Jazz trade Fontecchio to Pistons
Pistons receive: Simone Fontecchio
Grade: C
Jazz receive: Kevin Knox, 2024 second-round pick, and Gabriele Procida
Grade: B+
Fontecchio is a cool low usage role player for a win now team, that's not Detroit. Getting a top 35 second for the rights of not extending him is a good move by the Jazz.
Celtics trade for Grizzlies’ Tillman
Celtics receive: Xavier Tillman
Grade: B+
Grizzlies receive: Lamar Stevens, 2027 second-round pick (via Hawks), 2030 second-round pick (via Mavs)
Grade: B
Tillman adds a 3rd big to the celtics rotation which was much needed, and even though I'm not one of his biggets fans, he was unquestionably one of the best candidates at that price range. For the Grizz, this is one of the bunch of moves they made outside the top end of their rotation in an attempt to retool their roster for next year while trying to gain some assets.
Wolves acquire Monte Morris from Pistons
Timberwolves receive: Monte Morris
Grade: B-
Pistons receive: Troy Brown Jr., Shake Milton, 2030 second-round pick
Grade: B+
Great on the Pistons to grab a far into the future second for an expiring that was blocking Sasser's minutes. For the Wolves, it's a stopgap but I don't like the fact that it's an expiring one and you'll still have the problem of needing a long term starting PG to take Conley's place.
Raptors trade for Olynyk
Raptors get: Kelly Olynyk, Ochai Agbaji
Grade: D
Jazz get: Otto Porter Jr., Kira Lewis Jr., 2024 first-round pick
Grade: B+
Another rebuilding team that reached out to Utah to buy win-now players. Agbaji is an underwhelming young guy that I don't like the idea of going out of your way to buy him, even more so when he'll clash minutes with Dick. Olynyk is fine, I guess if they keep him on a super cheap extension it might be worth it. For the Jazz, they added a second pick in the 28-32 range in next year Draft, and I'm guessing they might like the depth on the class to make such move. Still, selling an expiring that's not part of the plans is worth it.
Sixers trade House to Pistons
Pistons get: Danuel House Jr., 2024 second-round pick, Cash considerations
Grade: B
76ers get: 2028 second-round pick
Grade: B
Mid cap saving move.
Thunder add Gordon Hayward
Thunder receive: Gordon Hayward
Grade: B+
Hornets receive: Vasilije Micic, Tre Mann, Davis Bertans, 2024 second-round draft pick (via Houston), 2025 second-round draft pick (via Philadelphia), Cash considerations
Grade: C+
Good for the Thunder to try to have the most flexbility possible on the last offseason they'll have a cheap book, let's see what they can cook. For the Hornets, they basically lost at the very least ~15 mil in free cap next offseason for the price of trying out Mann and Micic. I don't know what's the longterm view on Mann in a team that already have a similar guy in NSJ. I like Micic in theory, I don't know how much invested he'll be to play in a team that will probably be bad again next year, but he might be the save gracing on the deal if he can become a decent/good backup PG for the rest of his contract.
Wizards, Mavs finalize trade of Gafford
Mavs get: Daniel Gafford
Grade: B
Wizards get: Richaun Holmes, 2024 first-round pick (from Mavs via Thunder)
Grade: B
I don't like the fixation of Dallas with rim running bigs. Gafford is great, but they're commiting to have a rim running center the entire time on the floor, and that kills a little bit the versatillity of Kleber, as well as PJ Washington, and they payed a decent price for that. For the Wizards, they selled one of their guys for a late first, which I guess was the fair price. Also, the Thunder probably deserves an A- for turning a late first they probably didn't want to roster for the 2028 Mavs swap.
Knicks add Pistons’ Burks, Bogdanovic
Knicks get: Alec Burks, Bojan Bogdanovic
Grade: A
Pistons get: Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Quentin Grimes, Ryan Arcidiacono, Two future second-round picks, Cash considerations
Grade: C+/B-
Knicks got 2 guys that will play in the playoffs without giving a first, and Grimes was clearly being traded anyway. For the Pistons, I'd rather invest on a future asset that I'd have the full rookie contract ahead rather than another perimiter guy in a team that already have "enough" talent to care about between Cade, Ivey and Sasser.
Nets trade Dinwiddie to Raptors
Nets receive: Dennis Schroder, Thaddeus Young
Grade: B+
Raptors receive: Spencer Dinwiddie
Grade: C+
Nets continue their plan of having open CAP for 2025 while swapping an expiring for a 2-year deal, and their worst starter for a guy with similar playstyle that might outplay Dinwiddie for them. For the Raptors, as a rebuilding team, it's always unworthy when you do a move when you don't gain assets in the proccess.
