NBA Season Review: Grades and Analysis from the Trade Deadline

This year's trade deadline was one of the most hyped in recent memory. Some shocking trades were negotiated—and, of course, there was the Dwight Howard drama.

But how effective have those moves really been? It's been over a month since the deadline passed, and the results have now become clear.

Which teams made a playoff push, and which teams imploded?

With the benefit of hindsight, here are the grades for every team from this year's trade deadline.

Washington Wizards

Grade at Deadline: B+

Grade Now: C+

Wizards Gained: C Nene, PF Brian Cook, 2015 second-round pick

Wizards Lost: C JaVale McGee, C Ronny Turiaf, SG Nick Young

As a basketball team, the Wizards have improved significantly. Despite missing 10 games with a foot injury, Nene has had a big impact, helping Washington win six of its last four games.

The Wizards have also washed their hands of two of the most frustrating players in the league, JaVale McGee and Nick Young.

Even though he is blessed with ridiculous athleticism, McGee just never found a way to put it all together for the Wizards.

Young was jacking up far too many shots and was becoming a black hole. He was also on an expiring contract and unlikely to be re-signed. His exit has at least opened up more minutes for talented sophomore Jordon Crawford.

The only thing limiting the Wizards to a C+ grade is the amount of salary they have acquired.

Nene is slated to make $13 million a season for the next four years. He is 29 years old and already injury-prone. 

Even though Nene is one of the most offensively skilled centers in the league, one has to wonder when his production will start to decline.

In a few years' time, Washington may have one of the worst contracts in the NBA on its books.

Denver Nuggets

Grade at Deadline: C-

Grade Now: C+

Denver Gained: C JaVale McGee, C Ronny Turiaf (waived and signed with the Miami Heat)

Denver Lost: C Nene

The only real benefit of this deal for the Nuggets is financial. They unloaded Nene's contract, which will save them $39 million over the next three years.

A smart move, if you ask me.

While Nene led the Nuggets after Carmelo Anthony's infamous departure, Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari emerged as the team's stars this season, and Nene became less important.

JaVale McGee has struggled for minutes in a loaded Denver frontcourt. His production has also dipped—he is averaging only 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in 25 minutes of play.

McGee will never fulfill his potential in the NBA unless he matures. That could be a problem for someone who does not know the meaning of the word "maturity."

Cleveland Cavaliers

Grade at Deadline: C-

Grade Now: B-

Cleveland Gained: SF Luke Walton, 2012 first-round pick

Cleveland Lost: PG Ramon Sessions, SG Christian Eyenga

If star point guard Kyrie Irving had not gone down with a shoulder injury, this grade could be much higher.

The Cavs desperately needed Sessions to replace Irving's production. Instead, Sessions will be challenging for a ring with the Lakers.

But every cloud has a silver lining.

Cleveland has struggled since the trade deadline and is now tied for the fourth-worst record in the league. This means more lottery balls in the draft—something every rebuilding team needs.

Cleveland's biggest acquisition is another first-round pick. Even though it meant taking on Luke Walton's large contract, the more draft picks the better. 

With two first-round picks in the upcoming draft and Kyrie Irving already on the roster, the Cavs appear to have a bright future ahead.

Golden State Warriors

Grade at Deadline: C+

Grade Now: D+

Golden State Gained: SF Richard Jefferson, C Andrew Bogut, SG Stephen Jackson, 2012 first-round pick, 2012 second-round pick

Golden State Lost: SG Monta Ellis, C Ekpe Udoh, C Kwame Brown, SG Stephen Jackson, Cash

With news that Andrew Bogut will undergo yet another ankle surgery, this trade just got a whole lot worse for Golden State. Bogut is yet to play a game for the Warriors, and another operation is bad news for Mark Jackson and company.

This trade would have been even worse if the Warriors had been unable to move Stephen Jackson, who they acquired as part of the Bogut deal. He is a locker room cancer who would have ruined a young Warriors squad.

The biggest loss for the Warriors is Ellis—scorers with 20-plus points per game don't grow on trees. Ellis will be hard to replace, but long term, he had to go. He is a weak defender and is not a true team-leading superstar.

I was also disappointed to see the Warriors move Ekpe Udoh. The young big was showing his potential prior to being traded.

Overall, this is a risky trade for the Warriors that is showing no immediate benefits. However, if Bogut can overcome his injury issues, it could be a masterstroke.

