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NBA Trade Deadline 2016: Grading every team’s moves

By Cody Williams

Jan 29, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) leaves the floor after being called for a second technical foul in action against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) leaves the floor after being called for a second technical foul in action against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 22: Tobias Harris
ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 22: Tobias Harris /

Detroit Pistons

Is Stan Van Gundy The Godfather of the NBA? I know that moniker belongs to Pat Riley down in Miami, but SVG has to be coming close with the Detroit Pistons. The 2016 NBA Trade Deadline only further proved that. The Pistons were active, decisive, and incredibly smart in the way that they operated their organization at the deadline was one of the lasting impressions of the period as a whole.

Van Gundy and the Pistons got things started off on the Tuesday before the deadline when they traded Brandon Jennings’ expiring contract and Ersan Ilyasova to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Tobias Harris. Not only is Harris a great fit in Detroit and a big get in a trade (rather than having to go shopping in free agency this summer), but Van Gundy also managed to get the deal done without throwing in a pick.

Detroit wasn’t done there, either, as they went at out and did mortgage a protected first-round pick and Joel Anthony to get Marcus Thornton and Donatas Motiejunas from the Houston Rockets. Again, Van Gundy targeted sensible assets to improve this Pistons team immediately and made it happen at not too steep of a price.

This was a fantastic deadline for the Pistons and, for a team that’s been impressive all season, they are now even better and looking like a playoff threat in the East, potentially.

Grade: A+

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