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NBA Trade Deadline 2015: Deal Recaps and Grades for Every Team
February 19, 2015NBA Trade Deadline 2015: Deal Recaps and Grades for Every Team
The 2015 trade deadline was eerily quiet in the days leading up to the Thursday activity, but that ultimately proved to be the calm before the storm.
As predicted, no teams made moves before the Denver Nuggets revealed their hand, and it was the Mile High City residents who served as the central figure in the first two trades of the day. But they weren't the only team involved in the proceedings, as we ultimately had 17 squads involved in the deadline festivities, thanks to a flurry of activity right before the buzzer sounded.
Do note that we aren't counting trades from earlier in the season here.
Rajon Rondo, Timofey Mozgov, Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith may all have been dealt before 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 19, but they've all settled into their new roles by now. We've only interesting in the swaps that just took place.
And there were a lot of them, the vast majority of which made sense for all sides involved.
Boston Celtics
Boston Additions: Isaiah Thomas, Jonas Jerebko, Gigi Datome
Boston Subtractions: Tayshaun Prince, Marcus Thornton, 2016 first-round pick (via Cleveland Cavaliers)
Per ESPN Insider Jeff Goodman, the Boston Celtics sent Marcus Thornton and the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 first-round pick to the Phoenix Suns for the services of a diminutive point guard.
It's uncertain how Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart will fit together down the road, but at least they seem to have complementary skills. While Smart doesn't have much of an outside shot and Bradley is a defensive ace with good off-ball work, Thomas is a gunner first and foremost. He gives Boston the floor-spacing ability at the point that it hasn't possessed in quite some time.
Perhaps the best news of all, though, is his contract. He signed a bargain of a deal this past offseason, one that will pay him $27 million over the course of four years.
Now, Boston is getting it for only a small price.
Thornton never truly figured into the long-term plans of the C's. Now nearly 28 years old, he was playing only 16.4 minutes per game prior to the trade. As for the pick, it won't be conveyed until 2016, and it's just one of many that general manager Danny Ainge has at his disposal.
In a smaller deal that was reported by ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the Celtics are also giving up Tayshaun Prince to the Detroit Pistons for Jonas Jerebko and Gigi Datome. Both players can figure into the long-term plans, though neither has all that much upside at this stage of their careers.
Grade: A
Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn Additions: Thaddeus Young
Brooklyn Subtractions: Kevin Garnett
As David Aldridge reported for NBA.com, the Brooklyn Nets are sending Kevin Garnett to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Thaddeus Young. So while a legend is returning to his old stomping grounds, the Nets are picking up a quality player who can be quite useful going forward.
Garnett was averaging only 6.8 points and 6.8 rebounds in Brooklyn, playing just over 20 minutes during his typical appearance at the Barclays Center (or while visiting another arena). Meanwhile, Young was much more of a key player in Minnesota, posting 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
It's pretty easy to tell which one is a bigger asset. Garnett may be the future Hall of Famer, while Young has never been so much as an All-Star, but at this stage of their respective careers, it's the latter who is more likely to help out a team that's still trying to win.
And for Brooklyn, it's hard to claim they're doing anything but that. Unable to unload the mega deals of their veteran core, they're instead acquiring more talent, which should make it more reasonable for them to land a playoff spot in the weak—but quickly improving—Eastern Conference.
Somehow, the Nets didn't even have to give up a pick in order to improve. And that's a good thing, since it's not like Brooklyn had any to give up in the first place.
Grade: A-
Denver Nuggets
Denver Additions: Will Barton, Thomas Robinson, Victor Claver, Cenk Akyol, 2016 first-round pick (via Portland Trail Blazers, lottery-protected), future second-round pick
Denver Subtractions: Arron Afflalo, JaVale McGee, Alonzo Gee, 2015 first-round pick (via Oklahoma City Thunder, top-18 protected)
You can't look at the Arron Afflalo deal in a vacuum.
