NBA Trade Grades: the Dame “Blockbuster”

I used the quotation marks in the title for a reason. Yes, this is most definitely a blockbuster trade in typical NBA parlance. That being said, much of the national discourse has been on some of the more extraneous factors. Mainly the player empowerment angles and the role of the Miami Heat. This is done primarily because it generates clicks and the passions of various fan bases.

I’m going to try and avoid this. As that ground has been plowed by many others. I will just say this. There is really only one singular winner in this three team, eight player trade. It’s not Damian Lillard. He found out the limits of player empowerment. He didn’t get to pick where and when he was traded.

The sole winner of the trade is Giannis Antetokounmpo. He decided he wanted more of a commitment from the Milwaukee Bucks. He opened his mouth and said it. The Bucks obliged in short order. That is true power. He didn’t follow this move by signing a contract extension and he probably won’t. He doesn’t need to. He is a championship player with multiple MVP’s.

That type of power is only held by few players in the NBA. They are the “one namers”. LeBron, Steph, and KD. That’s about it. There is an expanding group of players that are finding out their key cards no longer work to get them in the door of this club. The new collective bargaining agreement combined with age and injuries is causing membership within this group to grow. Lillard has company with James Harden and the Clippers superstar duo.

With that out of the way. I’m going grade the trade solely on its merits. To spoil things a bit. As a three teamer. I’ll call it the rare win-win-win trade. I like these moves for all three teams to varying extents.

Portland Trailblazers: A

• Deandre Ayton (via Suns)
• Toumani Camara (via Suns)
• Jrue Holiday (via Bucks)
• 2029 1st-round pick (via Bucks)
• Two first-round pick swaps with Bucks (2028, 2030)

On the Blazers side. Their most important player does not appear in the list above. Despite their initial posturing. They did not need to get a star back. They already have one. His name is Scoot Henderson. Let’s not overthink this. What do you get a young dynamic point guard? How about an athletic rim running big man. Enter DeAndre Ayton

Expectations can be a funny thing. They warp the perspective of what a player is or can be. Whatever you think of Ayton. I think we can all agree he has been saddled with some lofty expectations. Strip those away and what are we left with?

A player who was talented enough to be a #1 overall pick in a legendarily deep draft. He is the furthest thing from a bust. He has started and contributed on a championship caliber team. The Indiana Pacers— an organization not known for wild free agency swings. Offered him a four year 133 million contract. The Suns promptly matched that offer. He might not be the next David Robinson. But this isn’t Michael Olowokandi.

While Ayton might be considered a bit of a question mark. Getting draft compensation for Jrue Holiday is not. It is simply what he does. His trade kicked off “the Process” in Philly years ago. He more recently fetched an absolute haul for New Orleans. Be it Golden St, Miami, or name your contender. Someone will want Holiday. Probably with another first round pick coming back.

What are the Blazers left with after this trade? A young talented team, a somewhat clean salary cap, and picks. A core of Henderson, Ayton, and Shaedon Sharpe is tantalizing. There are others in this group. However I highlighted that trio for a reason. All three were the consensus top player in the respective classes coming out of high school. Whatever you think of recruiting rankings. That is some serious talent accumulation. Three elite talents 25 and under (that’s right Ayton is not as old as you think), draft capital, and possible future cap room. This looks more like a quick Oklahoma City reboot. Then a 76ers-esque long rebuild.

Update: The Portland Trailblazers turned Jrue Holiday into Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III, Golden St’s 2024 first round pick (top 4 protected, and Boston’s 2029 first round pick (unprotected)

So if you are scoring at home- Portland turned Damian Lillard into two young athletic rim running bigs on manageable contracts (more so in Williams case) Three first round picks. The 2029 picks are well down the road on unprotected (huge) The Golden St 2024 pick might not seem to matter on the surface. But a top 4 protection isn’t much and Golden St is an old team that might only be an injury away from being in the lottery (Draymond Green is already banged up)

Oh yeah I almost forgot pick swaps in 2028 AND 2030. This is a HAUL. I still don’t think they are done. They can get something for Malcolm Brogdon too. In my old life as a teacher I did not change grades and I was reluctant give an A+. However you make exceptions. I’m giving the Blazers a A+

Milwaukee Bucks: A-

Damian Lillard (via Blazers)

That’s not a long list of assets received. I shouldn’t need to spend much time on Lillard or the motivations behind the trade. Whether you like it or not. With the age of their core and Antetokounmpo‘s comments. Milwaukee simply did not have much of a choice.

Losing Jrue Holiday is meaningful. The trade offers Portland receives will prove that point out. That being said, Holiday was already beginning to talk of retirement at the conclusion of his current deal, To get Lillard without having to give up either Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton is huge.

With their goals and the belief Giannis will stick around. The loss of a pick and swaps are negligible. Keeping young player MarJon Beauchamp is a low key big part of this deal. I can imagine Portland would have at least asked about bringing the young wing back to the Pacific Northwest.

So why the minus? This is going to get really expensive for the Bucks. However you get what you pay for. As this trade shows. Phoenix isn’t going to be cutting salary anytime soon. With some minor posterity moves. Golden St bit the bullet and re-signed Draymond Green. If you want seat at the big boy table. You pay for it. Milwaukee’s table is reserved for the foreseeable future.

Phoenix Suns B

• Grayson Allen (via Bucks)
• Keon Johnson (via Blazers)
• Nassir Little (via Blazers)
• Jusuf Nurkic (via Blazers)

The Suns went into salary cap crazy town with the Bradley Beal trade. Most industry insiders felt they would eventually turn the Ayton contract into multiple players to get depth. Allen, Johnson, and Little will provide that on the perimeter. Getting those three is a sensible move at a good price.

Why the B grade then? I’m giving then a demerit for the Nurkic portion. The key numbers here are 57, 52, and 37. Those are the numbers games Nurkic has played in the last three years. He missed virtually the entire season prior to those three with a broken leg. That is a lot of missed time. You want three more numbers? Three and approximately 54 million. Those are the years and guaranteed dollars he is still owed.

The Suns have taken “all in” to a new level financially. However this is a major gamble on a player who just hasn’t been able to stay healthy. The Western Conference runs through Nikola Jokic right now. You better have a big body to at least lean on him. Despite being capped out. I have to think this championship or bust front office might have another move or two in mind.

Conclusion

On Wednesday afternoon three things were known in the NBA. Portland had an unhappy superstar who wanted out. Milwaukee had super-duper star who wanted more help. Phoenix had a team full of expensive superstars with little young perimeter depth.

With one move all three franchises addressed those needs. In our negative culture if you looking for a loser. I’ll go with the rest of the Eastern Conference. Boston added an oft injured sorta big man in Kristaps Porzingis. Miami has subtracted pieces. Philadelphia has— I don’t think anyone really knows what’s going on there.

Much has been said (whined) about the role of the league office in this trade. Mainly emanating from the South Florida region. I don’t buy it. A Milwaukee-Denver finals is not ideal for television ratings. Camps haven’t even opened yet so there is a long way to go. However with good health that is where I am putting my money.