NBA Trade Deadline Trade Grades: Part 1
Trade Details:
New York Knicks receive: Bojan Bogdanovic, Alec Burks
Detroit Pistons receive: Quentin Grimes, Malachi Flynn, Evan Fournier, Ryan Arcidiacono, and two second-round picks
Trade Grades:
New York: A+
The Knicks add a sharpshooter in Bojan Bogdanovic and a versatile two-way wing in Alec Burks without sacrificing draft capital. It’s a fantastic move by Knicks general manager Leon Rose as New York is starting to mold into a real contender in the East. Of the players sent off to Detroit, Grimes was the only player really receiving playing time (20.2 minutes per game). Fournier has only played in 3 games this season while Flynn and Arcidiacono were benchwarmers (4.4 and 2.3 MPG respectively). It’s a masterclass trade by Rose who adds championship-caliber players to a now championship-contending team.
Detroit: C+
I don’t necessarily hate this move for Detroit but I feel like they got slightly robbed. Bojan and Burks are two players who were heavily sought after during this trade deadline and Quentin Grimes was the big addition in return? Detroit could’ve easily gotten a first-round pick for Bojan or Burks alone and instead only two second-round picks? Flynn, Fournier, and Arcidiacono don’t move the needle whatsoever but Grimes is still a nice return.
Trade Details:
Detroit Pistons receive: Shake Milton, Troy Brown Jr, and one second round pick
Minnesota Timberwolves receive: Monte Morris
Trade Grades:
Detroit: B+
Detroit received a pretty nice return for Morris, who only played 6 games for the Pistons this season. Milton and Brown Jr can immediately contribute to a team who is seeking to solely stack up wins after an embarrassing season. The second round pick is a nice cherry on top too.
Minnesota: A
General Manager, Tim Connelly, reunites with Monte Morris. Connelly drafted Morris in the 2017 NBA Draft as the GM of the Denver Nuggets. This a tremendous trade for Minnesota as they receive a serviceable back-up point guard in Morris for pretty cheap. Instead of sending a first-round pick to Washington for Tyus Jones, the Timberwolves trade Milton (4.7 PPG), Brown (4.2 PPG), and a second. Pretty good trade in my book.
Trade Details:
Oklahoma City Thunder receive: Gordon Hayward
Charlotte Hornets receive: Tre Mann, Davis Bertans, Vasilije Micic, and draft compensation
Trade Grades:
Oklahoma City: A
This is a nice pickup for Oklahoma City who adds Hayward (14.5 PPG on 50% shooting) without giving away pieces from their core rotation. Hayward, a high IQ player, can serve as a nice veteran piece to a talented, young OKC team. It can be argued that Hayward could be the lead man off the bench for a Thunder team lacking in a real spark plug. While losing Mann seems like a loss, he has only appeared in 13 games this season - so it’s not too hard of a hit for OKC. Nice, solid addition for the Thunder who don’t lose anything in return.
Charlotte: A
Charlotte finally gets rid of Gordon Hayward’s contract and doesn’t lose him for nothing as he was set to become a free agent this upcoming offseason. There’s no question that Tre Mann has had his worst season of his 3-year career (3.8 PPG, 9.2 MPG), but that doesn’t mean Mann is a bad return. A former first-round pick, Tre can be a spark-plug scorer for Charlotte next to or behind LaMelo Ball. The Hornets get assets back for Hayward, including a young guard in Mann.
Trade Details:
Philadelphia 76ers receive: Buddy Hield
Indiana Pacers receive: Marcus Morris, Furkan Korkmaz, and three second round picks
Trade Grades:
Philadelphia: B+
With Embiid out, all hands are on deck for the Sixers - especially with the scorching hot Knicks and Cavaliers passing Philly in the standings. The backcourt of Hield and Maxey should be electric on the offensive end, but pretty poor on the other. However, that shouldn’t really matter for Philadelphia who is just now looking to replace Embiid’s scoring in any way, shape, or form. Daryl Morey doesn’t sacrifice too much in return either, Morris (who is getting more washed by the minute), Korkmaz (who has been requesting a trade for a few years now), and three second round picks.
Indiana: B-
I don’t know if this makes Indiana better but adding three second round picks is nice. For a team who has been historically bad on defense, Marcus Morris or Furkan Korkmaz don’t improve the Pacers from opponents scoring buckets. I guess Indiana made this trade because they knew Buddy would leave in free agency. Might as well get a bunch of second round picks in return instead of nothing.