Grading the Biggest NBA Trades and Free Agent Signings of the Offseason

There has been an unbelievable amount of activity on the trade market and in free agency during the shortened NBA offseason, and we have seen a remarkable amount of player movement.

With just over two weeks (Dec. 9-Dec. 25) for teams to improve rosters before the start of the season, the news of who is moving where has been coming fast and furious.

A number of clubs have made impact moves in an attempt to shake up the balance of power throughout the league, and there will certainly be some interesting teams to watch this season.

Has your favorite team graded out favorably?

Grant Hill, Phoenix Suns

Grade: B-

The Suns wanted to bring Hill back, but $6.5 million at 39 years old is an awfully steep price tag to pay for Hill at this point in his career.

He's not going to be the difference-maker between the Suns winning (or not winning) a championship, but at least his deal comes off the books after the season, so it doesn't limit the franchise's finances long-term.

Caron Butler, Los Angeles Clippers

Grade: B

Before the trade for Chris Paul, the grade might have been a little lower, but it makes sense now considering Al-Farouq Aminu has moved on to New Orleans.

It's definitely a gamble for the team considering Butler's recent injury history, but if he returns to previous form, an annual average value of $8 million is a reasonable price for defensive intensity and veteran leadership.

Shane Battier, Miami Heat

Grade: A

Battier is a great fit for a team that already boasted premier perimeter defense, and the value of his contract makes this deal absolutely phenomenal for Miami.

There's no doubt he'll instantly fit into his new surroundings, and he offers the team an ability to trot out a rather unorthodox lineup if the Heat choose to do so.

Marcus Thornton, Sacramento Kings

Grade: B-

Thornton was a great fit for the Kings last season serving in the role of a volume scorer, but Sacramento has committed four seasons and upwards of $30 million to his future.

That's a lot of dough to sink into one player when the team has a crowded backcourt rotation, and Thornton still has a lot of questions on the defensive end of the floor.

Chuck Hayes, Sacramento Kings

Grade: A-

The Kings have a lot of big bodies, but the team didn't have a defensive enforcer with the same ferocity that Hayes brings to the table, and that is a necessary addition for a very young team.

Given that he joined the team on the full mid-level exception, it's a very smooth pickup by Sacramento in an offseason where the majority of big men are getting grossly overpaid.

Mike Bibby, New York Knicks

Grade: C-

What does Bibby bring to the table for the Knicks? Not a ton besides the ability to mentor some of the younger guys in the backcourt.

He didn't look like he had much left in the tank when he was with Miami last season, and Knicks fans should be hoping that he doesn't have to see extended time on the floor this season.

Mike Dunleavy, Milwaukee Bucks

Grade: B

Dunleavy certainly doesn't have the "excitement factor" that some other players may, and while there are definitely durability concerns here, a two-year contract worth less than $8 million is a bargain to bring him aboard.

He can space the floor in the second unit and serve as a reliable scoring option when the starters need a rest.

Also, it's an especially good idea to have him behind Stephen Jackson and Carlos Delfino, considering each had injury issues of their own last year.

J.J. Barea, Minnesota Timberwolves

Grade: D

David Kahn has an unreal affinity for point guards, and he's added another one to the team with a four-year contract for Barea.

Kahn is overpaying a role player from a championship team, and if Ricky Rubio is going to be paired on the court simultaneously with Barea, the opposition will have eyes wide open, ready to absolutely destroy the undersized duo.

David West, Indiana Pacers

Grade: A-

The Pacers may have slightly overpaid for a veteran forward coming off reconstructive knee surgery, but the short-term commitment (two years) makes the move look absolutely excellent for a team that had an obvious void at the position.

He has a familiarity with point guard Darren Collison from New Orleans and is a plus contributor in the pick-and-pop game, so his style of play should blend well with the Pacers.

Kurt Thomas, Portland Trail Blazers

Grade: B

It's really difficult to justify giving the oldest player in the league a two-year commitment, but considering Portland's injury history in the big-man department, it's a move that had to be made.

Thomas showed that he can still play at a solid level while with Chicago last season, and he's going to be relied upon to serve in a sizable role for the Trail Blazers.

Jason Richardson, Orlando Magic

Grade: B-

The value of Richardson's deal isn't anything egregious considering it's just north of $6 million per season, but four years seems like an awfully long time to commit to a 30-year-old shooting guard with declining athleticism.

He still proved he can be a solid contributor for the Magic last season, but he didn't enjoy nearly the same level of success after being dealt to Orlando that he was enjoying previously in Phoenix.

Delonte West, Dallas Mavericks

Grade: B+

West brings a definitive toughness to the second unit, and he most certainly will not back down from anyone who goes up against him.

