The initial rounds of trading and free agency are accounted for, with superstars making the biggest splashes. Since LeBron James and Chris Bosh have been talked about ad nauseam, let’s examine which other acquisitions will have their teams riding the crests, and which will have them needing life vests.


Amar’e Stoudemire—New York Knicks

The last time the Knicks acquired a surly, expensive, immature star, Stephon Marbury held the team hostage for half a decade. Amar’e Stoudemire, by default, shouldn’t prove to be that cancerous, but his presence hardly guarantees success.

Stoudemire does bring a lot to the table. He’s explosive off the dribble from 18 feet in, with the kind of primetime athleticism that overwhelms most frontcourt defenses. He can score with his back to the basket, is an excellent mid-range jump shooter, and will even pass when he knows an assist is on the horizon.

He’ll provide the Knicks with the reliable one-on-one scorer the team has lacked, while also doubling as a ferocious screen/roll finisher. Plus, his defense automatically is an upgrade over David Lee.

On the flip side, Stoudemire has a sub-par basketball IQ and no longer has Steve Nash to serve him cookies on a platter. Stoudemire has also proven to be antagonistic when he gets fewer touches than he feels he deserves.

How long will it take Stoudemire to lash out when he realizes that Toney Douglas or Raymond Felton aren’t quite MVP-caliber point guards, or that defenses can devise schemes structured to strictly take him away without Steve Nash reading defenses and manipulating them?

Moreover, Stoudemire’s sad-sack defensive awareness gives back much of the production he puts up.

Perhaps Stoudemire can provide just enough firepower to push the Knicks into the playoffs. But there’s also an equal chance that the reunion of Stoudemire and Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni ends in disaster.

Grade: C-


Raymond Felton—New York Knicks

Felton’s a solid point guard who can run an offense and who posted the most efficient shooting percentage of his career last season by taking fewer shots and improving his three-point range.

Still, a career 33 percent shooter, Felton will have to continue to improve his jump shooting to be an asset in the Big Apple. If not, teams will simply go under screens in screen/roll situations, not allowing Stoudemire free reign to roll to the basket.

The last non-shooter the Knicks signed to run the point was Chris Duhon. That didn’t work out too well. Felton could be a similar disappointment.

Grade: C


Carlos Boozer—Chicago Bulls

Carlos Boozer provides the back-to-the-basket scorer the Bulls have lacked for a decade. He has a number of quick spins and fadeaway jumpers in the pivot, is an excellent screen/roll player, and has the quickness to create offense from the high post as well. He’s too short to be an impactful defender, but pairing up with Joakim Noah will alleviate some of his defensive shortcomings.

Finally, the Bulls have an inside-outside pairing that can create havoc in the playoffs.

Grade: A


Kyle Korver—Chicago Bulls

Chicago struggled with their offensive spacing without Ben Gordon last season, something Korver’s presence will take care of. Korver’s an excellent catch-and-shoot player who also knows how to work without the ball and will execute an offensive set. He’s an average defender who can’t create his offense, but he fills a needed role in Chicago.

Grade: A-


Drew Gooden—Milwaukee Bucks

Gooden can shoot and rebound consistently, and he can sometimes drive, post, and defend. Gooden’s problem is a lack of focus that leads to mistakes or passivity. However, he’s better than Ersan Illyasova and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute at creating his own shot and rebounding, and he provides nice insurance at center should Andrew Bogut suffer any setbacks with his various arm and wrist injuries.

Grade: B


Chris Douglas-Roberts—Milwaukee Bucks

Chris Douglas-Roberts is an attacking two-guard who can finish around the hoop, but he’s a poor jump shooter, which limits his effectiveness. He fell out of favor with New Jersey’s coaching staff by complaining about his playing time during the entire 2009-2010 season. With the Bucks, he’ll mostly likely be the team’s fifth wing once Michael Redd comes back and likely won’t see much burn either. How long will it take for him to wind up in Scott Skiles’ doghouse?

However, Douglas-Roberts has talent and Milwaukee didn’t give up anything (a second round pick) to acquire him. If he can understand his role and improve his jump shot, he can become an asset this season and into the future.

Grade: C


Daequan Cook—Oklahoma City Thunder

A shooter who shoots too many blanks, Daequan Cook isn’t NBA material. Expect him to ride the pine in Oklahoma City.

Grade: F


Morris Peterson—Oklahoma City Thunder

Morris Peterson is on the decline, so he shouldn’t factor too heavily into the on-court happenings of the Thunder. What he will provide is a veteran wing to mentor Kevin Durant and James Harden and a player who can hit an occasional three-pointer.

Grade: C


Martell Webster—Minnesota Timberwolves

Webster’s a solid defender and three-point shooter who also gives the Timberwolves a package of athleticism and court IQ they haven’t seen from the wing. That said, he can’t create his own shot, something the Timberwolves desperately need from their wings.

Grade: C+


Darko Milicic—Minnesota Timberwolves

Darko has spent his entire career griping about playing time, under the assumption that he’d be a big-time performer if teams would only commit to giving him 30-plus minutes a night. Not only is he self-absorbed and delusional, but he’s never come close to providing glimpses of potential indicating that he could be an NBA featured player.

As is, Darko has a modicum of offensive talent packaged into mechanical post moves, but he has poor basketball IQ and can’t defend a statue. The Timberwolves are the only team in the league that would willingly start Darko. Consider this season Darko’s final opportunity to prove himself.

Grade: D


Michael Beasley—Minnesota Timberwolves

Beasley’s lack of refinement hurt him in Miami, where he was too unpolished to play smart, winning basketball. In Minnesota, the expectations are non-existent, and Beasley will have room to make mistakes as the T-Wolves’ featured player.

His defense is horrendous, he’s slow to understand what defenses are doing, and his feel for the game is poor—but he has undeniable talent, something the T-Wolves haven’t had much of recently.

With the T-Wolves expected to be down in the dumps for several more seasons, taking a flier on Beasley could pay huge dividends down the road.

Grade: A


Steve Blake—Los Angeles Lakers

The perfect fit for the Lakers, Blake knows how to run an offense, is crafty off the bounce, and is a terrific three-point shooter. Point guards in the triangle don’t have as much responsibility as in other systems. Blake’s main responsibilities will be bringing the ball up, making the correct trigger pass, reading the defense, and either cutting or spotting up based on how the defense reacts to the machinations of the triangle.

Given that Blake has a high basketball IQ, these things will come quickly to him.

Expect him to split time with Derek Fisher, getting more playing time in the middle of halves, with Fisher getting the bulk of the minutes at the beginnings and the ends of halves and games.

Grade: A+


Chris Duhon—Orlando Magic

Duhon’s a smart pick-and-roll guard who makes terrific passes on rolls and sees defenders sagging from the wing or corner. However, he’s a sub-par shooter who was dreadful for much of last season. What’s there to keep teams from going under screens when defending Duhon, preventing open roll lanes for Dwight Howard?

At least, unlike Jason Williams, Duhon’s a sound decision maker and a quality perimeter defender. Duhon should prove to be a better backup than a starter.

Grade: B-


Kirk Hinrich—Washington Wizards

Hinrich is still a pesky perimeter defender who can handle and run an offense. His competitive nature will give John Wall someone to emulate, while also keeping Gilbert Arenas off-the-ball at all times. Hinrich’s ability to spot up and shoot will also allow him to play alongside either guard for short stretches. A smart pickup for a team devoid of good role players.

Grade: B+


Randy Foye—Los Angeles Clippers

Foye’s too short to be a two-guard and too shot-happy to be a point guard. He does do a decent job as a play-maker off the bench for teams that need energy from a second unit. He’s a useful backup, but the Clippers are in trouble should anything happen to Eric Gordon.

Grade: C+


Ryan Gomes—Los Angeles Clippers

Gomes understands the game, but he isn’t able to create his own offense and doesn’t have three-point range. With a Clippers team that features far more play-makers than Gomes is used to in Boston and Minnesota, he should be able to carve a niche for himself as a backup forward who knows how to manufacture offense without the ball.

Grade: B-


Brian Cook—Los Angeles Clippers

All Cook wants to do is stand at the top of the key and launch threes. He needs to shoot them at a high clip, because he can’t do anything else. He can’t defend, he can’t finish, he won’t pass, and he’s devoid of physicality. Couldn’t the Clippers just keep Steve Novak?

Grade: D-