As Adrian Wojnarowski reported for Yahoo Sports, the Denver Nuggets sent the veteran shooting guard off to the Portland Trail Blazers for a hefty haul of players and picks, one comprised of Will Barton, Victor Claver, Thomas Robinson, a second-round pick and a future first. He went on to clarify that the pick would be lottery-protected in 2016 and 2017 before morphing into a pair of second-rounders.
So basically, the Nuggets will be getting their hands on a first-round selection in the 2016 NBA draft, as it's rather unlikely the strong and fairly young core in Rip City suddenly falls out of the playoff picture.
Considering Denver only just acquired Afflalo from the Orlando Magic this offseason, sending Evan Fournier and a late second-round pick to general manager Rob Hennigan, this is a nice little return on investment. Not only are they adding a few high-upside players in Barton and Robinson (though CSNNW.com's Jabari Young reports the power forward could be bought out), but they're adding an even more valuable pick that will come during what's almost certain to be a bit of a rebuilding process.
Also per Wojnarowski, the Nuggets finally managed to ship off JaVale McGee and his exorbitant albatross of a contract to the Philadelphia 76ers. Sure, they also had to part with the first-round pick they had on behalf of the Oklahoma City Thunder (via the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Timofey Mozgov trade earlier this season), but that's so heavily protected that it will likely be conveyed down the road.
Bleacher Report's Ethan Skolnick provided some context: "So Nuggets held out for that second 1st round pick from Cleveland (the OKC pick) for Mozgov basically so they could salary dump Javale McGee."
It's worth noting that, according to Derek Bodner of Draft Express, the Nuggets will also receive the rights to Cenk Akyol, a 27-year-old guard currently playing with Galatasaray. Plus, they've created $18 million in traded player exceptions.
Getting rid of a bench player who was set to make $12 million next season? Turning Afflalo into even more than it originally took to get him?
What's not to love, especially with the first-rounder they parted with to ship off McGee serving as a misleadingly valuable asset?
Grade: A
Detroit Pistons
Detroit Additions: Reggie Jackson, Tayshaun Prince
Detroit Subtractions: D.J. Augustin, Jonas Jerebko, Kyle Singler, Gigi Datome, future second-round pick
Even with Brandon Jennings out for the season with an Achilles rupture, the Detroit Pistons never figured to be remarkably active at the deadline. Maybe they'd move for a point guard, but two moves that helped them capture one of the players talked about most heading into the deadline?
The lesser deal, as reported by Stein, involved them shipping off Jonas Jerebko and Gigi Datome to the Boston Celtics for Tayshaun Prince. This is more of a salary move, though Prince's continuing defensive ability will make him an asset as Stan Van Gundy's team keeps trying to form unbreachable walls.
That said, whatever Prince brings to the table will pale in comparison to the other acquisition.
Wojnarowski first reported that the Pistons were acquiring Reggie Jackson from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and then the details trickled in. Aldridge revealed that Detroit was parting with Kyle Singler and D.J. Augustin in a three-team swap that also involved the Utah Jazz, and the inclusion of Augustin was then confirmed by Vincent Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.
The arrival of Jackson leaves no doubt that the Pistons intend on making a significant playoff push. He immediately provides more offensive firepower while making it easier for the team to replace Jennings' lost production.
And though losing Augustin hurts, it's not as though any of the other pieces are completely irreplaceable. Singler may be a tad underrated, but Prince isn't absolutely washed up at this stage of his career.
Grade: A-
Houston Rockets
Houston Additions: K.J. McDaniels, Pablo Prigioni
Houston Subtractions: Alexey Shved, three future second-round picks
The Houston Rockets didn't make any huge moves at the deadline, but they did manage to improve their chances of getting through the Western Conference gauntlet with a pair of last-minute swaps, all of which were reported by Wojnarowski.
First, the team acquired a reliable veteran point guard in Pablo Prigioni from the New York Knicks. He's by no means a standout at the position, but at least he's capable of eating a few minutes and keeping the more important backcourt players fresh throughout the stretch run and ensuing postseason battles.