Mavs trade for Hornets’ Washington
Mavs receive: P.J. Washington
Grade: B-
Hornets receive: Grant Williams, Seth Curry, 2027 first-round pick
Grade: A-
Let's put on hold that Mavs grade. PJ was a guy that become a terrorist in the Hornets this year, having a terrible shotting diet and too much of a green light. He's also one of the most streaky players in the league. His best version, however, fits perfectly with Dallas' needs. Let's see if in a playoff team, with Luka playmaking, and shooting more from the corners, he'll become an efficient off-ball player.
For the Hornets, the top 2 protected first is extremely juicy and hard to see a better asset they could've gotten. Seth Curry will be a random cool addition for the family ties lol. Grant Williams is a negative player as is, but he's more adept to being a bench role player fine with his role, so he might end up being a good addition to the team longterm.
Suns trade for O’Neale
Suns receive: Royce O’Neale (via Nets), David Roddy (via Grizzlies)
Grade: A-
Grizzlies receive: 2026 first-round pick swap, Chimezie Metu (via Suns), Yuta Watanabe (via Suns)
Grade: B-
Nets receive: Keita Bates-Diop (via Suns), Jordan Goodwin (via Suns), Draft rights to Vanja Marinkovic (via Grizzlies), Three future second-round picks
Grade: B
Obviously the Suns didn't get flat out incredible player, but for the assets they have, I doubt they could've gotten anything better, so great job for them to get a little deeper on their 3/4 spots. For the Grizz, this move is completely on route with their other ones, so in the big pictures make perfect sense, but the grade is more so on the realization that their 2022 draft class ended up being underwhelming. For the nets, they sold an expiring without getting longterm money, another win on their big picture.
Beverley headed to Bucks
Bucks receive: Patrick Beverley
Grade: B
76ers receive: Cameron Payne, 2027 second-round pick
Grade: C
PatBev is mid, but still fits the playoff gritty at a position of need for the Bucks. For the Sixers, I don't know if the potential swap for Lowry will be an upgrade, and it's extremelly silly to send a player to a conference rival that can come back to bite you.
Sixers deal for Pacers’ Hield in 3-team trade
Sixers get: Buddy Hield
Grade: C+
Pacers get: Furkan Korkmaz, Doug McDermott, 2024 second-round pick (via Raptors), 2029 second-round pick (via Blazers)
Grade: B
Spurs get: Marcus Morris, 2029 second-round pick (via LA Clippers)
Grade: B+
In all honesty, I hope the Sixers are not rushing Embiid back for this tragedy of a roster. Hield's impact on winning is very low, and I would've just held into the seconds. For the Pacers, it was a good return for Hield, but there was no need to flip something for Doug, they already have enough cones and they're the worst defense in any playoff range team. For the Spurs, getting a potentially good second for a bum is amazing.
Springer in, Banton out
Celtics grade: B
Sixers grade: C
Blazers grade: D
Hate when rebuilding teams give the smallest of things to try out terrible players. Again, dumb from the Sixers to give an intriguing player to a rival. Interesting pickup by the Celtics with some upside, Springer is a lowkey elite defender that is a nice project and might be able to play a limited role in a shallow rotation.
Warriors deal Joseph to Pacers
Pacers receive: Cory Joseph, 2025 second-round pick, Cash considerations
Grade: F
Warriors receive: 2024 second-round pick
Grade: B+
The pick the Pacers got is top 55 protected so a pure ownership move to receive money, which are always bad. For the Warriors, they save tax money and get a late second next year they will be important for their finances.
Winners:
Knicks: Added more experienced guys without handing firsts
Hornets: Finally embracing their direction to sell the veteran pieces
Suns and Celtics: Interesting upgrades with scarse assets
Jazz and Nets: Moved expirings in a smart way
On hold:
Mavs: Did they surrender too many assets or did they made perfect additions?
Grizz: Will their retool work and how will they use assets they gained?
Thunder: Bunch of CAP in the offseason...LEBRON JAMES YOU'RE A THUNDER?!?!?!?
Losers:
Raptors: Masai disasterclass on full force
Sixers: Hield is a mid af addidtion and Morey is playing with his food by sending players to 2 rivals
Detroit: Weird moves not necessarily terrible