What NBA team made the best Trade Deadline Moves?
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When I first asked this question on an episode of Ride The Pine [No New York No!] I thought this would be a runaway win for the New York Knicks. The Knicks got the biggest star of the trade deadline in Carmelo Anthony and picked up one of the best enhancement talents in Chauncey Billups. However, the Ride The Pine community felt that the trade moves from the New Jersey Nets and Boston Celtics were just as good.
Here is our official grades for the NBA trade deadline.
New York Knicks: A+
I don’t know how any Knicks fan could be dissatisfied with any of the moves the Knicks made at the trade deadline, especially with the track record of the Knicks transactions over the past 15 years. The moves have been immediately paying off and its clear that Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire complement each other better than the big three in Miami. Look for the Knicks to win a first round playoff series.
New Jersey Nets: B+
I can’t remember a team that missed out on making a trade for a big star (Carmelo Anthony) and than pull off a shocking trade with another superstar (Deron Williams). For those reasons alone this trade puts the Nets on the map as a team that will do anything to win. This trade missed out on an A because the Nets gave up too much for Williams. Two First-Round picks and Devin Harris for what might end up being a two year loaner in Williams. The Jazz were having trouble with Williams and this was a knee-jerk reaction to losing out on Carmelo.
Utah Jazz: A-
So they gave up their best talent and one of the best point guards in the game in Deron Williams but Devin Harris is no slouch. Plus, two first-round picks will get the Jazz younger and replenish the talent to keep them relevant in the West in the future. Williams was becoming a problem in Utah and its surprising that the Jazz were able to get so much. Great maneuver to prey on the Nets disappointment for losing out on Carmelo.
Boston Celtics: B
Kendrick Perkins has the body of a 45 year-old man and his best days are behind him. Jeff Green makes the Celtics more versatile but in the long run this will have very little impact on the Celtics championship hopes this year. The Celtics dealt some contracts too to make some cap/roster room. Any other year this might have received a higher grade but a lot of great moves made the grading curve hard.