In return, the Knicks received two second-round picks and Alexey Shved, who has averaged only 6.6 minutes during his nine appearances since being shipped to Houston by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Secondly, Houston got their hands on K.J. McDaniels, an intriguing rookie who has impressed for the Philadelphia 76ers but only has the rest of this season on his first NBA contract. GM Daryl Morey sent another second-round pick to the Sixers, the third of the day, as well as the rarely used Isaiah Canaan.
McDaniels, with his athleticism and defensive intensity, should be able to make an immediate impact in his new location, and that's well worth the price of acquiring him, even if he bolts at the end of the season. Of course, Houston can ensure that doesn't happen, since he'll be a restricted free agent.
Grade: B+
Miami Heat
Miami Additions: Goran Dragic, Zoran Dragic
Miami Subtractions: Norris Cole, Danny Granger, Shawne Williams, Jordan Hamilton, 2017 first-round pick (top-seven protected), 2021 first-round pick
The most glamorous move of the day allowed the Miami Heat to land the biggest name/best player on the block this trade season—Goran Dragic.
Wojnarowski had the details, which involved the Heat giving up Danny Granger, Shawne Williams, Jordan Hamilton and two first-round picks in order to acquire both Dragic brothers. KTAR's John Gambadoro has the details on the picks, and they'll be going to the desert as a top-seven-protected selection in 2017 and a 2021 first-round pick. Obviously, it's Goran who's the bigger acquisition, as he's coming off of a season in which he was named third-team All-NBA.
Somehow, the Heat got their hands on him by giving up the two picks well down the road and a smorgasbord of players who aren't central parts of the team's future.
That's basically stealing.
Before the deadline, the Heat were thoroughly mediocre, a team that was well below average on both sides of the ball. But now, if healthy, they're one of the most dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference. If they're earning one of the bottom playoff seeds, the squads at the top may want to think about doing some repositioning.
"There's legitimate excitement inside the Heat offices for the first time in about 7 months," Bleacher Report's Ethan Skolnick reported.
And there should be. Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside now make up one heck of a starting five.
Grade: A+
Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Additions: Michael Carter-Williams, Miles Plumlee, Tyler Ennis
Milwaukee Subtractions: Brandon Knight
Here's the biggest head-scratcher of all.
Brandon Knight was in the midst of a fantastic season, one that left him fighting with Kyle Korver for the final All-Star spot in the Eastern Conference when Dwyane Wade was ruled out of the midseason classic. Averaging 17.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, he was leading the charge for one of the NBA's surprise teams, as the Milwaukee Bucks wouldn't be above .500 without him at the helm.
Now, in a move that seemingly came out of left field, he's gone.
Per ESPN.com news services, "The Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns have agreed to a three-team trade that would send Brandon Knight to Phoenix, Michael Carter-Williams, Miles Plumlee and Tyler Ennis to Milwaukee and draft picks to Philadelphia, a source told ESPN's Marc Stein."
Plumlee is a solid center when given limited minutes and small responsibilities. Ennis could develop into a high-quality point guard, though he's still quite young and inexperienced.
But the confusing part of this trade is how the Milwaukee management could possibly have thought Michael Carter-Williams was superior to Knight.
He's not. Unequivocally.
Carter-Williams may be the reigning Rookie of the Year, but he'll have trouble helping the Milwaukee defense remain one of the best in the league, and he can't shoot from anywhere but right around the basket. Plus, he's been playing a turnover-happy brand of basketball on the uptempo Sixers.
The ridiculous wingspan combination of Carter-Williams and Giannis Antetokounmpo will be fun. And maybe the reigning ROY will have a huge breakthrough in the near future. Plus, he's operating on a rookie contract, while Knight is going to be a free agent this summer and would have commanded a hefty price, so there are certainly positives to the move.
But a team that was a playoff lock in the East and had emerged as one of the most overlooked squads in the whole NBA just took a serious step back in the present.
