Trading places: Which playoff teams made the grade in recent blockbuster deals?

Making in-season trades in the NBA was supposed to be a difficult proposition. Many obstacles, especially salary cap and salary match considerations, had made deals rare in recent seasons.

But this year was different. Three Western Conference contenders were able to trade for All-Stars. Last year's Eastern Conference finalist sent 60 percent of its starting lineup packing. The Chicago Bulls gave up on the prized free agent they signed less than two years earlier. Even the defending NBA champion Spurs got into the act, acquiring a veteran big man who can shoot from the outside.

It has been crazy.

It takes time, even years to see if trades were successful or not, particularly when young players and draft picks are concerned. Still, here is a quick look at how this year's playoff contenders — the teams making moves hoping to improve immediately — fared with their recent transactions (from best to worst):

LOS ANGELES LAKERS: Got veteran big man Pau Gasol from Memphis for, well, not much. They gave up underachieving big man Kwame Brown, rookie point guard Javaris Crittenton and the draft rights to Gasol's less talented brother, Marc.

This is the trade that started the firestorm. Other teams in the West saw the Lakers were serious about winning right now and started dealing. Gasol, meanwhile, has fit right in with Kobe and Co. This was not only the first of the recent big trades but also the most lopsided one.

Grade: A+

UTAH JAZZ: Acquired swingman Kyle Korver for Gordan Giricek and a future first-round draft pick.

This deal was the first one back on Dec. 29 and has been largely overlooked nationally due to the bigger names being swapped later. Still, it has been instantly successful for the Jazz. Korver helps spread the court out due to his being a legitimate 3-point shooting threat, and the Jazz have been red-hot ever since he got to town.

Grade: A

SAN ANTONIO SPURS: The champs landed Kurt Thomas from Seattle for shooter Brent Barry and center Francisco Elson and a 2009 draft pick.

Thomas is a tough, 6-9 center/forward who will be a complementary player for the Spurs' top trio of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Sure, San Antonio may miss the 3-point shooting of Barry, but he's been hobbled by injury. Plus, the Sonics have released him, meaning Barry may end up re-signing with the Spurs again for the playoff push anyway.