On a one-year deal, West gives the team a backup option at both guard positions and a player who will leave it out on the court every night.

Jeff Green, Boston Celtics

Grade: B

There's no doubt that Green is overpaid at $9 million, but the club had to retain him for this season, knowing he'd be integral in a shortened season on a roster that is built around its veteran leaders.

Unfortunately, Green is dealing with a medical condition discovered at his physical, and an extended absence of the swingman would be tough for the team to cope with, as the season is around the corner.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee Bucks

Grade: A-

Some might not agree, considering that defense is often overlooked, and although Mbah a Moute doesn't fill it up on the defensive end, he's a stout defender on the perimeter—just ask Scott Skiles.

The Bucks chose to match an offer sheet he signed with the Denver Nuggets, and considering it was for the same amount of money J.J. Barea signed for with Minnesota, it was an absolutely excellent decision from the Milwaukee front office.

Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia 76ers

Grade: A-

Young's game is one that hasn't been put on full display as he's been playing behind Andre Iguodala for the duration of his career, but this was one restricted free agent the Sixers could not afford to let slip through the cracks.

Just 23 years old, the average annual value of Young's contract might seem a little high at this time (slightly more than $8 million), but it's important to remember that these deals should never be negotiated on past accomplishments.

Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies

Grade: A

The Grizzlies absolutely had to re-sign Gasol given how important he is to what Memphis does as a team, and the team knew all along that there was no way he could be allowed to go anywhere else.

Some might think that he's a little overpaid, but the Grizzlies have too much invested in Mike Conley and Zach Randolph (with each getting a recent extension) to allow Gasol to get an extended look elsewhere.

Kwame Brown, Golden State Warriors

Grade: B

Is Brown overpaid? Absolutely. However, let's not blow this signing completely out of proportion.

It's a one-year deal, so the Warriors are not locked into anything long-term, and the team had absolutely no presence defensively in the low post had the club not inked Brown to a contract.

Given the style of play the team wants to operate under with Mark Jackson at the helm, a banger down low was a critical addition.

DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers

Grade: B+

Another grade that would've been a little different had the team not acquired Chris Paul to facilitate the offense, but now this one makes a lot more sense for Los Angeles' future.

Paul single-handedly revived Tyson Chandler's career in New Orleans, and although Jordan is not at Chandler's level, the similarities between their games at this stage in their respective careers is clear.

It's going to be very fun to watch Jordan's development carefully.

Vince Carter, Dallas Mavericks

Grade: B-

Carter doesn't have much left in the tank at this stage of his career, but he's a nice piece off the bench if used properly in Rick Carlisle's attack.

There's not a lot of risk whatsoever involved with the signing, but to think that he's going to contribute 15 points nightly off the bench is far too much to expect from him, given how he looked last year.

Josh McRoberts, Los Angeles Lakers

Grade: B+

It's not the big move that Lakers fans were hoping for, but McRoberts serving as depth behind Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol is a whole lot better than Theo Ratliff, Joe Smith, D.J. Mbenga or any other veteran at the end of his career.

The club had to address concerns about getting younger and more athletic in that department, and given that McBob got just the mini mid-level exception on a two-year deal, he'll play a nice role in Mike Brown's new approach.

Nene, Denver Nuggets

Grade: A-

Like several other marquee names in the market during this offseason, Nene is overpaid.

Let's move past that.

The Denver front court would've been remarkably thin had the club not been able to retain the veteran who has anchored the approach up front.

He's just 29 years old, and he can make a big impact for the Nuggets as the team looks to retool in the post-Carmelo Anthony era.

Richard Hamilton, Chicago Bulls

Grade: A-

Rather than overpaying a free agent and locking into a multi-year contract, the Bulls scored big with the addition of a veteran like Hamilton for just two seasons and $10 million.

He's a fantastic addition to serve in a starting role alongside Derrick Rose, and his type of championship experience and commitment to winning is exactly the type of thing that will blend brilliantly in Tom Thibodeau's locker room.

Shawne Williams, New Jersey Nets

Grade: B+

The Nets have an extremely thin front court as the roster is currently constructed, and New Jersey wisely swooped in on Williams while the Knicks forced him to play the waiting game in free agency.

He's a really solid pickup at a very reasonable value considering his ability to space the floor, and he should find himself with some open opportunities to spot up with Deron Williams running the point.

Reggie Williams, Charlotte Bobcats

Grade: C

Williams showed that he can score when given the opportunity to do so when he was with the Warriors, but he struggles in almost every other aspect of the game.

Charlotte was desperate to add some offense after struggling last season in that department, but he's already sidelined for six to eight weeks following knee surgery and is going to miss a lot of valuable practice time as a result.