Grade: C
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Additions: Kevin Garnett
Minnesota Subtractions: Thaddeus Young
You can read more fulsome thoughts on Kevin Garnett's return to the Minnesota Timberwolves here, but the quick synopsis is that it's rather easy to get excited about the best player in franchise history putting on his old threads at the end of his career.
First reported by Aldridge, Garnett will be going back to the team that drafted him nearly 20 years ago, and the Wolves will be sending Thaddeus Young to the Brooklyn Nets.
The good is obvious here. Garnett wanted to be in Minnesota, or else he'd never have waived his no-trade clause and turned down buyout opportunities that would have led to him finding a home on a championship contender. There's a distinct nostalgic feel here, and fans of the Wolves have to be quite excited about watching Garnett end his career where he started it.
Sure, he may be only a shell of his old self, but he's still "The Big Ticket" in Minnesota. He was absolutely beloved there, especially in 2004 when he was named the NBA's MVP. Plus, he can serve as a mentor to the young guns on the roster, just as he did in Brooklyn with Mason Plumlee.
Moving Young for a player who won't spend as much time on the court is also beneficial for the rebuilding process. Not only does it foster the pursuit of the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA draft, but it also allows players like Andrew Wiggins and Shabazz Muhammad to grow together, rather than logging minutes at different portions of the game.
The only negative here is that the Wolves could've gotten significantly more for Young. Not even landing a single pick for him is a problem for a team that does still need to be collecting assets.
Grade: B
New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Additions: Norris Cole, Shawne Williams, Justin Hamilton
New Orleans Subtractions: John Salmons
The New Orleans Pelicans didn't make any major deals before the deadline, but they did manage to acquire a few players, even if not all of them are guaranteed to stick around much longer.
According to Stein, "Norris Cole to New Orleans for John Salmons is another trade that beat the buzzer," but the Miami Heat 1-guard wasn't the only player the Pellies acquired.
Shawne Williams was sent to the bayou as well, but Wojnarowski revealed that a buyout is coming, making it unlikely he ever puts on a New Orleans jersey. Justin Hamilton is coming over from the Miami Heat too, but Scott Kushner of The New Orleans Advocate reports that he's going to be cut.
Essentially, the Pelicans got their hands on Cole for the cheap price of Salmons, which is a beneficial move simply because New Orleans so desperately needed depth at the point guard position.
The flat-topped floor general is by no means a high-quality player. He's struggled immensely during his fourth professional season and still has yet to log a player efficiency rating in double digits, via Basketball-Reference.com.
But he's an able body all the same.
With Jrue Holiday aggravating the stress injury in his leg and Jimmer Fredette serving as the only backup point guard on the roster, acquiring any player capable of lining up at the 1 is a decent move. It's just a shame that NOLA couldn't have found a better option, even if giving up Salmons isn't all that significant of a loss.
Grade: B
New York Knicks
New York Additions: Alexey Shved, two future second-round picks (from Houston Rockets)
New York Subtractions: Pablo Prigioni
"The Rockets sent guard Alexey Shved and two second-round picks to the New York Knicks for Prigioni, sources said," Wojnarowski reported for Yahoo Sports.
Figuring out the motivation here isn't particularly tough, as the New York Knicks are most assuredly playing for next season. Losing games is more advantageous than winning them right now, and clearing the books for the ensuing offseason is more advantageous still.
Basically, it doesn't matter what Alexey Shved and Pablo Prigioni bring to the table, at least in terms of on-court skills. The former's contract runs through the end of this year and then expires, while the latter has a deal that continues on into the 2015-16 season, even if he's only scheduled to make a bit more than $1.7 million with a partial guarantee of $290,000.
Phil Jackson's managed to open up just a bit more cap space, and he gained two second-round picks while doing that.
Kudos to the master of zen.
Grade: A
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Additions: Enes Kanter, D.J. Augustin, Kyle Singler, Steve Novak
Oklahoma City Subtractions: Reggie Jackson, Kendrick Perkins, Grant Jerrett, Ish Smith, future first-round pick
The Oklahoma City Thunder are going all in, and they're looking quite good while doing so.
