NBA Trade Evaluations: The Five Best Deadline Deals
This season featured the NBA's most exciting trade-deadline action in recent memory, with a staggering mix of players moving willy-nilly every which way. It's easy to predict which trades will have the biggest effect on which teams before the new guys put on a jersey.
But now that we've got some numbers to go by, which players have had the biggest effect on their new teams?
Jordan Crawford, Maurice Evans and Mike Bibby to Washington for Kirk Hinrich
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Final score: Washington 99, Atlanta 89
I don't understand the logic behind giving up all of this for Kirk Hinrich. Atlanta lost the majority of whatever depth they had by giving Jordan Crawford and Maurice Evans to Washington.
And look at what they're doing in D.C! Maybe they just didn't have a role with the Hawks?
Whatever the problem might have been, Crawford and Evans have found a new home with the Washington Wizards. Crawford is averaging four times as many points as he was scoring in Atlanta.
Putting up 16.8 points, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game as a Wizard, Crawford is playing exceptionally alongside John Wall, Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee. And Maurice Evans bring more energy to the rotation.
Washington is far from a playoff team, but they're making strides in the right direction. If they can utilize their draft picks and get a good player in the free agency, they could possibly be a winning team next year.
But at the end of the day, the Hawks are still winning games, both on the road and at home, and the Wizards are still losing them. Maybe next season.
Nets Acquire Deron Williams from Utah for Favors, Harris and Two Picks
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Final score: Nets 89, Jazz 91 (OT)
It was a close match all the way to the end, but Utah came out on top. They gave up Deron Williams, their All-Star point guard who was the center of controversy when coach Jerry Sloan resigned, but received speedster Devin Harris, rookie big man Derrick Favors and two first-round draft picks in return.
Utah could really start planning for the future with the pieces they have now. Let's look at their lineup:
Starting five: Devin Harris, Raja Bell, C.J. Miles, Paul Milsap, Al Jefferson.
Bench: Ronnie Price, Earl Watson, Gordon Hayward, Andrei Kirelinko, Jeremy Evans, Derrick Favors, Memhet Okur, Kyrylo Fesenko.
The first thing that stands out to me is their big men. They've got the big bully in Al Jefferson, Paul Milsap who can explode for 25 any night, and Derrick Favors who's developing into a great post player and rebounder.
If they can make the best of their draft picks this offseason and grab some good free agents, Utah could see themselves in the playoff hunt next season. They've already made some noise this season, but with Harris and Okur injured they haven't been able to capitalize.
For New Jersey, trading for Deron Williams was the riskiest move they could've made. Many believe that making the trade was a necessary move, but with no assurance he'll sign a contract extension, New Jersey could have dug themselves into a deep hole.
With the Lakers' late first round pick of the draft, the Nets could maintain bottom-dweller status next season among the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Was it really worth it?
Marcus Thornton to Sacramento Kings for Carl Landry
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Final score: Hornets 81, Kings 91
I didn't realize how big of a mistake this trade was for New Orleans until Marcus Thornton started lighting it up in Sacramento. Look at his before-and-after stats:
Before the trade: 46 games, 7.8 PPG, 0.9 APG, 2.8 RPG, 0.4 STL
After the trade: 24 games (20 starts): 20.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.5 STL
The Sacramento Kings really came away with a gem in this trade. Sure, they lost Carl Landry, but they've got a lot of talented young big men to rely on in Jason Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins and Donte Green.
With Tyreke Evans returning to the lineup and a possible top-five 2011 draft pick, the Kings could be a team to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.
Marcus Thornton is a pure scorer. He can shoot the lights out of any building, he can attack the basket and he can create his own shot. A future star in the NBA, Thornton is creating a name for himself with his exceptional play in Sacramento.
He dropped 42 points in 41 minutes in a win over Golden State, so you know he can put the ball in the basket.
If Coach Westphal can figure out that Evans at point guard works every time, the Kings could make some noise in the West next season. Combining Evans' facilitating abilities with Thornton's limitless scoring and Cousins' inside prowess could be the equation to a winning season in Sacramento.
Could you imagine if they pulled Derrick Williams in the draft?
Gerald Wallace to Portland Trail Blazers for Joel Przybilla and Dante Cunningham
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Final score: Trail Blazers 98, Bobcats 76
Talk about a steal.
Gerald Wallace might have started out a bit slow in Portland, but he's taken on a huge role in the starting lineup as of late. He's seeing a lot of different looks, playing both the three and the four, and causes huge mismatch problems at each position.
The stats: As a Blazer, Wallace is averaging 15.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and two steals per game, but in his last 10 games he's averaging 20 and eight.
What did he bring to Portland? One word: versatility.
With Wallace being able to play PF, the Trail Blazers can go small with LaMarcus Aldridge at center. They become a faster team and they don't lack the inside defense that one would think.
"Crash" got his nickname from being a banger; he dives into the paint with reckless abandonment to grab boards and he attacks the rim the same way.
Not to mention he's shooting around 34 percent from three; not a knock-down shooter, but he'll make it if he's wide open.
Since Brandon Roy is clearly not 100 percent, Gerald Wallace has done a great job filling in for the time being. Once Roy can get back to playing like the B-Roy of old, he and Wallace will cause problems on both sides of the floor.
Felton, Chandler, Gallinari and Mozgov to Denver for Melo and Chauncey
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Final score: Knicks 77, Nuggets 105
I hate to write the Knicks off already, but they've disappointed me so far in the season. They've got Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups and Amare Stoudemire and they still can't find a way to win ballgames.
The problem really lies in their head coach, Mike D'Antoni, and his non-defensive ways, but sometimes the players have to take it upon themselves to stop the other team from putting points on the board.
And now, for the winners of the trade, the Denver Nuggets.
First, just look at Denver's roster:
PG: Raymond Felton, Ty Lawson
SG: Aaron Afflalo, J.R. Smith
SF: Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Gary Forbes
PF: Kenyon Martin, Al Harrington, Melvin Ely
C: Nene, Chris "Birdman" Anderson, Timofey Mozgov
Denver is easily the deepest team in the NBA. They've essentially got two starting lineups to mix and match and put on the court at different times. Aside from the Lakers, who have been merely dominant since the break, the Nuggets have had the best record since All-Star Weekend.
Denver can blame this new breath of fresh air for the 17-6 run that they've gone on. They've captured the fifth seed in the West and are matched up with Oklahoma City in the playoffs.
The Nuggets could be a deadly team to face; they've got at least eight players who can decide that they want to explode for 20 or 30 points, and the others can fill their role. Denver could be the dark horse in the postseason if they can get past the two-headed monster of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
