NBA Trade Deadline Recap

February 18th, 2016

By Gerson Aguirre

The Ten Trade That Blew No Ones Mind.

I got my Popcorn popping , Recliner warming up and T.V. on with all the breaking news waiting to happen for Thursday NBA trade deadline . As I watched and waited . I realize that No big player has been moved yet . Blake Griffin , Dwight Howard , Al Horford , Hassan Whiteside .

Maybe last year Deadline was one we should’ve all appreciated more . Last year was a crazy deadline with team wheeling and dealing players.  This year not so much .

Let’s go ahead and break down all the trades .

First Trade –

Detroit Pistons get:
F Tobias Harris

Orlando Magic get:
G Brandon Jennings
F Ersan Ilyasova

Magic traded Tobia to make room for Mario Hezonja their first round pick in 2015 Draft . While they acquired a Torn ACL recovery in Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova . With the Orlando Magics already having a Young PG in Elfrid Payton and a young Dunk Phenomenon star in Aaron Gordon . It didn’t make much sense . I believe the Detroit Piston won this trade . Getting a solid producer all across .

Orlando Magic Grade : C-

Detriot Piston: A

Trade 2-

Charlotte Hornets get:
G Courtney Lee –

A good role perimeter player with savvy defense . To help out Nicola Batum defend the perimeter . As well can score .

Grade : A

Memphis Grizzlies get:
F P.J. Hairston
F/C Chris Andersen
Four second-round picks (Protected – Miami 2017; Charlotte 2018; Brooklyn 2019; Protected – Boston 2019)

Grade- B +
Ignore the Chris Andersen part as he was just a Salary dump . As well for P.J. Hairston still has a chance to be a hidden gem if he gets minute . The big part is building for the future here . They get 4 second rounders. Big part of their rebuilding process.

Miami Heat get:
G Brian Roberts

I have no idea why they wanted Brian Robert . But to me it was for them to get under the luxury tax . They accomplished that .

Grade:  C

Trade Three-

New Orleans Pelicans get:
F Jarnell Stokes

Miami Heat get:
Future second-round pick

Miami pulls another move to get under the luxury tax by trading Jarnell Stoke a former Tennessee volunteers , The main object to get under the Luxury tax . They did that with the two trade they made. New Orleans is trying to gather young talent to support their team . A young team that will need to get talent around Anthony Davis to keep him around .

Miami Grade: C
New Orleans Pelican : N/A

Trade Four –

Portland Trail Blazers get:
C Anderson Varejao
Future first-round pick (via Cavs)

Cleveland Cavaliers get:
F Channing Frye

Future second-round pick (via Blazers)

Orlando Magic get:

G Jared Cunningham

Future second-round pick (via Cavs)

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been trying to find a stretch four to play with Kevin Love , Lebron James and Kyrie Irving . They got him with Channing Frye . While a lot of people will say Frye isn’t a great player . They’re correct . Although when you have a superstar like Lebron James  that makes you a better player . You can have a role on a team of championship caliber . The Cav’s did trade Anderson Varejao whom later was waived by the Trailblazer .  I expect them to sign him again and have him join his best friend Lebron James .

Portland meanwhile got a first round pick for a team that has a rebuilding mode mindset . Great move for them . Eat up salary for a first round pick . I love the move.

Jared Cunninham is just a throw in for the Orlando Magic . I expect him to be buried at the end of the bench .

Trailblazer Grade : B
Cleveland Cavaliers:  B+
Orlando Magic: N/A

Trade Five –

Utah Jazz get: G Shelvin Mack

Atlanta Hawks get:
G Kirk Hinrich

Chicago Bulls get:
G Justin Holiday
Future second-round pick (via Jazz)

As many of you guys know i”m a die hard Utah Jazz fan . I was baffled by the little move they made. After watching tonight game vs the Wizard . I expected them to trade Alec Burc or Trey Burke to get depth at the PG . They got a PG just not one that will make an immediate impact . Shelvin Mack will go to Utah to join his friend and former Butler alumni Gordon Hayward . While Kirk Hinrich will go where he started it all . With the Atlanta Hawks . Guard Justin Holliday , no not Jrue Holiday  will go to the bulls . The good thing is the bulls have a future 2nd round pick to go with Justin Holliday.

While this trade doesn’t make sense for much . Hopefully one of these player turn out to be a good role player .