ESPN.com's Royce Young has the full scoop:
The Oklahoma City Thunder have traded Reggie Jackson to the Detroit Pistons in a three-team deal, a source confirmed to ESPN.com.
The Thunder will acquire Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter and forward Steve Novak, Pistons forward Kyle Singler and guard D.J. Augustin, with Thunder center Kendrick Perkins going to the Jazz.
How do you not love this haul, even if the Thunder are also parting with a protected first-round pick, via ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst?
While parting with a disgruntled guard on an expiring deal (Reggie Jackson) and an overpaid, overmatched center (Kendrick Perkins), the Thunder managed to pick up a young big man with a lot of upside and a few other rotation members. D.J. Augustin gives OKC some quality depth at the point, and he'll help orchestrate offense for a second unit that's suddenly a lot more dangerous, regardless of which big the Thunder choose to start when Steven Adams is healthy.
Oklahoma City needed to make a move in order to chase down the Phoenix Suns and stave off the New Orleans Pelicans in the hunt for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Now, it just got significantly more talented and filled in a few positions of need.
Even if Steve Novak only plays garbage-time minutes and Kyle Singler regresses with less freedom than he received in Detroit, the Thunder should still be thrilled.
Grade: A+
Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia Additions: JaVale McGee, Isaiah Canaan, 2015 first-round pick (via Oklahoma City Thunder, top-18 protected), 2015 first-round pick (via Los Angeles Lakers, top-five protected), future second-round pick (via Houston Rockets)
Philadelphia Subtractions: Michael Carter-Williams, K.J. McDaniels, Cenk Akyol
After trading for JaVale McGee, per Wojnarowski, the Philadelphia 76ers have the ability to throw out the 7-footer who last played with Denver, Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel and maybe even Jahlil Okafor at the same time, assuming they're able to land the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA draft. But sadly, that's probably not the reason this move was made.
GM Sam Hinkie did what Hinkie does best.
He used his extra cap space and acquired yet another draft pick. After all, the Nuggets paid to move McGee by giving up the Oklahoma City Thunder's 2015 first-round pick, which will likely be conveyed at least one year after the earliest possible date, due to protections.
But still, Hinkie didn't give up anything other than financial flexibility and added more assets, as well as a player with enduring upside—if he chooses to keep him on the roster. Though with head coach Brett Brown telling Sixers beat writer Tom Moore, "'I would prefer not to comment," when asked about what kind of player McGee is, it's probably not a safe bet to assume he'll be on the team for that much longer.
Later in the day, the Sixers also got their hands on another pick. This time, it came in the form of a second-rounder from the Houston Rockets. As reported by Wojnarowski, the Rockets parted with both that selection and Isaiah Canaan for the right to acquire K.J. McDaniels.
The rookie forward had been one of the few bright spots on the roster, but losing him for such mediocre returns isn't as bad as some may initially think. Remember, McDaniels chose to sign a one-year contract rather than the typical rookie deal for a second-round pick, and he could easily command a price higher than the Sixers are willing to pony up this offseason.
Still, it has to be a bit disappointing that such a promising talent was given up without a fight. At least it looks a lot better in conjunction with the return for Michael Carter-Williams.
The reigning Rookie of the Year was sent to the Milwaukee Bucks in a multi-team swap, and per ESPN.com's Chad Ford, the Sixers are getting back something quite valuable in return—the Los Angeles Lakers' first-round pick, via the Phoenix Suns.
The pick is protected for the top five slots this year, making it quite unlikely that the Lakers will part with it. But in 2016, it's only protected for the top three.
Grade: A-
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Additions: Danny Granger, Brandon Knight, Kendall Marshall, John Salmons, Marcus Thornton, 2016 first-round pick (via Boston Celtics), 2017 first-round pick (via Miami Heat, top-seven protected), 2021 first-round pick (via Miami Heat), cash
Phoenix Subtractions: Goran Dragic, Zoran Dragic, Tyler Ennis, Miles Plumlee, Isaiah Thomas, 2015 first-round pick (via Los Angeles Lakers)
No team was more active than the Phoenix Suns on deadline day. Not even the Philadelphia 76ers, despite their involvement in what seemed like a myriad of smaller deals.
