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NBA Trade Deadline: Grading all 30 teams on their trades

By Josh Cornelissen

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 09: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on February 09, 2021 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 09: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on February 09, 2021 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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NBA Trade Deadline
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 21 : Serge Ibaka of LA Clippers is seen in action during NBA match between Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on January 21, 2022, NBA Trade Deadline: Grading all 30 teams on their trades. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /

NBA Trade Deadline Grades: Tinkering Title Faves

Milwaukee Bucks

It’s been a rocky season for the defending champions, with dominant runs followed by dispiriting losses. Center Brook Lopez has essentially been out the entire season with a back injury, and his status to return is uncertain.

With limited resources, the Bucks jumped into the trade deadline fray and came away with Serge Ibaka and a pair of second-round picks in exchange for Rodney Hood, Semi Ojeleye, and most importantly, young wing Donte DiVincenzo.

On the one hand, Ibaka provides a facsimile of what Lopez brings, with shot-blocking and three-point shooting. Yet on the other, he had fallen to third in the LA Clippers’ center rotation and has been inconsistent since returning from a back injury of his own earlier this year. Can the Bucks rely on him for a postseason run?

Giving up Donte DiVincenzo for an aging reserve big man is a tough pill to swallow, but odds are Ibaka has a better chance of helping the Bucks this season than DiVincenzo, which is why they made the deal.

It’s a poor asset play, though, and DiVincenzo might take a huge step forward in Sacramento. Given that they also didn’t address the need for a combo forward to defend the likes of Kevin Durant, the Bucks will have work to do on the buyout market in order to prepare for the playoffs.

Grade: C

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat, likewise made just a single move, although theirs was even smaller than Milwaukee’s. They sent KZ Okpala to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a hyper-protected second-round pick, freeing up a roster spot for two-way player Caleb Martin.

The other wrinkle to the deal was the Heat and Thunder altering the protections on the first-round pick owed to Oklahoma City, shifting it from a pick likely to convey this year or next, and instead pushing it out to 2025 at the earliest.

That spaced out the Thunder’s pick trove and gave the Heat the flexibility to trade a pick or two this summer. Given the Heat’s strong play and roster depth, they didn’t need to do much else.

Grade: B-

Phoenix Suns

The Suns are cruising at the top of the standings this season, with a starting lineup that established itself last year and has continued as one of the best in the league this time around.

They didn’t have any glaring needs, but addressed their bench by adding Torrey Craig from the Pacers and Aaron Holiday from the Wizards, sending out only a second-rounder, cash, and a player in Jalen Smith who they were unlikely to re-sign this summer.

They elected not to make a bigger swing by moving Dario Saric’s deal, but with their rotation as full as it is, they didn’t have a lot of options for a real improvement out there.

Grade: B+