Hoops Habit
Fansided

2016 NBA Trade Deadline Grades For All 30 Teams

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
20 of 31
Next
NBA Trade Deadline
Feb 4, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) reacts after scoring against the Los Angeles Lakers during a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Lakers defeated the Pelicans 99-96. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

New Orleans Pelicans

UPDATE: The Pelicans have waived Stokes, so their already low grade of D+ drops to a D- now.

Take a quick look at the New Orleans Pelicans‘ grade. It’s terrible. One more time, back to the grade. Now back to the me. Even with an acquisition that I really like — Jarnell Stokes — the Pelicans completely failed to accomplish any of their goals for the trade deadline, including what should have been their main goal: moving Ryan Anderson.

With the Pellies’ sixth man set for a max offer in the ballpark of $16-18 million a year, NOLA has virtually no shot at re-signing him this summer. Overpaying him in that range just isn’t advisable, but letting him walk for nothing is going to be equally painful.

There had to be plenty of offers rolling in for a stretch-4 averaging 16.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting 38.3 percent from three-point range, but the Pellies failed to find one suitable enough to pounce on. Even with the Jarnell Stokes salary dump NOLA received from Miami, it’s hard to be excited about what New Orleans has going on right now.

At 22 years old, Stokes never found his rhythm in Memphis’ crowded frontcourt and never cracked Erik Spoelsta’s rotation in Miami either. In 26 career appearances over his first two seasons in the league, Stokes has posted a grand total of 64 points and 38 rebounds in 145 minutes of action.

But he’s been an absolute beast in the D-League this season, averaging 19.8 points and 12.3 rebounds per 36 minutes with a D-League-best 30.9 Player Efficiency Rating. Tyreke Evans’ season-ending injury means the Pellies should be tanking for a high draft pick to pair with Anthony Davis, and if that’s the case, Stokes deserves ample minutes to develop.

However, even the low-risk, high-reward acquisition of Stokes (whose contract is non-guaranteed next season) can’t overshadow the glaring flaws on this roster. Evans couldn’t be traded because of his injury. Omer Asik and his albatross of a contract are still on the books. And Anderson is set to walk this summer for nothing.

It doesn’t get much worse than this, even with a future destroyer of worlds like AD on the roster.

Grade: D+

Next: New York Knicks