With a week of watching each team’s new rosters, it’s quickly becoming clear that this NBA trade deadline was another one for the record books. Once projected as a quiet affair, last Thursday quickly blew the floodgates open and wildly changed the NBA’s landscape. With so many different buyers and sellers, a significant change in who’s competing for which playoff spots occurred.
At ClutchPoints, we spent the past week evaluating each trade from every possible angle. We’ve watched the film, looked at contracts and debated relative merits for each of these trades, some more controversial than others.
In the end, presented for your reading pleasure, here are grades for each and every move (even those real under the radar posturing moves) before this year’s NBA Trade Deadline. The ranking isn't necessarily about how good of a deal on paper the trades were, but what they meant for each franchise as a whole.
17. DET and LAC
The Trade:
Detroit sends: Avery Bradley, Tobias Harris and a 2018 First Round Draft Pick
Los Angeles sends: Blake Griffin, Willie Reed, Brice Johnson
Detroit Pistons: B-
For Detroit, acquiring Blake Griffin was about so much more than adding a former All-Star Power Forward to their roster. Bringing in a top-billed superstar objectively helps alleviate Detroit’s greatest issue, attendance. Despite opening a new stadium this past year, Detroit sits firmly in the bottom five for NBA game attendance. So, on one hand, you could grade this trade in a vacuum: Detroit took on one of the NBA’s most bloated contracts for a post-prime star with a major injury history.
To get that contract, President Stan Van Gundy sent out not only two starting caliber players in addition to one of only two first-round picks moved this entire deadline. But that’s the cost of bringing someone with as big a name as Griffin to a small market. It’s not great in the long run, but it might just save Van Gundy’s job in the present.
Los Angeles Clippers: A
Ultimately, Los Angeles actually became more of a contender this deadline despite trading their super-max extended player only six months into his contract. On one hand, yes, Avery Bradley isn’t having the best year and Tobias Harris isn’t the player Blake Griffin is right now. However, due to a hesitancy to send out DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams, The Clippers actually increased their depth this season with the trade. Both of these players are at least suitable starters or rotation members. Netting both of those and a pick for a toxic contract? No question The Clippers front office gets an A here. This trade is ranked last because it seems like has the most risk in regards to both franchises' futures.
16. NOP and CHI
The Trade:
New Orleans Sends: Omar Asik, Tony Allen, Jameer Nelson, 2018 First Round Draft Pick
Chicago Sends: Nikola Mirotic, 2018 Second Round Draft Pick via New Orleans
New Orleans Pelicans: A+
It does hurt to send out another first round pick as the New Orleans Pelicans. They haven’t had a first-round draft pick on their roster since Hield and lack anyone else from before. That pick, however, is the cost of doing business during the trade period. The reason New Orleans gets an A+ here is that they killed two birds with one stone and made out with some additional assets to boot.
New Orleans sent out one of the contracts bogging their books down in Omar Asik and in exchange they received a cost-controlled third big who can start while DeMarcus’ situation comes into clearer focus. In addition, New Orleans acquired an additional second-round pick, so total draft value traded away was actually less than a full first round pick. Good Job, big bird team.
Chicago Bulls: B
Come on GarPax. You guys know you don’t actually need to add a second round sweetener to every single trade made. This trade was almost so awesome for you. Taking on Asik adds another tank commander who will be off the books once Chicago is finished with their rebuild.
The first round draft pick should land around the mid-teens (likely a capable role-player). Nikola Mirotic was making you guys way too good. Finally, you acquired some assets to later flip again in Jameer Nelson. All you had to do was not send out a second-round pick, but oh GarPax. So close to an A.
15. MIL and BKN
The Trade:
Milwaukee Sends: Rashad Vaughn, 2018 second round draft pick
Brooklyn Sends: Tyler Zeller
Milwaukee Bucks: D+
This trade just felt like something you do at 2:59 Eastern when everything else fails. The Milwaukee Bucks have a need at center, but with DeAndre Jordan, Dwight Howard, Hassan Whiteside, Nerlens Noel and plenty more all rumored to have some availability why would Milwaukee just settle so early on. This trade came days before the deadline itself and objectively doesn’t help the issues that Milwaukee needed at Center. Milwaukee has a lanky shooting center already in Thon Maker, why they chose to add another rather than a physical rebounding paint presence (like the recently traded Greg Monroe contract) is beyond me. This move screams “See Me” in red ink.
