Because we are currently in what I like to call the "dead zone" of the sports world (no NBA, No NFL, just lousy baseball- and I got bored just right now from having to acknowledge baseball's existence), I am going to milk the NBA draft for all it's worth. For starters, I am going to break down all the trades, from the blockbusters to the always popular 2nd-rounder-for-cash-considerations trades. And, because there always has to be a winner and a loser, I will even take the liberty of grading each deal for those teams fortunate enough to be involved in the trade.

Breaking Down the Trades:

Indiana Pacers receive: PG T. J. Ford, C Rasho Nesterovic, SG Maceo Baston, #17 pick (Roy Hibbert)

Toronto Raptors receive: PF/C Jermaine O'Neal... and that's it

How quickly do you think Indiana pulled the trigger on this one? "So let me get this straight: you're telling me that you'll take an overpaid, injury-prone, past-his-prime center who we've been trying to unload for over a year, and you'll give us a solid young player at our greatest area of need, cap space, AND a mid first rounder?"

Ok, I get it Toronto- you want to play Bosh at power forward, and you want to make it clear that Calderon is your point guard. But man, I thought this was just a rumor to up T. J.'s trade value. I watched Ford a couple times last year, and I was very impressed with him, very impressed (you know it's true because I wrote it twice). He showed the ability to take games over at times, and I really wasn't expecting that. I watched O'Neal play... that one time he was healthy... three years ago. He could end up being a good piece if he's healthy, but at what price?

The Raptors give up a decent pick and a solid player, and they take on more money than they gave away. There's no way they should have included the #17 in this. But, given their draft history, maybe they were better off giving away the pick. Seriously, look at their past drafts and prepare to send your resume to Toronto, because whoever's reading this article could probably draft better than they have.

Indiana: A

Toronto- D+

Portland Trailblazers receive: #27 pick (Darrell Arthur)

New Orleans Hornets receive: cold hard cash

It's ok New Orleans. You were only a couple rounds away from the finals. You don't need anyone else. Just sell off your pick so you can buy a massage chair for the office (for those of you unfamiliar with sarcasm, you just got a heaping dose of it). On the other hand, you gotta love the Blazers. If every team traded as much as them... well, this would be a VERY long column.

Portland: A

New Orleans: F-

Charlotte Bobcats receive: #20 pick (Alexis Ajinca)

Denver Nuggets receive: future protected first round pick

I believe the pick is top 10 protected, so it will be a #11 overall at best. This actually isn't a bad trade for Denver. They probably think this draft is weak and a top 15 pick in a year or two is better than the #20 in this draft. I can't really say I disagree. For Charlotte, it's kind of confusing. Is this being packaged so they can move up? Do they really need more projects? MJ's front office moves are as baffling to me as his crossovers once were to his would-be defenders.

Charlotte: C

Denver: B-

New Jersey Nets receive: PF Yi Jianlian, SF Bobby Simmons, SF Lebron James

Milwaukee Bucks receive: SG/SF Richard Jefferson

I actually like this for both teams. For the Bucks, they get rid of a player who didn't want to be there (Yi) and a player who they didn't want to be there (Simmons). In return, they fill a need at SF and get someone who can play defense! Ok, Bucks, one down, 11 to go.

For New Jersey, this looks like a horrible deal at first. Yi is a decent prospect, but Simmons has a horrible contract, and Jefferson has been a great player for them. Well, I have to come clean on something: Lebron isn't really involved in this deal. Well, not directly anyway. Although Simmons has a huge deal, it will clear the cap by the time you-know-who is a free agent. This is just another step towards Lebron signing with the Nets in the summer of 2010. Great move by the Nets.

New Jersey: A-

Milwaukee: B

Portland Trailblazers receive: #11 pick (PG Jerryd Bayless), PF Ike Diogu

Indiana Pacers receive: #13 pick (SG/SF Brandon Rush), PG Jarrett Jack, PF Josh McRoberts

I actually don't hate this trade for Indiana as much as most people did. Rush is a much better fit at SG than Bayless, who is too small of a SG to be teamed up with TJ Ford. Instead, Bayless goes to Portland, where he can play PG, which is perfect for him since Brandon Roy will be able to take some of the point duties. However, it is a bit puzzling that Indiana gives up yet another low post guy and gets yet another point guard in return. They better have a trade in place to ship out Tinsley, or another brawl might ensue.

