NBA Blockbusters: Who Got the Best Deal?

Rocky Widner/Chris Trotman/NBAE via Getty Images There is no doubt that the recent blockbusters involving Pau Gasol, Shaquille O'Neal, and Jason Kidd will stir things up a bit in the Western Conference the second half of this season. And although it's not as exciting as the deals out west, the Atlanta Hawks recent acquisition of Mike Bibby will also give the Eastern Conference something new to talk about. With Gasol now a Laker, Shaq now a Sun, Kidd now a Maverick once more, and Bibby now a Hawk, which teams will be legitimate contenders come spring? Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals Potential: Excellent Trade Grade: A+ L.A. pulled off the first blockbuster trade this season when they acquired Pau Gasol from Memphis, and immediately sent other teams out west into panic mode. This trade is exactly what the Lakers needed to get to the next level and put them over the hump. Los Angeles has failed to make it past the first round of the playoffs the last two seasons, and one of their ... [link]