Ok, so there are a few gripes I can make with Brooklyn’s trade. They got back a contract they really didn’t care about and were lucky to flip it later. But overall, getting something for your 15th man on the roster who isn’t actually contributing at all should count as another W in the general manager’s book.
14. CHA and NYK
The Trade:
Charlotte Sends: Johnny O’Bryant, 2020 Second Round Selection, 2021 Selection
New York Sends: Willy Hernangomez
Hey, for a team that’s pretty capped out, grabbing a cost controlled project for pennies on the dollar provides a great acquisition. The real issue here is that there’s a very genuine chance that Hernangomez ends up buried at the back of the bench. For those who haven’t heard of Hernangomez or at least haven’t watched excessive film of his game, I’ve lauded Hernangomez’s game in the past. Here’s a brief snippet:
“He’s [Hernangomez] an offense first, young, second unit center. His game is already at a professional level, with a strong finishing skill (he converts somewhere around 60+ of drives towards the rim), he has arguably some of the best footwork for a center in the league comparable to superstars like DeMarcus Cousins and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Though he does have the size and strength, Hernangomez prefers playing with fakes and spins rather than pure post strength to get buckets. His skills on the offensive glass are impressive (13.4% of total available offensive rebounds)…”
Hopefully, Hernangomez gets a chance to flourish in a new location.
Good thing you sent off Hernangomez Knicks. I’d be a real problem if you decided to hang onto your 22-year-old project center. His 3 million in guaranteed money over the course of the next two years really was bloating your books. He’ll really get in the way of development time for guys like Kyle O’Quinn and Enes Kanter. Clearly, he had no place on this team and there just weren’t any minutes to give away after the Porzingis injury. CLEARLY, THIS WAS THE RIGHT DECISION. RIGHT?
13. CLE and LAL
The Trade:
Cleveland Sends: Channing Frye, Isaiah Thomas, and Cleveland’s 2018 First Round Pick
Los Angeles Sends: Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr.
Cleveland: C+
After watching two games of Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance completely reinvigorate the Cleveland offense, it’s tempting to claim Cleveland got a real steal in these two young players under contract for a significant amount of time. While Cleveland fans want to agree, there are some real considerations to look into. Clarkson, until the final trade, was offered with a pick. Instead, Cleveland ended up spending a pick of their own on him. One could argue that the pick itself was in exchange for Nance Jr. but even then questions arise over which of those two assets carries more value. Similarly, Cleveland sent both of their expiring contracts in this deal, which arguably could have been used to take on different, longer-term money.
Not to discredit the trade itself, Cleveland sorely needed this injection of youth and energy, but sending off an asset for an arguably negative contract isn’t exactly praiseworthy either.
LAL: B+
The Lakers officially have room for two max contracts, actually acquired an asset for Jordan Clarkson and only cost them Larry Nance Jr. I’m not completely sold on them keeping Isaiah Thomas, but otherwise, this was a real win in their books.
11. DET and CHI
The Trade:
Detroit Sends: Willie Reed, Detroit’s 2022 second round pick
Chicago Sends: Jameer Nelson
Chicago Bulls: N/A
Chicago really doesn’t get a grade for this trade as they would have waived Nelson regardless. The swap of second-round picks bets on the idea that Chicago’s large market would have them improve right towards the last year of Blake Griffin’s monstrous contract (when Detroit would supposedly fall off). It’s too early to tell if this will manifest into anything of significance.
Detroit Pistons: A
At the cost of a player they would also have waived, Detroit adds an asset which should shore up their point guard rotation until Reggie Jackson returns from injury. Nelson is a tested veteran that clearly would have made a welcome addition to any point-guard needy rotation. Playing behind Ish Smith in the present and likely phased out in the playoffs, Nelson’s role is limited but necessary.
10. MIA and ATL
The Trade:
Miami Sends: Okaro White
Atlanta Sends: Luke Babbitt
Miami Heat: C
Luke Babbitt comes home. But not his real home, that’s Portland, or maybe the Timberwolves. He won’t make an impact, so I don’t know why this trade happened.
This is an example as to why I waited a week for these trade grades to come through. I quite like Okaro White, I think he’s a prime candidate to become the next DeWayne Dedmon (a late blooming center that gets only one significant contract around age 28). I would have given Atlanta a B+ for basically acquiring him for nothing. Instead, they waived him. I guess they got off some money so it wasn’t a failure? This trade ranked lowest on the interest factor.