Indiana: B-

Portland: A

Houston Rockets receive: #28 pick (SF Donte Greene), future 2nd rounder

Memphis Grizzlies receive: #27 pick (PF Darrell Arthur)

Poor Grizzlies. They give up a second rounder just to basically move up one spot. But Arthur is a quality player and would've been a good value 10 picks earlier. He can step in right away and fill a need. And the Rockets get the anti-Shane Battier: an athletic trigger-happy small forward with lots of potential. They also picked up a second rounder, so they got that going for them.

Houston: B+

Memphis: A-

Memphis Grizzlies receive: #3 pick (SG OJ Mayo), PG Marko Jaric, SF Antoine Walker, SG Greg Buckner

Minnesota Timberwolves receive: #5 pick (PF/C Kevin Love), SG/SF Mike Miller, the waste of space that is Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins

I want to like this trade for the Grizzlies. I really do. Usually, if you get the best player in the trade, you got the best of the deal, and call me crazy, but I think Mayo could end up being the best player in this draft- he's a team guy and has loads of talent. But I feel like they gave up too much. It doesn't make sense to get Mayo unless you give up Miller, but did they really have to take back so many bad contracts? Also, with Rudy Gay in the mix, keeping Love would've started the Gay-Love era in Memphis. Enough said.

This trade should skyrocket the Timberwolves into the end of the lottery (more sarcasm). They now have Foye, McCants, Brewer, Miller, Gomes, Love, and Jefferson in their rotation. Even better, they got rid of Jaric and Walker in the deal too. I really don't understand Memphis. They're trying to cut their payroll, and then they do this? Very strange.

Memphis: C+

Minnesota: A+

Portland Trailblazers receive: #19 pick (SG/SF Nicolas Batum)

Houston Rockets receive: #27 pick (PF Darrell Arthur) and #33 pick (PF/C Joey Dorsey)

Another trade I like for both teams. The Blazers have too many young players. Not only do they trade 2 for 1 and get a better talent, but they also pick someone who doesn't need to play right away, but has the potential to be great in a few years. I actually had Batum going to the Blazers in my mock draft, but at #13, so getting him for the #27 and #33 is pretty darn good. And the blazers just continue to treat real life as though it's a video game.

Now, obviously, this trade happened BEFORE the Memphis-Houston deal. So, Arthur got shipped out and instead was replaced with SF Donte Greene and a future second rounder. I like both him and Dorsey for the Rockets. Greene might need some time, but he is backing up T-Mac, who plays 50 minutes a game when he's healthy (and 40 minutes a night when he isn't). In my opinion, players like Dorsey tend to be undervalued. But let me ask you this: which of the following do you want as a low post player off the bench- someone who is 6'10" and 195 lbs, or someone who is 6'8" and 260 lbs? Personally, I'll take the guy with the bulk. As long as he doesn't have to play more than 8 consecutive minutes, he'll be fine.

Portland: A-

Houston: A

The following list will summarize the rest of the trades that took place. These are the deals that ranked as a solid 10 out of 10 on the yawn factor scale. If you're still awake after reading through them, feel free to leave a comment.

Oh yeah, but I did like Chalmers to the Heat. Good value.

Chicago trades #39 (Sonny Weems) to Denver for a 2009 2^nd round pick

Seattle trades #32 (Walter Sharpe) and #46 (Trent Plaisted) to Detroit for #29 (DJ White)

Miami trades #52 (Darnell Jackson) to Cleveland for a future 2^nd rounder

Minnesota trades #34 (Mario Chalmers) to Miami for 2009 2^nd rounder

Portland trades #36 (Omer Asik) to Chicago for 2 future 2^nd rounders

Portland trades #55 (Mike Taylor to Clippers for 2009 2^nd round pick

San Antonio trades #45 (Goran Dragic) to Phoenix for #48 (Malik Hairston), future 2^nd rounder, and cash considerations

Seattle trades #58 (Sasha Kaun) to Cleveland for cash considerations

Boston trades #47 (Bill Walker) to Washington for cash considerations