Carl Landry, New Orleans Hornets

Grade: B+

Landry is a nice piece to have back for the Hornets despite his hefty price tag ($8.75 million), but the commitment is just for a single season and allows the team to enter a loaded 2012 offseason with additional cap space.

He'll be a great player to serve as frontcourt depth behind Emeka Okafor and Chris Kaman, and Landry could very well wind up in a starting role if one of those two big men is dealt this season.

Jamal Crawford, Portland Trail Blazers

Grade: A

What's not to like about Crawford's addition on a short-term deal at a price that is extremely reasonable?

The volume scorer will have the offense tailored to him in the second unit, and he's especially important given Brandon Roy's retirement.

He is going to be very fun to watch in the Portland offense, and given the contract that he signed to come aboard, it's just another example as to why acting General Manager Chad Buchanan should be handed the full-time job.

Glen Davis (Orlando Magic) for Brandon Bass (Boston Celtics)

Grade for Celtics: A-

The team had very little interest in retaining "Big Baby" at that price, and Danny Ainge did really well to turn him into Bass.

The bruising big man is a better fit for what the Celtics want to do beneath the basket, and he comes with very limited financial risk at just $4 million this season.

Grade for Magic: C+

The Magic got the man the team wanted to bring aboard in Davis, but he's now an overpaid player who is destined to have a larger role handed to him than he's ever played in his career.

Orlando is investing a lot of faith into the potential that Davis continues to develop his game, but a four-year roll of the dice is an awfully large one for a club with limited financial flexibility.

Lamar Odom to Dallas Mavericks

Grade for Mavericks: A

Odom requested to be dealt following the vetoed Chris Paul trade which would've put him in New Orleans, and the Mavericks had an $8.9 million trade exception in the back pocket waiting to be used.

Dallas widely swooped in on Odom at pennies on the dollar after Los Angeles GM Mitch Kupchak was forced to make a move, and Mark Cuban made a splash after losing Tyson Chandler to New York.

Grade for Lakers: D

The Lakers might have been forced to find an Odom resolution as soon as possible considering how messy the situation had gotten, but this is one of the more head-scratching moves in recent seasons.

Los Angeles basically gave away the reigning Sixth Man of the Year for nothing in exchange, and right now, the Lakers are taking a ton of heat from just about everyone as a result.

Rudy Fernandez, Corey Brewer to Denver Nuggets

Grade for Nuggets: A

The Nuggets lost some depth on the wing after J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler both signed in China, but the new additions well help round out the attack in the second unit.

Denver might have really gotten a steal with Fernandez now that he's in a place where he'll actually be utilized, and Brewer's defensive intensity is not something that should be overlooked.

Grade for Mavericks: C+

What was the point of trading for Fernandez on draft night? It's tough to explain the move to acquire Brewer as well given his (limited) usage during his tenure with the team as well.

The only reason the deal for the Mavericks isn't worse than the grade listed is because the move opens up even more cap space for Dallas to be a major player during the 2012 offseason.

Tyson Chandler to New York Knicks

Grade for Knicks: A-

Despite the team giving Chauncey Billups the boot via the amnesty clause in order to make this happen, Chandler instantly gives New York the best front line in all of basketball.

The Knicks have lacked a legitimate center since the days of Marcus Camby in the middle,

Grade for Mavericks: B

Dallas was going to lose Chandler, so at least the Mavericks were able to make something out of nothing. Andy Rautins has already been waived, but this move allowed the team to open a door to Lamar Odom's arrival on the roster.

Grade for Wizards: B+

Another instance where Washington's cap space benefits the club. The team nets a veteran big man to serve as depth beneath the basket, and also acquires future draft considerations in the process.

It's not headline news, but it's a creative way to acquire assets for the future.

Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers

Grade for Clippers: A+

It was a lot to give up for the Clippers, but this is an incredibly special point guard in Paul, and the team has never had a player like him on the roster.

The combination of Paul and Blake Griffin has fans insanely excited about the "other" franchise in Los Angeles, and it's a bold move that the team had to pull off in order to prove that the club is not a doormat in the league any longer.

Grade for Hornets: A-

David Stern was able to reel in a major haul for the Hornets in this one. New Orleans gets a potential star in Eric Gordon to build around, a very intriguing and athletic forward in Al-Farouq Aminu, as well as Chris Kaman's $12.2 million expiring contract.

Additionally, the Hornets have Minnesota's unprotected 2012 first round pick to aid in the rebuilding process for the future, and as we have seen previously in the league, it doesn't take long to turn around a franchise if the proper decisions are made in the front office.