Trade Grade
Click here for link to Los Angeles Lakers Trade Grades
Lakers get: C Roy Hibbert
Pacers get: Future second-round pick from Lakers
It was not so long ago, in the first half of the 2013-14 season in fact, that Hibbert was viewed as a two-time All-Star that was steadily making his case for Defensive Player of the Year honors for one of the best teams in basketball. Now, however, the 28-year-old is simply an above-average defender and rebounder with a poor offensive game. He put up a modest 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game on an alarmingly low 44.6% shooting. In fact, he could also be viewed as a net negative: Indiana was 2.5 points per 100 possessions better with Hibbert off the court than on, and the center is also on an expiring $15.5 million contract -- a massive overpayment. The Pacers had also drafted Hibbert’s replacement in rookie C/PF Myles Turner, and signed PF/C Jordan Hill. Team President Larry Bird also said they’re looking to have SF Paul George play a lot of power forward -- employing strategies that don’t fit with the Jamaican. Don’t get me wrong: Hibbert is still a starting-caliber center, but he was becoming a terrible fit on a new-look Pacer roster, and was worth giving up for essentially nothing in exchange.
Grade: B
Thanks to Peter Chiaradia (@peter_chiaradia17) for his contribution to this trade grade
Trade Grades
Click here for link to Minnesota Timberwolves Trade Grades
Pacers get: SF/SG Chase Budinger
Timberwolves get: PF/SF Damjan Rudez
Team President Larry Bird has made it clear that he wants to play small-ball, having superstar SF Paul George play more power forward. In order to do that, additional depth would be needed at the three, and that’s exactly why they made this deal. At first sight, they just made a clear upgrade, but there is a financial cost to it: Rudez was on a 2 year/$2.35 million deal (with a team option), while Budinger is paid more than Rudez: 1 year/$5 million. Still, the 27 year old earns every penny, as he averaged a very solid 6.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in just 19.2 minutes per game on an efficient 36.4% shooting from downtown. Rudez was a great three-point shooter in his own right at a blazing 40.6% last season, but does very little else and won’t be missed too much in Indiana. Great acquisition by the Pacers, and they needed it badly.
Grade: A-
Click here for link to Los Angeles Lakers Trade Grades
Lakers get: C Roy Hibbert
Pacers get: Future second-round pick from Lakers
It was not so long ago, in the first half of the 2013-14 season in fact, that Hibbert was viewed as a two-time All-Star that was steadily making his case for Defensive Player of the Year honors for one of the best teams in basketball. Now, however, the 28-year-old is simply an above-average defender and rebounder with a poor offensive game. He put up a modest 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game on an alarmingly low 44.6% shooting. In fact, he could also be viewed as a net negative: Indiana was 2.5 points per 100 possessions better with Hibbert off the court than on, and the center is also on an expiring $15.5 million contract -- a massive overpayment. The Pacers had also drafted Hibbert’s replacement in rookie C/PF Myles Turner, and signed PF/C Jordan Hill. Team President Larry Bird also said they’re looking to have SF Paul George play a lot of power forward -- employing strategies that don’t fit with the Jamaican. Don’t get me wrong: Hibbert is still a starting-caliber center, but he was becoming a terrible fit on a new-look Pacer roster, and was worth giving up for essentially nothing in exchange.
Grade: B
Thanks to Peter Chiaradia (@peter_chiaradia17) for his contribution to this trade grade
Trade Grades
Click here for link to Minnesota Timberwolves Trade Grades
Pacers get: SF/SG Chase Budinger
Timberwolves get: PF/SF Damjan Rudez
Team President Larry Bird has made it clear that he wants to play small-ball, having superstar SF Paul George play more power forward. In order to do that, additional depth would be needed at the three, and that’s exactly why they made this deal. At first sight, they just made a clear upgrade, but there is a financial cost to it: Rudez was on a 2 year/$2.35 million deal (with a team option), while Budinger is paid more than Rudez: 1 year/$5 million. Still, the 27 year old earns every penny, as he averaged a very solid 6.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in just 19.2 minutes per game on an efficient 36.4% shooting from downtown. Rudez was a great three-point shooter in his own right at a blazing 40.6% last season, but does very little else and won’t be missed too much in Indiana. Great acquisition by the Pacers, and they needed it badly.
Grade: A-