They were a part of the Brandon Knight blockbuster, as reported by Aldridge and Stein. They ended up dealing Goran Dragic, which was originally revealed by Wojnarowski, though Gambadoro provided details on the picks that were shipped to the desert. They also dealt Isaiah Thomas, per Goodman.
Rather than look at each of the three big moves separately, let's take a gander at the overall additions and subtractions.
I don't blame you if all of the moves are hard to process. There are a lot of moving pieces, and not all of them are guaranteed to stay in the desert. Gambadoro reports that both Salmons and Marshall will be waived, and Granger may be as well.
Long story short, the Suns cleaned up a backcourt-heavy roster and still somehow maintained a strong stable of guards. Even though they acquiesced to Dragic's wishes and sent him and his brother off to the Miami Heat, even though they traded Thomas to the Boston Celtics, they managed to get back Brandon Knight in the process.
Now, the Kentucky-themed combination of Knight and Eric Bledsoe figures to keep Phoenix in the hunt for a playoff berth, despite the simultaneous improvements of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Gerald Green can even play more minutes to make up for the loss of a big bench player (Thomas).
Consider this a nice example of damage control, salvaging a messy situation and imbuing the desert-based franchise with even more upside, thanks to the relative youth of Knight and Bledsoe.
Grade: A-
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Additions: Arron Afflalo, Alonzo Gee
Portland Subtractions: Will Barton, Thomas Robinson, Victor Claver, 2016 first-round pick (lottery protected), future second-round pick
Will Barton was playing just 10 minutes per game for the Portland Trail Blazers. Victor Claver spent even less time on the court—just 7.6 minutes during the average contest. And Thomas Robinson never worked out in Rip City, playing only 12.2 minutes per appearance with the Blazers this year.
Trading the three of them—along with a second-round pick and a protected future first—for Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee was more than worth it. That move, as reported by Wojnarowski, significantly upgrades a Portland bench that, while improved from last year, was still holding back the stellar starting five.
According to HoopsStats.com, the Blazers' second unit ranked No. 23 in offensive efficiency and No. 17 in defensive efficiency, which was rather problematic for a group that didn't spend all that much time on the floor. Now, the team has two players who can help fix both issues.
Gee is a limited offensive player, but he's a hard-nosed defender who can play big minutes against a tough matchup. Afflalo is much more of a two-way standout, and he gives Rip City the shooting depth it's needed for quite some time.
Plus, Afflalo has played a role quite similar to this one before. When in Orlando, he was serving as the No. 1 option for a struggling team, and he nearly made the All-Star team while doing so. Now, he's essentially doing the same thing, as he'll likely be coming off the pine and leading the charge while surrounded by players who don't exactly draw much defensive attention.
Head coach Terry Stotts can feel much more secure when his starters need a breather. Especially because, on this roster, at least, Gee is no mere throw-in for salary purposes.
Grade: A+
Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Additions: Andre Miller
Sacramento Subtractions: Ramon Sessions
Peaches and Herb didn't know it at the time, but when they were crooning out, "Reunited, and it feels so good," they were actually predicting the future. They were referring, of course, to the dynamic point guard-head coach pairing of George Karl and Andre Miller.
Per Wojnarowski, "The Washington Wizards traded guard Andre Miller to the Sacramento Kings for guard Ramon Sessions, a league source told Yahoo Sports. The trade reunites Miller with new Kings coach George Karl. Karl had a close relationship with Miller in Denver and pushed for Miller's addition after taking over the Kings."
On the court, Miller won't bring much to the Sacramento Kings.
Calling him a veteran is a bit of an understatement at this stage of his career. While he's never been particularly swift of foot, the aged point guard is now slow as molasses and was having trouble getting off the bench for the Washington Wizards. Frankly, now that he's nearly 39 years old and has been in the league for 18 seasons, that might literally be true on some nights.
