NBA Trade Deadline 2012: Grading the 10 Trades That Went Down

Nuggets trade Nene to Wizards; Wizards trade JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf to Nuggets and Nick Young to the Clippers; and the Clippers trade Brian Cook to Nuggets and a 2015 second-round pick (from Hornets) to Wizards.

This final deadline day deal was a shocker!

The Nuggets dump an over-priced, injury prone center and receive the ultra-talented young gun Javale McGee and free up the funds needed to sign star swing-man Wilson Chandler to a long-term deal. Masai Ujiri has become one of the best GM`s in the league in a very short time.

The Clippers got a steal, an absolute steal by giving up a mere 2nd round pick for the high scoring Nick Young. I personally would rather have seen them land Aaron Affalo, but Young will work and should keep them in the top-five in the Western Conference standings.

The Wizards got trade-raped, twice! Swapping McGee for Nene who is nearly six years older and far more expensive was idiotic. Swapping Nick Young for a 2nd round pick was silly as well. There is a reason some teams are as bad as they are, and Washington is a prime example.

Denver Nuggets Grade: A+
Los Angeles Clippers Grade: B+
Washington Wizards Grade: F

Bucks trade Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson to Warriors for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and  Kwame Brown

This was a deal that honestly made no sense to me . I understand both teams are happy with the trade and they have some reasons for being optimistic, but all things considered I don`t feel either front office did a good job this time around.

The Bucks swapped a top-three center in the league in Bogut, and a solid if moody swing-man in Jackson for a decent, young big in Udoh, cap space in the form of Kwame Brown's expiring contract and a fine young combo-guard in Monta Ellis.

That said, it would seem as if the Bucks got a very good deal. However I do not feel this is the case and looks can often be deceiving.

I have no doubt the Bucks could have traded Bogut and Jackson to the Nets for the expiring contract of Mehmet Okur, the cheap contracts of quality backup guards Jordan Farmar and Anthony Morrow, cheap contract of backup center Johan Petro and the Nets unprotected lottery pick as well as the Rockets first round pick they own.

The Nets would have jumped at that deal, and personally I would rather have three decent backups and the Rockets first round pick than Ekpe Udoh, and would much rather have the Nets unprotected lottery pick than smallish shooting guard Monta Ellis, especially when the Bucks already have the slight Brandon Jennings at the point guard spot.

All of the above said, the Bucks have nothing to be ashamed of with this trade, and I do believe it was better than most front offices would have received for the Bogut and Jackson package.

As for the Warriors, they made a change and that is about the best thing that can be said for them.

Trading Monta and Ekpe for Bogut straight up would have been a solid, albeit risky move due to Bogut's injury history. Swapping the expiring contract for Kwame Brown for the over-priced two year contract of Stephen Jackson was lunacy.

Milwaukee Bucks Grade: A-
Golden State Warriors Grade: C-

Lakers trade Luke Walton, Jason Kapono and their 2012 first round pick to the Cavaliers for Ramon Sessions and Christian Eyenga.

The rich get richer and the foolish stay foolish.

The Lakers not only dumped the wost player and contract on their roster on the Cavaliers, as well as another useless player, but they also landed a starting point guard and promising young wing-man in the process.

This was a no-brainer trade for the Lakers.

As for the Cavaliers, I have no idea what they were thinking. Yes the first round pick this year is nice but they could have received the Lakers's TPE rather than Walton and Kapono and certainly did not have to give up Eyenga as well.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert had a fit when the Lakers were going to swap Pau Gasol for Chris Paul but just helped them land a starting point guard and dump Walton and Kapono in the process.

Personally I would much rather have the Sessions and Gasol duo than Chris Paul alone. Lakers fans can all thank Dan Gilbert for their good fortune.

Los Angeles Lakers Grade: A+
Cleveland Cavaliers Grade: D-

Lakers trade Derek Fisher and a future Mavericks first round pick (top-20 protected through 2017) to the Rockets for Jordan Hill.