Utah Jazz Grade: C
Atlanta Hawk Grade:C
Chicago Bulls Grade: C+

Trade Six

Detroit Pistons get:

F/C Donatas Motiejunas

G Marcus Thornton

Houston Rockets get:

C Joel Anthony

Protected 2016 first-round draft pick

Detriot fans must be happy to get a Motie in Motor city ! Guy is skilled . He just need to stay healthy . With him and Tobia Harris joining detriot. Give them depth at the PF and SF . While many will see Marcus Thorton as a throw in . He not . I like his skills and scoring ability he can bring to piston bench . He was a guy that was scoring 15 + for a good run with the rocket the 2nd month of the season .

While the Rocket heard there was a trade . Wasn’t the trade they’d hope for . Dwight Howard is still a Houston Rocket . I know , it sucks. The thing was it wasn’t that the rockets were not trying . They tried hard but no close deal came to their liking . Sorry Rocket fans . Dwight is a cancer and so is James Harden. They did pull in a 2016 First round pick from the Detriot Piston . (protected though)  . Joel Anthony was later traded to Philadelphia 76er for a second rounder .

Detroit Piston Grade: B+
Houston Rocket Grade: F – For not trading Dwight Howard and making a move for the future.

Trade Seven –

C Joel Anthony

2017 second-round pick (via Rockets via Nuggets)

Houston Rockets get:

Rights to PF Chukwudiebere Maduabum

Nothing huge here. Just a salary dump for an upgraded pick. Good for the 76ers.

Philadelphia 76er Grade : N/A
Houston Rocket Grade : C

Trade Eight –

Phoenix Suns get:

C/F DeJuan Blair

F Kris Humphries

Protected 2016 first-round pick

Washington Wizards get:

F Markieff Morris

1 player that lost a lot of weight and was an after thought . Another one cheated on a diva queen Kim Kardashian. Neither of the player that were sent with the first round pick will matter for Phoenix . What will matter is that 1st round pick they got . Although they proabably didn’t get what they wanted . They wanted to get rid of the cancer Markieff Morris was . I know I would . I would never put up with him . First throwing a towel at Jeff Hornacek face . Then later fighting with Archie Goodwin . No thanks.

Washington Wizard managed to get a former top 15 pick out of Markieff Morris for a first round pick that will more then likely be top 20-30 pick. The best thing he fits perfectly with the team . John Wall said he wanted a stretch four before the all-star break . He got his stretch four in Markeiff Morris . The Wizard did great in this trade . Getting what John Wall Wanted .

Phoenix Suns Grade: C+
Washington Wizard Grade : A+ – The best trade of the day for a win now team .

Trade nine :

Los Angeles Clippers get:

F Jeff Green

Memphis Grizzlies get:

F Lance Stephenson

Future protected first-round pick

The Clipper thought they just  traded Blake Griffin at the last minute when breaking news happen that there was a clipper trade that was processed at the last second . NOPE . No blockbuster deal . Although it wasn’t huge it was a good one for their future. They Traded Lance “Blow in LeBron James Ear” Stephenson to the Grizzly for Jeff Green and a future first round pick. Jeff Green a good all around player they envision in Stephenson , now they’re getting it in Jeff Green. Great move by both team . Like I said earlier on The Memphis Grizzly are building for the future. They get a first round pick in this trade as well.

Los Angeles Clipper : B
Memphis Grizzly: B

Trade 10:

Denver Nuggets get:

G D.J. Augustin

F Steve Novak

Two second round picks

Cash considerations

Oklahoma City get:

G Randy Foye

Nuggets were looking for 2 thing here , get salary dump and get younger . They succeed at both . Got draft picks and an expiring contract in D.J Augustin and Steve Novak. It’s crazy to think Steve Novak has been on the great Journeyman road for so many team . He been apart of 9 different teams now .

Steve Novak a class act and tweeted this above. I applaud him for being a true sportmanship .  D.J. Augustin will be an insurance to Jameer Nelson and Mudiay . The bigger piece where the 2nd round picks and cash consideration .

With that being said those are your trade , that Basically didn’t blow my mind . It wasn’t an exciting trade deadline . The true winners this year were The Detriot Piston and Washington Wizards. I will now wait til next  year trade deadline and pray for a better one to write up . That is all .Let hope for a great second NBA half. I leave you with some humor from Steve Novak,

Knicks hoop, Thunder jersey, and Jazz shorts…and you wonder why the lil homie is confused! #TradeDeadline ? pic.twitter.com/PSnKbH3GSN

— STEVE NOVAK (@stevenovak16) February 18, 2016

Steve Novak a class act and tweeted this above. I applaud him for being a true sportmanship .  D.J. Augustin will be an insurance to Jameer Nelson and Mudiay . The bigger piece where the 2nd round picks and cash consideration .

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