Adidas Atlanta Hawks Bibby Jersey

With such a flurry of recent trades in the NBA, even an avid basketball fan may find it difficult to keep up with all the activity. Here’s a recap of the major trades that have happened for the duration of this year’s tranfer window:

1. Shaq was swopped to the Suns for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.

2. Jason Kidd was swopped to the Dallas Mavericks for Devin Harris and Dasagna Diop.

3. Pau Gasol was swopped to the Lakers.

4. Mike Bibby was swopped to the Atlanta Hawks.

5. Kyle Korver was swopped to the Jazz for Gordon Giricek.

6. Ben Wallace, Joe Smith and Wally Szerbiak were swapped to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes.

So, who got the best deal? Who is now a major contender in their conference? The following is a list of grades for each of the trades and the teams involved.

1. Shaq-Marion: For this trade, the Heat get a B+. Getting a perennial All-star in Shawn Marion and getting rid of an ailing Shaq was a good move. Once Marion gels with the rest of the Heat team, he will make Miami a lot better. The Suns, on the other hand, get an incomplete. This trade could either work out genuinely well and result in a long awaited championship or blow up in their face. It all depends on Shaq’s health and willingness to give everything he has, even if his tank is almost empty. If Shaq may carry out like the Shaq of old or even the Shaq of Miami’s championship days, the Suns may win it this year.

2. Kidd-Harris: Personally I think the New Jersey is getting the better point guard. Not only is Devin Harris putting up better numbers than Kidd this year, but he is young and will be a great player for years to come. Like the Suns, it seems as if the Mavericks are concentered solely on the short term. They want a championship now, and they think Kidd may fetch it home. Mavericks: B- Nets: A-

3. Pau Gasol: Outside of Boston getting Garnett and Ray Allen without losing Paul Pierce, this is the best trade I have seen in awhile. The Lakers got everything without losing anything. Gasol is a talented, liquid huge man who fits in perfectly with the Lakers. Once Andrew Bynum gets healthy, the Lakers are going to have the nastiest front court around – Bynum, Gasol and Odom. I don’t recognise of any team who may deal with that much speed, height and talent. A++

4. Mike Bibby to the Hawks: This trade received less exposure than did the aformentioned trades. Why? Because it will not have that much of an impact. Yes, Mike Bibby is a good point guard, but he has unquestionably lost a step or two over the years. He will aid the Hawks make the playoffs, but will not make them good sufficient to get over the Celtics, Pistons or even Magic. So, while this trade is a good one in terms of getting a good player, it will not have that huge of an impact. B+

5. Korver-Giricek: The Jazz could not have made a better trade. Yes, they could have dealt a number of their gifted bench players for another big name. But why mess with a good thing? The Jazz are playing genuinely well. The only thing that was keeping them back was turnover artisan Gordon Giricek. Trading him for sharp-shooting Kyle Korver was a stroke of genius. The Jazz get an A for this trade.

6. Wallace, Smith, Szerbiak – Gooden, Hughes: I actually don’t recognise in regards to this trade, for either team. The Bulls are injury riddled at the moment. To break up the flow of the few remaining players they have may seal their playoff fate. However, Larry Hughes is having a beauteous good year and Drew Good is pretty dependable. So, the Bulls get a B- in my book. As for the Cavs, I am a little torn. I want to give them a good grade for securing a big name, experienced player, but I don’t recognise how much betterment the Cavs will show, if any. The Cavs are in general a good defensive team. What has been hampering them is their lack of scoring choices isolated from Lebron. Neither Ben Wallace nor Joe Smith are very dangerous on the offensive end. They did Wally Szerbiak who is a good outside shooter and may support them in that regard. But what he adds in offense, he lacks in defensive capability. I am not that sure this trade is going to work out. Only time will tell. Cavs: B

Although I am unsure when it comes to some of these trades, the amount of action for the duration of the this year’s trade season has me very excessively affected emotionally to see how the trades will shake things up. The second half of the season is going to be very fun to watch.