NBA Blockbusters: Who Got the Best Deal?

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There is no doubt that the recent blockbusters involving Pau Gasol, Shaquille O'Neal, and Jason Kidd will create parity in the Western Conference during the second half of this season.

And although it's not as exciting as the deals out west, the Atlanta Hawks recent acquisition of Mike Bibby will also give the Eastern Conference something new to talk about. 

With Gasol now a Laker, Shaq now a Sun, Kidd now a Maverick once more, and Bibby now a Hawk, which teams will be legitimate contenders come spring?

Los Angeles Lakers

NBA Finals Potential: Excellent

Trade Grade: A+

L.A. pulled off the first blockbuster trade this season when they acquired Pau Gasol from Memphis, and immediately sent other Western Conference foes into panic mode.

This trade is exactly what the Lakers needed to get to the next level and put them over the hump.

Los Angeles has failed to make it past the first round of the playoffs the last two seasons, and one of their main problems was lack of production from their frontcourt.

With the offseason pick-up of Derek Fisher and the emergence of Andrew Bymun, the Lakers were one piece away from becoming legit contenders.

The Lakers window of opportunity won't be closing any time soon.  With Derek Fisher being the oldest player on the team (33), this team has the chance to become scary good within the next few years with more experience playing together.

Of course when you have Kobe Bryant on your team, who is only 29, the future always looks bright.

But their success this spring all comes down to health, which has taken a blow the last few weeks.

Andrew Bymun has been sidelined with a kneecap injury the last few weeks, and reports are out that his progress is going slower than projected.

Adding insult to that injury, Bryant recently tore a ligament in the pinkie finger of his shooting hand. Kobe has the option of resting his finger and avoiding surgery, or sit out six to eight weeks after a surgical procedure.

If the Lakers want to pose legitimate threat come June, it is imperative that Bryant gets surgery on his pinky immediately and sit out those six to eight weeks.

The problem is if he does decide to get surgery, there is no telling where the Lakers would be standing once Bryant returns.

If the Lakers go on some sort of losing streak, the Lakers could fall out the Western Conference playoff picture.

Phoenix Suns

NBA Finals Potential: Strong

Trade Grade: B

Suns GM Steve Kerr took a huge gamble when he shipped Shawn Marion to Miami in exchange for an aging and ailing Shaquille O'Neal.

Even before the Shaq deal, the Suns were contenders in the Western Conference.  But their main problem in the playoffs, and especially against San Antonio, was the lack of a big body down low to compete with Tim Duncan.

Once Shaq adjusts to Mike D'Antoni's system, the combination of players with style, finesse, and power- a combination rarely seen in today's game- will be witnessed.

However, if Phoenix does not win a championship within the next two or three years, this deal could be looked at as a waste.

Shaq is 35-years-old and with Steve Nash and Grant Hill not getting any younger, the window of opportunity for these guys will close quick if they fail do not get it done by 2010-2011.


Dallas Mavericks

NBA Finals Potential: Marginal

Trade Grade: A-

Dallas sure gave up a lot to acquire Jason Kidd—but at least they got to keep Jerry Stackhouse, who was originally part of the deal.

With the West so loaded, this trade might not be enough to get them over the hump. 

No doubt that Kidd will make an impact in Dallas, but is it enough?

This would have been a brilliant trade for Dallas two months ago, but the Western Conference is far more stacked.

The Mavs are in the same boat as Phoenix.  With a 34-year-old Kidd running the point, the Mavericks will have about two to three years to win a championship or the trade can potentially be looked at as a bust.

The bad part of this deal is that they gave up on a young Devin Harris, who was finally starting to satisfy Avery Johnson. 

Where Dallas will miss Harris the most is in the playoffs, if they somehow meet San Antonio.

Not only was Harris quick—but he was able to present problems for Tony Parker on the defensive end.


Atlanta Hawks

NBA Finals Potential: No Chance

Trade Grade: A+

Obviously the Hawks aren't going to make the finals this year—but Atlanta deserves a good grade for their most recent trade.

Hawks GM Billy Knight finally took some initiative by making a legitimate trade acquiring Mike Bibby from the Sacramento Kings—but we all know it's nowhere near enough to make these guys a threat to the league.

These Hawks are a young up-and-coming team with great talent, and in the Eastern Conference that is enough to make the playoffs.

Atlanta is currently ninth in the east, and their chances of making the playoffs don't look bad.

A backcourt of Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson should be a joy to watch. 

Put those guys alongside Josh Smith, Josh Childress, Marvin Williams, and rookie Al Horford, the Hawks have a chance to surprise during the second half of the season.

Michael Whittenberg is a senior writer for BleacherReport.com.  To view his entire archive click here.