9. MEM and DET
The Trade:
Memphis Sends: James Ennis
Detroit Sends: Brice Johnson
Despite majorly flubbing on Tyreke Evans talks, Memphis’ goals this deadline were mainly met. For Memphis the argument was easy: This season is a wash, get rid of all our good players on expiring contracts so we can tank and take fliers on young guys. Johnson doesn’t look like a player who should have his rookie scale team option picked up, but I’m not in the gym every day and there’s limited film of his game. He’s not a top end prospect, but the Grizz did get worse and did add another you guy, so you’ll credit them for that.
Detroit Pistons: B+
This one’s pretty under the radar for Detroit, but I actually really like it. Ennis plays like a 27-year-old version of how Detroit wants Stanley Johnson to play.
He hustles on defense, sets up and hits open looks. He’s the model of a great role-player and it’s genuinely interesting that he’s only making 2 million this season. In his debut as a Piston, Ennis finished with 14 points on efficient shooting: 5-of-7 from the field with four rebounds and two steals.
Ennis adds depth to a somewhat thinned rotation and casual fans shouldn’t overlook the importance of that during the regular season. Costing Detroit an asset that they didn’t even particularly want in the first place (Brice Johnson was an addition to match salaries in the Blake Griffin Trade), Stan Van Gundy should be patting himself on the back for this one.
8. CLE, SAC, and UTA
The Trade:
Cleveland Sends: Jae Crowder, Iman Shumpert, Derrick Rose, Miami’s 2020 second-round pick
Sacramento Sends: George Hill
Utah Sends: Rodney Hood, Joe Johnson
Cleveland’s last trade with the Lakers really only makes complete sense when one takes the second trade into consideration. It filled in a majority of the remaining cracks the Cavs were looking to fill heading into the trade deadline. However, from an analytics standpoint, this trade is risky.
Cleveland sends out a solid, albeit underperforming, asset under contract for the long term in Jae Crowder in exchange for expensive long-term salary (Hill) and pending free agent with an injury history (Hood). But a further look into both player’s contract situation as well as skillsets reveals a totally different story. Let’s explore each of these contracts one at a time.
Starting with George Hill, his bloated contract clearly fails the Nene test, giving Cleveland the ability to send off bad salary in exchange for Hill’s contract. Effectively adding 20 million dollars in guaranteed money over the next two years, Cleveland paid a healthy price for their new starting point guard, though his fit next to ball-dominant James is clearly superior to former Isaiah Thomas. As CBS Sports’ James Herbert puts it:
[Hill] …is known primarily as a 3-and-D guy. He has been a high-level role player throughout his career and, at his best, he looks like a fringe star. He does not need the ball in his hands to help an offense, as he is an excellent spot-up shooter, and he is the kind of defender who can annoy stars one-on-one and play disciplined team defense.
George is shooting a scorching 45% from three this season. Although statistically, this season Hill put forward disastrous defensive efforts, his 7-foot wingspan high team defensive IQ and lateral quickness each should translate into a return to previous form. At age 31 Hill does show signs of aging. That said a lower usage rate on the offensive end, more often working as an off-ball second playmaker, should result in an increased defensive effort.
Hood, like George, projects as an oversized guard with athletic ability, team defensive skills, and ambidextrous scoring skills. Hood, an objectively good player at age 25, adds a sense of dynamism to the shooting guard line-up that looked stagnant this season. Desert News’ Benjamin Mehic actually draws an interesting comparison between Hood and Boston Celtic Small Forward Gordon Hayward. The two players have followed a similar career arc statistically and from a PR standpoint. Clearly Hood represents a long-term upgrade on Cleveland’s behalf, however, there are two issues that should draw concern.
The first, Hood’s injury concerns. Hood consistently goes down with some form of injury or another, limiting the amount of time that Hood can and will spend on the floor. Cleveland, surprisingly enough, actually provides Hood an excellent solution to this problem.
Outside the Phoenix Suns miracle workers, Cleveland objectively has the highest quality medical staff in the league. Connected directly with the Cleveland Clinic (a world-renowned hospital) Cleveland’s player rarely miss significant time and oftentimes return to form after injury quickly. Working with an improved medical staff should improve Hood’s strength and conditioning, pinpoint injury risk and mitigate issues significantly better than Utah did.
The second issue comes in the form of Hood’s likely upcoming payday. A restricted free agent, Cleveland will have the ability to match any offer for Hood, though there are questions as to if Cleveland actually will. If a team like Dallas were to make a significant bid for Hood’s service, Cleveland might be weary to add such an additional salary onto their books. Assuming LeBron James’ return, Cleveland’s payroll next season will sit somewhere around $308 million.