Indiana Pacers

Grade at Deadline: C+

Grade Now: B-

Indiana Gained: SF Leandro Barbosa

Indiana Lost: 2012 second-round pick

A solid, if unspectacular trade for the Pacers.

Leandro Barbosa hasn't been a major contributor for the Pacers, averaging 8.9 points per game. But, more importantly, he is shooting 42.4 percent from deep.

Barbosa has helped stretch the floor and not a lot else. But for a second-round pick, he has added more depth to an already talented roster.

New Jersey Nets

Grade at Deadline: C+

Grade Now: D

New Jersey Gained: SF Gerald Wallace

New Jersey Lost: C Mehmet Okur, SF Shawne Williams, 2012 first-round pick (top-three protected)

The Nets were a disappointment at the deadline; not much has changed since.

After their much-anticipated acquisition of Dwight Howard failed, the Nets desperately tried to surround Deron Williams with players that would persuade him to stay in free agency.

I'm sorry, Nets fans, but I don't think it's working.

Gerald Wallace has played solidly, averaging 15.8 points per game. However, he is only shooting just over 40 percent from the floor.

Just to compound their problems, the Nets gave up a first-round draft pick in a stacked draft class. What's more, the pick is only top-three protected.

If I was Deron Williams, I'd be running for the exit.

Houston Rockets

Grade at Deadline: B-

Grade Now: A-

Houston Gained: C Marcus Camby, PG Derek Fisher (bought out and signed with Oklahoma City)

Houston Lost: C Jordan Hill, PG Jonny Flynn, C Hasheem Thabeet, 2012 first-round pick

The Rockets made no major moves, but rather, a series of minor ones.

They were able to unload Hasheem Thabeet's terrible contract and acquire a first-round pick from the Lakers by taking on Derek Fisher's contract.

Houston also added some much-needed size in the form of Marcus Camby. Camby's contract is expiring, so there is no risk for the Rockets.

Overall, a very solid trade deadline for Houston.

Memphis Grizzlies

Grade at Deadline: F

Grade Now: F

Memphis Gained: Draft rights to F Ricky Sanchez

Memphis Lost: SF Sam Young

The Grizzlies traded away a proven contributor for...nothing.

Memphis made the inexplicable decision to trade away Sam Young for the draft rights to Ricky Sanchez.

Young is a solid defender and a good team player. He is a solid ninth or 10th man who can make an impact in limited minutes.

On the other hand, Ricky Sanchez told HoopsHype in 2005 that he would be NBA ready "in two years." We are now in 2012.

Unless the Grizzlies have this guy scouted and committed to play next season, this trade was a terrible decision.

Philadelphia 76ers

Grade at Deadline: C+

Grade Now: B-

Philadelphia Gained: F Sam Young

Philadelphia Lost: Draft rights to F Ricky Sanchez

The 76ers were on the receiving end of the Grizzlies' generosity. They acquired Sam Young for virtually nothing.

Young is only playing slightly over seven minutes per game, but he has added further depth to an already talented roster.

I give Philly a solid B- here. Sam Young hasn't had a big impact, but whenever you get a solid defender and hard-working player for nothing, it is always a good move.

Los Angeles Clippers

Grade at Deadline: A+

Grade: B-

Los Angeles Gained: SG Nick Young

Los Angeles Lost: 2012 second-round pick

This move was initially lauded as the biggest steal of the deadline. The Clippers got the shooting guard they needed for only a second-round pick.

However, Nick Young has not quite made the impact people expected of him. He is averaging only 10.2 points per game on 39.1 percent shooting.

Part of this can be attributed to the great play of Randy Foye, who has been a knock-down shooter, and as a result, has taken up a lot of minutes.

Still, Young has been a solid acquisition for the Clippers considering how little they gave up to get him.

Los Angeles Lakers

Grade at Deadline: B

Grade Now: A-

Los Angeles Gained: PG Ramon Sessions, SG Christian Eyenga, C Jordan Hill

Los Angeles Lost: PG Derek Fisher, SF Luke Walton, two 2012 first-round picks

An A- may seem extremely generous, but I look at it this way.

Before the deadline: pretenders. After the deadline: contenders.

