

Berry and Myers were brief interims, but in nine full seasons in the league, Crawford has been tutored by 10, soon to be 11 different head coaches.

Since Mike Woodson has neither the credibility, the personality, nor the track record to refine wild players (as evidenced by the still undomesticated Josh Smith and Marvin Williams), it’s unlikely Crawford will change his stripes.

This means the Hawks will be getting a wildly talented, inefficient scorer who can’t differentiate between good shots and bad shots, believes gambling defense is good defense, and makes poor decisions with the ball.

He’s too aggressive of a scorer to run the point, but should Mike Bibby not be brought back and nobody else brought in, the Hawks will have to live with Crawford’s mistakes at the point. This means that, along with being Mr.Everything for Atlanta, Joe Johnson will also have to expend energy bringing the ball up.

Should the Hawks resign Bibby or a comparable point guard, then Crawford will most likely be Atlanta’s sixth man—a role he’s perfectly suited for. He could also start at shooting guard, moving Johnson to small forward, but if Crawford isn’t a primary scoring option, he provides little else to justify his presence on a court.

In other words, he’s raw, undisciplined, spectacularly talented, and does little off the ball. He’ll fit right in with the Hawks.

Grade: C+

Golden State acquires Acie Law and Speedy Claxton from Atlanta for Jamal Crawford.

Since Golden State doesn’t need a point guard for its “my turn to shoot, your turn to shoot” offense, the fact that Law is a bust and Claxton is a career backup shouldn’t bother the Warriors. They’ll simply plug in Monta Ellis at the point and keep the circus going.

Losing Crawford hurts in the talent department, but it clears up a jumbled wing situation, which should be addition by subtraction.

The problem with Golden State isn’t with the trade, it’s with Don Nelson’s cockamamie approach to basketball.

Grade: C

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?