NBA Trades: Impact Meter for Each Deadline Deal

The NBA trade deadline brought us a lot of interesting trades from many different teams. Now it's time to evaluate the impact each deal will have on the teams involved.

Some trades had major ramifications, others hardly any, while the impact of the rest won't be known until years down the road.

Here's the impact level of each deadline deal made this season in the NBA.

Ramon Sessions to Los Angeles Lakers

Impact: Big for Lakers, Minimal for Now for Cavaliers

This trade is big for the Lakers. They needed major help at the point-guard position, and Ramon Sessions is a huge upgrade over what they had there. They also got rid of Jason Kapono and, finally, Luke Walton.

The impact for the Cavaliers is minimal for now. The draft pick they received is vital to their rebuilding process and definitely more important than Sessions would have been. What they do with the pick will determine just how big the impact will be.

Derek Fisher to Houston for Jordan Hill

Impact: Medium for Lakers, Minimal for Rockets

The Lakers had to deal Fisher, who, at age 38, is just too old to compete for them any longer. They sent him and a first-round pick to Houston, which helped solve any personnel problems that might have been caused by the addition of Ramon Sessions. Jordan Hill is a good, young big man who will make a nice backup.

The Rockets just did this for the pick, and they got what they wanted. It isn't that big for them, as it will probably be a fairly late pick (the pick L.A. received from Dallas).

Marcus Camby to Houston

Impact: Minimal for Both Teams

Marcus Camby makes Houston better defensively in the post, but he won't be enough to take them to the next level as far as playoff contention is concerned. It's a good pickup, though.

Portland got a second-round draft pick, Hasheem Thabeet and Jonny Flynn out of the deal. Thabeet and Flynn have been two of the most disappointing high draft picks in recent years. Each has already been traded twice during their short careers.

Gerald Wallace to the Nets

Impact: Minimal for Portland, Big for New Jersey

This deal is big for the Nets because it is a risky one. If it fails, it could push Deron Williams out of town after the season. If it works, it could help keep him there.

It's minimal for Portland because they are getting two players in Mehmet Okur and Shawne Williams that won't ever play. The draft pick is what they wanted, and they got it.

Sam Young to Philadelphia

Impact: Medium for Philadelphia, Minimal for Now for Memphis

In Sam Young, the 76ers got a young, well-rounded guard for the bench who adds defensive depth and toughness. That will be very helpful for them throughout the rest of the season and into the playoffs.

Memphis got the draft rights to Ricky Sanchez, a Puerto Rican player who has yet to play in an NBA game. Whether he will or not remains a mystery, so this move has potential payoff later for them. Right now, it does nothing.

Leandro Barbosa to Indiana

Impact: Big for Indiana, Minimal for Toronto

This trade was big for the Pacers because it adds even more depth to a team that is one of the deeper ones in the Eastern Conference. Barbosa sustains a need at the shooting-guard position and came cheaply.

Toronto is rebuilding and received cash and a second-round pick for Barbosa. It isn't big for them—just another baby step toward being successful again.

Stephen Jackson to San Antonio

Impact: Big for San Antonio, Minimal for Golden State

San Antonio was able to unload Richard Jefferson, who just never worked well with the team, and acquire former Spur Stephen Jackson. Jackson provides insurance in the case of another Manu Ginobili injury and makes the Spurs' offense more potent overall.

Golden State just plain didn't want Jackson. They get Jefferson in return, who won't make much of a difference for them.

Monta Ellis and Ekpe Udoh to Milwaukee, Andrew Bogut to Golden State

Impact: Big for Golden State, Big for Milwaukee

Golden State finally acquired the franchise center they've always wanted in Andrew Bogut and was able to ship out Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown in the process. This is a step in the direction of playoff basketball, and it will make their team better in the long run.

Milwaukee acquired a talented scorer and a few big men in the deal, making their team potentially more dynamic in the process. Whether they get better or worse will depend on how well Ellis and Brandon Jennings can work together.

Nene to Washington, JaVale McGee to Denver, Nick Young to LA Clippers

Impact: Big for Clippers, Medium for Nuggets, Minimal for Wizards

The Clippers got the young, athletic shooting guard their team needed in Nick Young. What makes it really big is that they only gave up a second-round pick and forward Brian Cook to get him.

The Nuggets dealt Nene because of his injuries and age. In McGee, they get a guy who is younger that can give them the same type of production, or close to what Nene did. They don't really improve much, but stay about the same while getting younger.

The Wizards dealt two young, talented players for older guys who are still pretty good. They made this move for cap reasons, as there was no way they could keep Young and McGee long-term.