But Miller's brain is still functioning at a high level. And that's presumably a major part of what led Karl to give him such high praise two years ago, when the two were paired together for the Denver Nuggets. As he told Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post, he thinks of Miller as one of the top five true point guards of all time:
I think Andre could have been a better scorer than he's turned out to be, but I think his desire has always been to be the quarterback. He does amazing things out there with a nature that helps everybody—helps the team, the coach, helps winning, and he does it with a humble mentality. He's a quiet guy and any type of attention he gets, he deserves it.
Miller may just be a locker-room presence and mentor for the younger players in Sacramento, but appeasing Karl right off the bat is bound to earn Sacramento some solid marks. Plus, as Steve Kyler noted for Basketball Insiders, "Acquiring Andre Miller smart for the Kings, he can serve as a coach on the floor for George Karl as they adapt team to his style."
Grade: B+
Utah Jazz
Utah Additions: Kendrick Perkins, Grant Jerrett, Tibor Pleiss, future first-round pick (via Oklahoma City Thunder), future second-round pick (via Detroit Pistons)
Utah Subtractions: Enes Kanter, Steve Novak
According to Windhorst, the Utah Jazz are getting Kendrick Perkins, a protected first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder, a second-round pick from the Detroit Pistons, Grant Jerrett and Tibor Pleiss for Enes Kanter.
It may not seem like a lot, especially if the OKC selection is heavily protected and won't be conveyed for years. But as Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey tweeted, "Two picks and cap space for Enes Kanter, who Utah may have had no intention of re-signing anyway, is a really solid haul for the Jazz."
In a vacuum, Kanter is worth more. But since the young big man wanted out of Salt Lake City and can easily be replaced—and possibly improved upon—by Rudy Gobert, it's impressive that Utah even got this much for his services.
As the Deseret News' Jody Genessy reported, Perkins is likely to be bought out, and he'll almost immediately find a new home with a contender. In other words, don't be surprised when he reunites with Doc Rivers in Los Angeles.
But this isn't about anything other than acquiring draft picks and addition through subtraction. With Gobert thriving as a per-minute stud and emerging as arguably the most dominant rim-protecting force in the Association, he needed more time on the court. He was ready.
Now, he'll get all he can handle.
Grade: B
Washington Wizards
Washington Additions: Ramon Sessions
Washington Subtractions: Andre Miller
The Washington Wizards desperately needed to find themselves a backcourt upgrade before the deadline.
Bradley Beal doesn't have a return date after suffering yet another stress reaction. Rasual Butler has struggled with his shot in recent weeks, and Garrett Temple hasn't exactly been a reliable option off the bench throughout the entirety of the current campaign.
But the Wizards have found a solution.
Per Wojnarowski, they've traded Andre Miller—who had fallen almost completely out of head coach Randy Wittman's rotation—to the Sacramento Kings for Ramon Sessions.
Sessions isn't really a game-changing player at this stage of his career, but he's at least a serviceable option to spell John Wall. He gives the Wizards more depth, which they desperately need as they attempt to stave off injuries and remain near the top of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
In 36 games, the 28-year-old floor general averaged only 5.4 points and 2.7 assists per game, but that's partially due to the team not giving him much run. Just last year, Sessions provided the struggling Milwaukee Bucks with 15.8 and 4.8 after a midseason trade sent him away from the Charlotte Bobcats.
Sessions isn't much of a perimeter threat, but Wittman will be able to use his shot-creating ability. Even though he's moving out of his athletic prime, the point guard is adept at working his way into the lane and lofting up creative shot attempts, which will keep the Washington offense humming—maybe not quite as loudly—when Wall and his driving ability spend some time on the bench.
Washington could've used an even better 1-guard than Sessions. But it's hard to complain here, especially since they only gave up a 38-year-old who was basically glued to the pine prior to the All-Star break.
Grade: B+