Changing of the Guards

As a postscript to the prior entry, not only couldn't we convince the Magic and Dwight Howard to reconcile while in O-town, we also didn't talk them out of trading their other promising player, Ryan Anderson, for an unproven señor, Gustavo Ayon (54 total games in the association), three years Anderson's senior. ¡Que lástima! We didn't miss much while we were gone, except a plethora of point guards picking pristine places to populate (one of the only PGs to stay put was Jameer Nelson and we're not sure why he'd want to stick around during the Magic's rushed and ramshackle rummage sale). Here's how we grade the passage of passers:

Steve Nash (Suns to Lakers): If anyone can keep the peace between an icon (Kobe Bryant), an insubordinate (Andrew Bynum), an intellectual (Pau Gasol) and an in-over-his-head coach (Mike Brown), it's noted pacifist Nash. He'll pass more than a network exec being pitched pilots. A

Jason Kidd (Mavericks to Knicks): We hope he's there to teach Jeremy Lin, not take his minutes. If the Knicks intend to match every offer for the Harvard hot shot, then they shouldn't treat Lin with Kidd gloves. B-

Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets to Brooklyn Nets): Technically, Williams is moving, even though he's remaining with the same franchise. After seeing the Nets overpay for Gerald Wallace ($10 mill. per season) and trade for the overpaid Joe Johnson, and determining that the Dallas hometown discount would be deep (a $23 million difference), there was no way Williams was going to say "nyet" to the Nets and Mikhail Prokhorov's summer spending spree, even if there aren't enough bucks leftover to bring in a big man. Part-owner Jay-Z has to be happy that Prokhorov is following the advice laid out in jigga man's 2000 track, "Big Pimpin'": spending Gs. A-

Goran Dragic (Rockets to Suns): The former Sun's scrappy sub will fill in full-time for Nash now, having been promised the position. With 66 career starts, he's as green as a cactus. C

Kyle Lowry (Rockets to Raptors): Nash, the GM of Canada's national team, said "no" to the dinos (leaving $9 mill. on the maple syrup-stained table), so they settled for Lowry, who's younger, but not necessarily better than Jose Calderon. Canucks will be feeling (Labatt) blue for awhile. C-