[Izulde]

So let's review trades, shall we?

Los Angeles Clippers receive
SF Danny Granger

Indiana Pacers receive
C Joakim Noah

What this means for the Clippers
Shocking trade, as Noah was a Jestor favorite from his college days and the dirty presence down low the Clippers needed. On the other hand, he faded down the stretch and disappeared against the Nuggets. Granger was All-NBA 3rd Team last season and is a superlative scorer and shut down defender. He gives the Red and White a #1 to take the pressure off Stephen Curry and a franchise star opposing teams will have to try and solve.

What this means for the Pacers
Noah finds himself back in the Central and he'll slot in beautifully at C, allowing Indiana to move the underachieving Roy Hibbert to PF, where the latter's 7'2 frame can hopefully mask some of his liabilities. Indiana now needs a new #1, but is their team going to be good enough to lure in a superstar with their $25 million in cap space?

Winner: Draw
Both teams are taking a major risk here, the Pacers dealing their franchise star for one of the most underrated big men in the league, the Clippers banking on Timofey Mozgov to become their center of the future. We do have to wonder what LA is going to do with their logjam at SF with Granger, Nicolas Batum, and recent 1st round pick Eutor Taffarel.

***

Los Angeles Lakers receive
SF Austin Daye

Detroit Pistons receive
SG Shannon Brown

What this means for the Lakers
Could find a role as an accurate shooting reserve, but right now he's buried on the inactive list, and free agency isn't even here yet.

What this means for the Pistons
Disciplined defender, but otherwise unremarkable. The 25 year old will fight for playing time with Ben Gordon and Charlie Villaneuva.

Winner: Pistons
Detroit looks like they'll use Brown, whereas Daye will rot away on the Lakers' bench.

**

Philadelphia 76ers receive
PG Cameron Risinger

Sacramento Kings receive
PF Marreese Speights

What this means for the 76ers
18th overall pick has some upside as a respectable fifth starter/backup point guard. The only question is, why another PG when they already have Louis Williams and Jrue Holiday on the roster?

What this means for the Kings
Speights is just another guy. Nothing remarkable about him at all.

Winner: Philadelphia
The former Terrapin Risinger's upside makes the 76ers the clear winner considering they gave up nobody worth mentioning to get him. Philly now has a strong 3 PG rotation to run alongside Evan Turner.

**

Indiana Pacers receive
C Hassan Whiteside

Sacramento Kings receive
SG Brandon Rush

What this means for the Pacers
He's raw, but if he develops, Whiteside will be an excellent defender, shotblocker, and foul drawer and his 7' height will intimidate teams with smaller frontlines. Indiana's definitely serious about upgrading its big man stocks with quality young defenders down low.

What this means for the Kings
26 year old has good size for the 2 at 6'6, 210 and shows some ability with the 3 point ball. Slightly above average defense and a stopgap reserve until Tyreke Evans comes back from his ACL injury.

Winner: Pacers
We really like what Indiana is doing with their frontcourt this offseason. They may not make the playoffs next year, which gives them a shot to find the #1 option they need in the lottery. West is very deep, ad Rush isn't good enough to be adequate cover off the bench.

**

Oklahoma City Thunder receive
PG C.J. Watson

Chicago Bulls receive
PF D.J. White
C Byron Mullens

What this means for the Thunder
Watson, 27, is a ball secure point guard, with tantalizing upside as a perimeter defender and ballthief. The perfect complement to Russell Westbrook off the bench and better than Eric Maynor or project 2nd round pick Peter Hendricks.

What this means for the Bulls
Two young scrubs are still scrubs, but Mullens is at least a 7' body and the only center on the roster besides Omer Asik. Think Da Bulls miss Joakim Noah yet?

Winner: Thunder
Chicago was desperate to add big bodies and they gave away a quality rotational piece to get wastes of space. Nice steal by OKC.

**

New Orleans Hornets receive
C Ian Manhinmi

Dallas Mavericks receive
C Aaron Gray

What this means for the Hornets
Manhinmi's lone talent - 63.4% shooting. Too bad he doesn't have enough of a scoring instinct to be of real value.

What this means for the Mavericks
Gray is a better all-around talent than Manhinmi, but that's like saying Fat Chick #1 at the bar has a better all around personality over Fat Chick #2's few less fat rolls.

Winner: Nobody
Either way, these teams are going home with a fat chick. Manhinmi (Fat Chick #2) doesn't have enough fewer fat rolls to make a a difference and Gray (Fat Chick #1) is the type of carryout we call diving on a grenade to take one for the team.

**

Denver Nuggets receive
SG James Anderson

San Antonio Spurs receive
PG Ty Lawson

What this means for the Nuggets
Anderson has good scoring pop and is a great long-range gunner. Solid without being spectacular in other areas, with that 6'6, 208 frame to make him hard to stop. One of the few bright spots in last year's dull class, and a veritable steal at #20. It wouldn't be horrible if he ended up starting for the defending champions, who renounced almost no one, including Kenyon Martin's $24 million price tag.

What this means for the Spurs
Accurate as hell shooter with shut down defender potential. Doesn't have anywhere close to Anderson's scoring instincts, though, which is his big drawback. Has upside to become a passable floor general, although nothing outstanding, more on the fifth starter/reserve type. Big, big addressing of a need, as he provides San Antonio a legitimate option behind starter George Hill.

Winner: Draw
Should work out very well for both teams and their needs.

**

New Orleans Hornets receive
SF Damion James

New Jersey Nets receive
SF Quincy Pondexter

What this means for the Hornets
The former Longhorn was a quality starter last year... in the D-Leagues.

What this means for the Nets
Another good D-League guy, Pondexter at least has upside as a defender and offensive rebounder for a wing. That's more can be said for James.

Winner: New Jersey
Why did the Hornets even take James? Chris Paul can't be happy.

And finally...

Charlotte Bobcats receive
PF Jordan Hill

Houston Rockets receive
PG D.J. Augustin

What this means for the Bobcats
Hill isn't worth his #8 pick status two years ago, but he has some upside to be an offensive minded rotational big of some worth.

What this means for the Rockets
Augustin was a pleasant surprise last year, shooting 40.1% from 3 point range and averaging 12.6 points in 33 starts, 81 games played. A very nice reserve PG to have, especially with his accuracy and handling. Between starter Aaron Brooks, #2 Kyle Lowry, and Augustin, Houston now looks quite deep at the 1.

Winner: Houston
On talent alone, the Rockets win. Charlotte did shore up their horrific frontcourt depth with Hill, but he doesn't bring nearly the value that Augustin does.