Ramon Sessions has been big for the Lakers at the offensive end, averaging 11.2 points and 5.6 assists per game. He has sparked their offense to life and has helped Andrew Bynum immensely.

Sessions has had some struggles at the defensive end—he was destroyed by Tony Parker in the Lakers' humiliating defeat to San Antonio.

In a point guard-stacked league, Sessions will have to defend better for the Lakers to advance in the playoffs.

The Lakers also managed to dump over $10 million in annual salary by moving Derek Fisher and Luke Walton's big contracts. I appreciate that they gave up two first-round draft picks to do so, but they had  no choice; they were already over the cap for next season.

Jordan Hill has played limited minutes until the double-overtime thriller against the Thunder, where he scored 14 points and pulled down 15 boards. He has shown some promise and could be the backup big the Lakers desperately need.

A very good trade-deadline performance from the Lakers. They have saved big money in the long run and have become instant title contenders.

Atlanta Hawks

Grade at Deadline: C-

Grade Now: C-

Atlanta Gained: Cash

Atlanta Lost: 2012 second-round draft pick

Basketball-wise, a terrible move by the Hawks. I hate it when teams trade away draft picks for cash.

Although, for a franchise already pushing the cap limit, a bit of extra money never hurts.

Toronto Raptors

Grade at Deadline: C

Grade Now: B-

Toronto Gained: 2012 second-round draft pick

Toronto Lost: Leandro Barbosa

With Toronto already out of the playoff hunt, trading away Leandro Barbosa was a solid move. He was an expiring contract and unlikely to re-sign.

The Raptors saved themselves a bit more money this season and picked up another draft pick.

It also made their team worse, which—as we all know—means more lottery balls.

Portland Trail Blazers

Grade at Deadline: C+

Grade Now: B+

Portland Gained: PG Jonny Flynn, C Mehmet Okur, C Hasheem Thabeet, SF Shawne Williams, 2012 first-round pick, 2012 second-round pick.

Portland Lost: C Marcus Camby, F Gerald Wallace

The Blazers imploded after a promising start to the season. They started out as title contenders, but have now officially entered the rebuilding phase.

They began their roster blowup by trading away Gerald Wallace. "Crash" was a solid contributor, but he had an $11 million player option that he would have opted into next year—something Portland could not afford.

Portland made a great move by trading Wallace.

What's more, they acquired Mehmet Okur's expiring contract and a first-round draft pick. More importantly, this pick is only top-three protected, which means the Blazers should be able to draft a talented prospect in the draft.

However, Portland's other trade baffles me.

The Trail Blazers traded away Marcus Camby's expiring contract for Jonny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet, players that have so far been busts in their short NBA careers. They took on more salary rather than creating valuable cap room.

I give Portland a B+ here, mainly thanks to the draft pick acquired from the Nets.

San Antonio Spurs

Grade at Deadline: D

Grade: C-

San Antonio Gained: SG Stephen Jackson

San Antonio Lost: SF Richard Jefferson, 2012 first-round pick

The Spurs made a questionable decision in trading for Stephen Jackson at the deadline. Jackson was a locker room cancer for the Bucks and was destroying their team.

But to most people's surprise, Jackson has bought into Gregg Popovich's system and has been putting up a respectable 8.9 points per game.

By moving an underperforming Richard Jefferson, the Spurs have saved themselves roughly $11 million a season.

The only thing keeping the Spurs at a C- is that they gave up this year's first-round pick as part of the deal.

Milwaukee Bucks

Grade at Deadline: A

Grade Now: B

Milwaukee Gained: SG Monta Ellis, PF Ekpe Udoh, C Kwame Brown

Milwaukee Lost: C Andrew Bogut, SG

The Bucks made a huge move at the deadline acquiring Monta Ellis. Milwaukee had clearly lost patience with oft-injured center Andrew Bogut and decided to move him for a legitimate scorer.

So far, the Monta Ellis-Brandon Jennings backcourt has struggled. Both are explosive scorers who need the ball in their hands.

The Bucks also picked up promising big Ekpe Udoh. The Baylor grad is a solid post defender with a blossoming offensive game.

I'm still not sold on the Bucks' backcourt, and I'm skeptical that it will bring success. The Bucks also missed the playoffs, so their grade takes a hit. Although, they do earn some credit for moving problem shooting guard Stephen Jackson.

Still, I believe Milwaukee is a better team post-trade deadline.