Grading the biggest deals at the trade d

The 2023 NBA trade deadline was certainly one for the ages.Ru sell Westbrook is no longer a Laker. D'Angelo Ru sell is a Laker again. And, oh yeah, the Suns have added Kevin Durant to bolster their chances to win an NBA title.The above deals are just a fraction of what happened at the trade deadline.In reaction to some of the landscape-altering deals that transpired, The Sporting News' NBA staff got out their red pens to grade the deals for each team that was involved.Here's a look back at how we've judged some of the biggest deals of the deadline.NBA TRADE DEADLINE TRACKER 2023 Willie Snead IV Jersey : Sunsreceive:Kevin Durant, T.J. WarrenNets receive:Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Jae Crowder, four unprotected first-round picks (2023, 2025, 2027, 2029),2028 pick swapSuns trade gradeThe Suns' championship window appeared to be closing until they smashed it back open by acquiring Durant.Prior to his injury, Durant was firmly in the MVP conversation, averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 a sists and 1.5 blocks per game on super-efficient shooting splits of 55.9/37.6/93.4.Adding one of the league's best scorers to a core of Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton immediately puts them back in the conversation of the Western Conference's elite teams.Grade:A+Nets trade gradeConsidering the inflated trade market we saw in the offseason with Rudy Gobert' Marshal Yanda Jersey s move to Minnesota, the Nets' haul seems palatable.Ideally, you want at least an All-Star in return for a top-five player. The jewel of this deal is Bridges, who has the potential to reach that level in the not-too-distant future.Bridges has quickly established himself as one of the best young 3-and-D players in the league. Cam Johnson, a certified sharpshooter, had some bright moments with the Suns, delivering impre sive performances in their run to the 2021 Finals.Grade:B- Lakers receive:D'Angelo Ru sell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik BeasleyTimberwolves receive:Mike Conley Jr., Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 2024 second-round pick swap, 2025 and 2026 second-round picksJazz receive:Ru sell Westbrook, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones, 2027 first-round pickLakers trade gradeThis isn't the home run trade that many Lakers fans might have been looking for, but the team's biggest i sue was depth. They added three good rotation pieces or four if you count Rui Hachimura before the deadline.Is it enough for a championship run? Maybe not, but the Lakers did make themselves a much better team without sacrificing too much.Grade:A-Timberwolves trade gradeThe Wolves traded Ru sell for Andrew Wiggins three years ago at the trade deadline. Since then, Wiggins has found a perfect role with the Warriors, and Ru sell has been more of a mixed bagConley's best days are behind him. Once a top defender, he's lost a step. Still, Conley should give the Wolves more stability. They needed someone who could add more organizing principles, and Conley can do just that. And the draft compensation is a nice bonus.Grade:BJazz trade gradeThe Jazz are going to get worse with this trade. As currently constructed, they're a cla sic regular season overachiever that would struggle in a playoff environment. They need a star in order to make some real noise at the next level, and they've positioned themselves to go out and get one With the incoming pick from the Lakers, they have 15 first-round picks over the course of the next seven drafts and will also have up to $60 million in cap space, .Grade:BMORE: Warriors receive:Gary Payton IIPistons receive:James WisemanHawks receive:Saddiq BeyTrail Blazers receive:Kevin Knox, five Jaylon Ferguson Jersey future second-round picks via HawksPistons trade gradeIt's unclear whether or not Wiseman can reach his potential, but a new home is a good start.Wiseman has shown flashes in his career and was beginning to put things together prior to tearing his meniscus late in his rookie season. He will soon be 22 and matches the developmental timeline of a young core in Detroit that also features Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey and Isaiah Stewart."Grade:B-Warriors trade gradeInjuries Shane Ray Jersey are the main culprit, but this deal effectively serves as Golden State's admi sion that the franchise didn't get it right in the 2020 NBA Draft.Considering the time also saw Golden State win an NBA title, it could have gone much worseWith the knowledge that Payton is back to reprise the role he played last season, this becomes more of a win for the Warriors.Grade:B-Hawks trade gradeLike in most years, Atlanta was in need of a shake-up. Acquiring Bey qualifies as just thatA mid-first-round pick in 2020, Bey is making just under $3 million this season and will make $4.6 million next season, making him a value addition for Atlanta, which looks to make a late-season run into the East's top six.Grade:B+Trail Blazers trade gradeKnox, 23, was a top-10 pick five years ago, but has yet to find the right spot in the league. He's averaging 5.6 points per game this season, which was his first in DetroitNot much of a risk to yield a potentially high reward.Grade:B Raptors receive:Jakob PoeltlSpurs receive:Khem Birch, 2024first-round pick (top-six protected), two future second-round picksRaptors trade gradePoeltl has a history with Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and Nick Nurse. As long as Siakam and VanVleet are still on the team past the trade deadline, it should make for an easy transition.If you want a deeper breakdown of Poeltl's game, click .Considering how well Poeltl should fit in and what they gave up, this is a good deal for them a suming, of course, that the Raptors re-sign him in the offseason, .Grade:B+Spurs trade gradeThe Spurs already have one of the worst records in the NBA and some of the best odds of getting the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Trading Poeltl should only help their chances of landing Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson.Grade:B Trail Blazers receive:Mati se Thybulle76ers receive:Jalen McDaniels, 2024 second-round pick (from Hornets via Knicks), 2029 second-round pick (Trail Blazers)Hornets receive:Svi Mykhaliuk, 2027 second-round pick (Trail Blazers)Trail Blazers trade gradeThybulle's perimeter defense makes him a major addition for a in defensive rating, but Thybulle alone won't be enough to completely transform the defense.If he can slash and play Ed Reed Jersey well off of Damian Lillard's gravity, Thybulle can get back into an offensive groove and be a plus addition for Portland.Grade: