Blockbuster reviews: Grading biggest trades of past 5 years

Hindsight is 20/20, and there's perhaps no better use of the expression in sports than determining which team emerged as the winner of a blockbuster swap.

Here are reviews of 10 of the biggest NBA trades in the last five years, with grades for each of the teams involved.

Russ, CP3 swap places (July 2019)

The Rockets paid a fortune to trade Paul for Westbrook, yet it's fair to argue they haven't improved much, if at all. Before the current hiatus, the Rockets were 40-24. Through their first 64 games last year with Paul, Houston was 39-25.

Oklahoma City, meanwhile, has turned out better than anyone expected. Paul has been instrumental in the team's success thus far as a mentor and leader. Remember, the Thunder were expected to rebuild after the deal. As it stands, they're tied for fifth in the West ... with Houston.

Grades:

• Rockets: B-
• Thunder: A+

PG goes home to L.A. (July 2019)

Landing George to help secure Kawhi Leonard's signature immediately vaulted the Clippers into serious contenders. But their "preferential treatment" has reportedly rubbed some in the locker room the wrong way. Furthermore, the Clippers' timeline is tight thanks to George and Leonard owning player options in 2021.

Meanwhile, putting this deal into a table shows you how incredible the Thunder's haul was and how flawlessly they leveraged the situation to maximize their return. Gilgeous-Alexander is already a certified star in the making and that gluttony of first-round picks opens up several paths for general manager Sam Presti to take going forward.

Grades:

• Clippers: A
• Thunder: A+

AD heads to Hollywood (July 2019)

With Davis aboard, the Lakers clinched their first postseason berth since 2013. The seven-time All-Star formed a devastating pick-and-roll tandem with LeBron James while anchoring the league's second-ranked defense. If Davis re-signs with L.A. this offseason, the duo should compete for multiple rings in the future.

Meanwhile, New Orleans recouped two potential fundamental pieces in Ingram and Ball, and flipped De'Andre Hunter - the Lakers' 2019 first-round selection - for a package of assets, including Jaxson Hayes. Ingram's 3-point evolution has elevated him among the Association's top scorers, while Ball gelled rapidly with Zion Williamson.

Washington got three young assets and a pick for the cool price of $1.1 million. Although Jones was released following the preseason, Wagner has become an intriguing stretch-five option and Bonga started 41 games during the 2019-20 campaign.

Grades:

• Lakers: A
• Pelicans: A-
• Wizards: A-

Knicks punt on Porzingis for cap room (January 2019)

Porzingis looks rejuvenated and is locked in through 2022-23. The 7-foot-3 Latvian and running mate Luka Doncic had the Mavs on pace to be the most efficient offense ever before the league's stoppage. Meanwhile, Hardaway has been anything but a salary dump, averaging 15.8 points and shooting 40.7% from distance this season.

New York dealt its franchise player for cap space and whiffed on the marquee free agents. While Smith initially showed promise, he's had a disastrous campaign and isn't the Knicks' long-term solution at the point. The first-rounders won't have much value if Porzingis and Doncic remain healthy.

Grades:

• Knicks: F
• Mavs: A

Raptors pry Kawhi from Spurs (July 2018)

Some Toronto fans were jolted at trading a franchise icon for someone with major health concerns. It didn't take long for Leonard to win them over. Green, supposedly a throw-in piece, only made it easier for Raptors fans to stomach the deal. Factor in the eventual championship and Toronto makes the trade 10 times out of 10.

It didn't work out for San Antonio. DeRozan was far from a like-for-like replacement for Leonard and now appears on his way out. Poeltl's development has stagnated. Keldon Johnson, drafted with Toronto's pick, has played in just nine games.

Grades:

• Raptors: A+
• Spurs: D

Clippers ship Blake to Motor City (January 2018)

The Pistons understandably had high hopes after acquiring Griffin but those have since been dashed thanks in part to his injury issues. Despite their looming rebuild, they're still on the hook for the potential $75 million-plus left on his contract. Meanwhile, Reed made three appearances for Detroit and Johnson was flipped for James Ennis days later.

While neither Harris, Bradley, nor Marjanovic is with the Clippers anymore, Harris did have a solid 87-game stint there before being shipped to Philadelphia. The first-rounder acquired for Griffin was then used to land Gilgeous-Alexander in a draft-night swap with the Hornets.

Grades:

• Pistons: D+
• Clippers: B-

Celtics land Kyrie in 4-player blockbuster (August 2017)

Irving enamored Beantown with his words and play but was on the shelf as the Celtics fell one win short of the 2018 NBA Finals. The All-Star wore out his welcome the following year, calling out the team's youth as he struggled in a leadership role. Following a second-round playoff exit in 2019, Irving bolted to the Nets.

Cleveland fared slightly better, obtaining current leading scorer Collin Sexton using the Nets' pick. Sexton was averaging 20.8 points on 47.2% shooting this season but continued to struggle defensively. Thomas was never the same after his hip injury and was dealt at the 2018 deadline for Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson.

Grades:

• Celtics: C
• Cavs: B-

OKC rolls dice on PG (July 2017)

Oklahoma City bet on itself to be able to keep George beyond 2017-18, and it worked; the All-Star forward signed a long-term deal without taking a free-agent meeting with his hometown Lakers.

George followed up his debut Thunder campaign with a third-place finish in 2018-19 MVP voting, but the club suffered its third straight first-round playoff exit. He reportedly requested a trade that summer and the Thunder got an aforementioned massive haul.

Indiana improved its regular-season record in the wake of George's departure, posting back-to-back 48-win campaigns. Oladipo and Sabonis have blossomed into All-Stars, with the latter locked up through 2023-24.

Grades:

• Thunder: B+
• Pacers: A+

Clippers retool in massive CP3 deal (June 2017)

Despite great team success, Paul and co-star James Harden's reported "unsalvageable" relationship eventually led to the former's trade after two seasons. Injuries also mired each of Paul's campaigns in Houston. Had he been healthy for Games 6 and 7 of the 2018 Western Conference finals, the Rockets would've likely taken out the Cavs in The Finals.

The Clippers came away with three important pieces for their current title-contending squad. Beverley has been a defensive pest while Williams and Harrell have formed arguably the league's most potent one-two punch off of the bench.

Grades:

• Clippers: A+
• Rockets: B

Boogie in the Big Easy (February 2017)

The Cousins-Davis frontcourt seemed perfect. However, the results didn't match. They flourished individually but New Orleans went 11-14 down the stretch, missing the playoffs. Midway through 2017-18, Cousins tore his Achilles. He never played for the Pelicans again. Casspi, meanwhile, was waived after one game.

Evans and Galloway didn't stay long but Hield is now among Sacramento's best players. The Kings used the first-round pick to trade down at the draft for two first-rounders from Portland, nabbing Justin Jackson - now with Dallas - and Harry Giles, who's headed toward free agency. The second-rounder became Frank Mason III, who's now with Milwaukee.

Grades:

• Pelicans: C-
• Kings: B-