Luckily for Cleveland, this year’s free agency has limited players, which tends to hurt restricted free agents. There’s a good chance that Cleveland can simply wait out the market and make a reasonable 8-10 million dollar a year contract offer. Overall, Cleveland found what they needed with these acquisitions, even if it comes at a steep price-tag.
Sacramento Kings: B-
The best sign of a good trade is where the weakest return package is still a net positive. Sacramento didn’t knock it out the park with this trade, however, adding a future second-round pick and getting off almost 20 million dollars in guaranteed money should always be considered a win. Now all Sacramento needs is an actual franchise player, maybe Harry Giles can become that.
Utah Jazz: A
During the trade deadline, any team outside of those tanking should attempt and achieve two goals.
The first was simply removing those players on the roster that are negative contributors. The second was to replace them with positive assets. The two players on Utah’s rosters with the lowest PER’s at the time of the trade were Rodney Hood and Joe Johnson. Seeing that Utah sent both of those guys out at a total cost of Derrick Rose’s salary is impressive and checks off the first goal. After watching a week of Jae Crowder on the Jazz Utah might have just completed the second goal as well.
Crowder made it clear that he had issues with the way Cleveland operated, stating that “I love playing within a system. It'll be fun.” There’s some clear shade being thrown with that comment but Crowder isn’t wrong. He truly made his name as an effective role player in Boston and Quinn Snyder’s egalitarian system fits those needs particularly well. Crowder works well as a serviceable starter until out of nowhere rookie phenom Royce O’Neale is ready to take the reins. Overall Utah lost nothing and gained everything here.
7. MIA and CLE
The Trade:
Cleveland Sends: Dwayne Wade
Miami Sends: Second round pick (protected top-55)
Cleveland Cavaliers: A
Cleveland didn’t have real rotation minutes for Wade anymore with the previous trades. LeBron and Wade gave this trade their blessing. Gabriel Union looked incredibly happy on Instagram about the whole thing. Cleveland opened up a roster spot without really costing them anything. Huge win.
Miami Heat: A
Miami got Dwayne Wade back for free. Enough said.
6. TOR and SAC
The Trade:
Sacramento Sends: Malachi Richardson
Toronto Sends: Bruno Caboclo
Toronto Raptors: N/A
Remember when I said that the least interesting trade this deadline was the Miami/Atlanta deal? I was wrong. Nobody deserved this. Nobody wanted this.
Sacramento Kings: N/A
Guys. Please just stop.
5. NYK, DEN, and DAL
The Trade:
New York Sends: Doug McDermott, their worst 2018 second round pick
Denver Sends: Emmanuel Mudiay, Portland’s future second-round pick
Dallas Sends: Devin Harris
New York Knicks: C+
Despite only handing out a C+ to the New York Knicks, I actually like this trade for them. Mudiay clashes positionally with rookie whom I’m a big fan of Frank Ntilikina, but a lead guard off guard system rather than a traditional 1-2 might work well between the offensive-minded Mudiay and defensive stopper Ntilikina. Similarly, New York bought low enough on this trade, sending out a pending free agent they likely weren’t going to pay. The C+ here, however, questions why New York made this trade at all. It’s not to say they didn’t acquire a good player, but if the goal was to shift Ntilikina to an off-ball role anyway, why not wait and draft someone along the lines of Trae Young or Colin Sexton this summer. Likely Mudiay serves as an auxiliary piece and we forget this trade even happened for New York in five years.
The ultimate sell low tactic, the goal of this trade was to unload Mudiay and his statically nightmare he brought to the team. For a team that generally performs in the positive +/-, Mudiay absolutely crashed them into the ground. As Ben Golliver of the Open Floor NBA Podcast speculates, Mudiay could put up somewhere between a -14 and -17 net rating on the court with New York’s lackluster supporting cast. In exchange for their dreary prospect, Denver acquired a top-tier locker room presence in Devin Harris. The cagey veteran brings stability and maturity to a young team and should provide a marginal upgrade to the Denver guard rotation. Overall, Denver’s only getting knocked because of the fact that they actually had to pay to unload the 7th overall pick from only two drafts ago.
Dallas Mavericks: B+
Dallas came out the real winners here in this three-team mini-blockbuster. Although they had to sacrifice franchise favorite Devin Harris (who may eventually return on a minimum contract regardless), Dallas acquired an asset in the form of a second round pick and more importantly a free rental of a player in Doug McDermott that they might have made an offer for this offseason. General Manager Donnie Nelson adds conviction to this case, stating that this trade…
“Gives us the opportunity to take a look at a good young player that we were high on in Doug McDermott. We really feel that he has the chance to be a nice small forward in this league for a long period of time,”
If you’re Dallas, why fight in the restricted market for a guy that you want if you can just acquire him and an asset at virtually no cost instead. Nice job Dallas.