While Fisher is a Laker legend who will most likely have his jersey retired in Staples center one day and was a great locker room presence, he simply was not much use on the court anymore.

The Lakers traded a point guard they didn't want to play anyways, for a talented young big man who instantly becomes the third best big on their team. The Lakers also save up to $6.8 million next year by dumping Fisher`s contract.

As for the Rockets, if they buy out Fisher's contract, I would instantly down grade this deal for them from a B to a D- as the first round pick is quite inconsequential. Fisher however provides value to the Rockets as they are a relatively young team trying to make a name for themselves and on pace to make the playoffs this season.

Fisher can provide leadership they are currently lacking.

Los Angeles Lakers Grade: A-
Houston Rockets Grade: B

Trail Blazers trade Gerald Wallace to the Nets for Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams, and a 2012 first round pick (top three protected).

The Trail Blazers made a shrewd and risky move to trade Crash Wallace for what could be as high as the fourth pick in this year`s draft and net them a future star such as Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones III or Andre Drummond.

As for the Nets, ugghhhh. If you`re going to trade such a high pick you should get someone better than Wallace back, period.

Portland Trail Blazers Grade: A
New Jersey Nets Grade: C-

The Trail Blazers trade Marcus Camby to the Rockets for Hasheem Thabeet, Jonny Flynn and their 2012 second round pick.

The Trail Blazers turned aging, malcontent center Marcus Camby into two former lottery picks and a 2nd round pick in this year's draft...magnificent.

I know Flynn and Thabeet have ridden the pine all season but there is a reason they were each lottery picks and just the possibility that one may fulfill his potential should be enough to make Portland fans smile.

The Rockets were not going to play Flynn or Thabeet anyways and already have an inordinate amount of young players to make the second rounder a must-keep so trading for a solid defensive center and playoff tested veteran makes a ton of sense.

My only problem with this trade is that I believe the Rockets could have received a 2nd round pick for Flynn and another 2nd round pick for Thabeet and that those two 2nd rounders combined with the one they traded away in this deal could have easily been packaged together to trade and move up into the first round.

Portland Trail Blazers Grade: A
Houston Rockets Grade: B

The Warriors trade Stephen Jackson to the Spurs for Richard Jefferson and a 2012 first round pick (top 14 protected).

This was the most head-scratching trade of the deadline by far!

The Spurs give up a first round draft pick and waste salary cap space (as they could have simply amnestied Jefferson at the end of the year) simply to swap Jefferson for Jackson. I agree that Jackson makes them a better team but not that much better and if I were the Spurs I would much rather have had the extra cap space to spend on free agents next year and the first round pick than "Captain Jack."

As for the Warriors, you've got to be kidding me! The first round pick is nice but it is not worth downgrading your roster and adding an extra year and $11+ million in salary for Richard Jefferson!

Golden State Warriors Grade: D-

San Antonio Spurs Grade: C-

The Grizzlies trade Sam Young to the 76ers for the draft rights to Ricky Sanchez.

The Grizzlies made this deal for financial reasons plain and simple. Trading away Young was all they needed to do to get under the luxury tax penalty and therefore this was a great move for the organization.

The 76ers traded away the rights to a player that will probably never play for them and landed a quality swing-man to help with their playoff push.

Another great move.

Philadelphia 76ers Grade: A+

Memphis Grizzlies Grade: A

Toronto trades Leandro Barbosa to Indiana for a 2012 second-round pick and cash.

The Pacers gave up next to nothing and landed a great first guard off the bench, period.

The Raptors gave up a player that is not part of their future for a second round pick and some play money for their owner, period.

Toronto Raptors Grade: A+
Indiana Pacers Grade: A+

Atlanta sells their 2012 second-round pick to Golden State for cash.

The Hawks sold this pick to pay their luxury tax bill, and the Warriors bought it in order to hopefully find a second round steal in this year's insanely deep draft. However, without knowing how much the Warriors paid and the Hawks received, it is impossible to truly grade this deal.

Atlanta Hawks Grade: Incomplete
Golden State Warriors Grade: Incomplete