The NBA trade deadline has come to an end and it was sure full of MAJOR surprises. The NY Knicks started the party off trade by finally completing the trade for Carmelo Anthony. The deal included guard Chauncey Billups, guard Anthony Carter, forward Renaldo Balkman and forward Shelden Williams from Denver for forward Wilson Chandler, forward Danilo Gallinari, guard Raymond Felton, center Timofey Mozgov, a 2014 first-round draft pick and a 2012 and a 2013 second-round pick and cash. This deal on Paper, for the NBA, and for Knicks fans look great, but i think if you look at it carefully it was a decent deal. This trade was a must for Melo and Knicks fans but was it really what the Knicks wanted.
My thoughts:
1. Money: This deal shows Melo is only about the money. The season is halfway over, both Knicks and Nuggets would have been playoffs. Melo could have waited till the summer and signed without the Knicks losing any players. Instead they lose 3 starters..promising talents of Gallinari and Chandler and more cap room
2. Style of Play: Of the top 3 players ranked of scoring points from isolation plays. 1. Melo 2. Brandon Roy 3. Amare. The Knicks now have 2 of the 3 players who score from iso plays. Another problem, Amare "refuses" to be a force on rebounds and as George Karl stated last night, "Melo couldn't play defense, even Stevie Wonder could see that"
3. Future Cap room: The Knicks now do not have enough money to sign either Chris Paul or Deron Williams when they become free agents.
The Knicks in my opinion should have held their stance and hoped on trying to lure Melo in the summer. He's from NY and had a huge shot if if didn't sign the extension with Denver. Did this move make the Knicks a 50+ win team with sellout crowds? Yes. NBA title contender? NO
Denver Nuggets: A
Knicks: B+
The next surprise come from the New jersey Nets. They became the loser in the Melo sweepstakes but ended up the winner in the entire trade market but obtaining arguably the best point in the league. In the NFL, draft picks are a major assets. Major stars have been traded for 2nd and 3rd rounders but that is far from the case in the NBA. Teams no longer build through the draft and give up on players quickly. Derrick Favors, 3rd overall pick by the Nets name swirled around more than any player in the league. Utah traded guard Deron Williams to New Jersey for guard Devin Harris, forward Derrick Favors, a 2011 first-round pick, a 2012 first-round pick and cash.
This is a great move for both teams. Williams was obviously wearing his welcome out in Utah and Utah receives another lottery pick, with lottery pick Favors and a promising talented guard in Harris. The Key to this entire trade will be can the Nets after their move to Brooklyn convince Deron Williams to sign an extension and bring him help. Will Dwight Howard want to go to the Nets and maybe pair with Lopez and Williams or will they join forces and play for the LA Lakers in 2 years.
Nets: A
Utah: A
The last major and most surprising trade comes from the Boston Celtics and the OKC Thunder. Traded center Kendrick Perkins and guard Nate Robinson to Oklahoma City for forward Jeff Green, center Nenad Krstic, a 2012 first-round draft pick and cash. I'm still scratching my head from this trade. Kendrick Perkins was the Dennis Rodman/Rick Mahorn type of player of the Detroit Pistons bad boy years for the Celtics, he was the enforcer. Their is no player in the league who guards Gasol-Bynum-Dwight Howard better. They lose game 7 of the finals because he doesn't play. Now Boston has to rely on the O'Neal's and a finesse player in Krstic to hold down the paint. Heres my problem with this move:
Boston has K.G. Pierce and Allen for another 2-3 years but had a bright future with Perkins, Rondo, Nate Robinson and Big Baby. Jeff brings something to the table that Rondo and Perkins cant do much and that is score but lets not act Jeff Green is a 22+ point a night type of player. The problem is Boston offered Perkins $ 22 mil and he declined (for the time being) and jeff green declined his extension. Brandon Haywood makes 50 Mil a year and they only other Perk only $22. Maybe there is more to the injury that we don't know but will over time. But if I'm the Thunder GM i am the happiest man in the world. They took the LA Lakers 6 tough games without any size whatsoever and proved to so show LA's age. A year better Westbrook and the mean ugly guy in middle can now challege LA for the West. Can you imagine trying to guard their lineup when they want to play small ball in Wesbrook-Robinson-Hardin-Durant-Perkins.
Thunder: A+
Celtics: C-
The Loser of the Draft: Baron Davis. Can you imagine from living in LA, throwing alley oops to Blake to going to the worse team in the NBA in the Cavs. Shoutout to my man Jason Crocker for starting a Baron Davis movement. Order your tee-shirts. http://freshbrewedtees.com/product/details/282
Other Drafts Grades:
Cleveland Cavs: A- Now have 2 lottery picks but might be worse draft in recent memory.
Clippers: B gets a shooter in Mo williams and an athletic defensive 3 in Jamario Moon.
Charlotte Bobcats: A- received 2 first rounders for the future and Donte Cunningham and Joel Pryzbilla. Pryzbilla contract expires but bring instant size and defense.
Portland Blazers: A Portland fear B Roy career may be over. They now have Wallace and can slide Batum to the SG if Roy cant go. Wallace being all-nba defensive talent.
New Orleans Hornets: A+ Carl Landry brings another defender to their team and can score, play 3 positions and a great backup for David West.
Phoenix Suns: A Aaron Brooks has been playing poorly this season and actually lost his starting spot but this guy is talented and will be a perfect fit for the Suns run and gun offense. They also received a future 1st round pick.
Grizzles: B+ Get Battier get to get minuets while Rudy Gay is out. Brings instant leadership and defense to a team thats 8th in the playoffs who is capable of reaching the 5th spot.