4. POR and CHI
The Trade:
Portland Sends: Noah Vonleh, Ca$h Con$iderations
Chicago Sends: The rights to Milovan Rakovic
Portland Trailblazers: B
Portland basically paid some money now to dodge more payments later. Sitting right on the bubble of the salary tax, Portland needed to make a move to shed some salary or otherwise face incredible league debts for their rosters expensive nature. Sending cash considerations to cover the remaining salary of Noah Vonleh in exchange for nothing stings a little but not as bad as paying the tax. Overall, good move from Portland.
Chicago Bulls: B+
This trade cost Chicago literally nothing and could actually have made them money. Portland could have sent additional cash considerations beyond just enough to cover Vonleh’s salary that might offset the roster spot itself.
Vonleh isn’t a great asset, he has some shooting ability but not a ton, he has size but not enough to bully as a true center, he doesn’t have a high basketball IQ but he is athletic. At 22, Vonleh could find himself getting a real look from the Bulls front office, as they have the opportunity to retain Vonleh on a $4.6 million qualifying offer next year. Otherwise, if they don’t this trade didn’t hurt them at all.
3. NOP and BKN
The Trade:
Brooklyn Sends: Rashad Vaughn
New Orleans Sends: Dante Cunningham
New Orleans Pelicans: D
I liked Cunningham and I’m genuinely not sure why New Orleans wanted to get rid of him. Sure Cunningham’s an oversized small forward, but it’s not like there’s a better option out there on the market. Similarly New Orleans signed Cunningham to play and make them better this year. Finally New Orleans went on to just outright waive Vaughn before he even played a game for them. Just an odd move overall.
Brooklyn Nets: B
Hey Brooklyn, nice job with this one. Your record doesn’t matter this year anyway so might as well get marginally better. Cunningham provides a spark for their rotation and at the cost of a player Brooklyn didn’t really want anyway how could you say no? Most impressively of all, Cunningham had an effective no-trade clause due to his contract structure, meaning not only did you get an asset through a trade, but you convinced that asset to come willingly.
2. WAS and ATL
The Trade:
Washington Sends: Sheldon Mac
Atlanta Sends: Highly protected second-round pick
Washington Wizards: B
This trade was so minor that I had to scour the internet to prove that it actually happened. It isn’t listed on ESPN’s trade database. It isn’t in the Wizards transaction history. I ended up confirming this on a local NBC affiliate station for Washington. The trade, however, is important to Washington’s future plans. Clearing around two million in space, Washington now has two empty roster spots and money to spend under the luxury tax for two pro-rated veterans’ minimum contracts. It’s not like Mac was actually doing anything on that roster anyway.
Atlanta Hawks: N/A
At this point, see the reasons for Chicago taking on money in the Vonleh trade. They just got cash for an unused roster spot. Yay ownership I guess.
1. PHX and ORL
The Trade:
Phoenix Sends: 2018 Second Round Pick
Orlando Sends: Elfrid Payton
Phoenix Suns: A
Payton is a low-end starter with some upside. For the cost Phoenix paid, that’s an absolute steal. But this first week of improved numbers Payton continues to post may relate not to an improved mental state after leaving Orlando, but a lack of Devin Booker. Payton struggles playing off the ball, and when a significantly better lead guard re-enters the line-up, Payton may find himself lacking any true value.
Regardless, a franchise which was starting a two-way player at point guard for significant amounts of time this season getting at least a serviceable stop gap at the cost of a second round pick should be lauded as winners in this trade.
Orlando Magic: B
But in actuality, both teams won. Orlando shouldn’t resign Payton. He’ll command at least some levels of salary in 2018 and Orlando shouldn’t want that on their books. Instead, they sent him off early, dodging a tough decision that could possibly strain relations with Payton’s agent and receive a not too shabby asset in exchange. Previously I lauded Phoenix for sending off only a second-round pick, but it should be noted that that’s still a premier 2nd rounder. Picks 31-35 tend to result in impressive draft-and-stash Euro ball players or overlooked college players. Overall I actually changed Orlando’s grade from an F to a B. This is why we don’t just immediately make snap judgments without actually thinking about the logistics of a trade.
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