Rating the NBA off-season moves

As the list of available free agents dwindles, here are evaluations of the latest wheelings and dealings. The grades are designed to approximate how well the respective players fit the needs of the respective teams. They are not meant to indicate the overall ability of each player.

Smush Parker — Miami
On paper, he can do enough to make a difference — shoot with good range, finish in an open court, even make an occasional steal. But Smush Parker is turnover prone, and can be chumped on defense. With the Los Angeles Lakers, he also had trouble maintaining his focus and would therefore make foolish mistakes.

The Heat missed out on Steve Blake, Mo Williams, and Steve Francis — and Parker is their booby prize.

Grade: D-

Alonzo Mourning — Miami
'Zo can still play like a demon for five-minute stretches, which makes him one of the best back-up centers in the league. The trouble is that Shaq is rapidly approaching the end of his career, he's in perpetual foul trouble, and he's injury prone. This means that the Heat need a substitute biggie who can play more effective minutes than the 37-year old Mourning is capable of playing.

Grade: B

Andres Nocioni — Chicago
A hustler, banger, 3-point shooter, earnest (if somewhat ineffective) defender, Nocioni is a perfect fit in Chicago. In many respects, he's Jerry Sloan incarnate.

Grade: A

Mo Williams — Milwaukee

Williams' speed, quickness, ability to cross over and create, and competitive nature make him a huge plus. On the other hand, Williams isn't a terrific defender, is an inconsistent jump shooter, and can be careless with the ball. Overall, he's a dynamic player — but more of a scorer than a set-up point guard.

What's interesting, however, is that rather than signing up with a championship-caliber team, Williams chose the most lucrative contract and re-upped with the so-so Bucks. Still, he'll be a vital part of whatever success the team will have.

Grade: A

Kurt Thomas — Seattle
Thomas is one of the league's best post defenders and can still knock down mid-range jumpers. Besides playing 20 rugged minutes per game, Thomas will also serve as a mentor to Robert Swift. A wonderful pickup for the Sonics.

Grade: A

Jackie Butler — Houston
Butler will be a good fit in Houston, but only if he takes his form-fitted bench seat with him. Sloppy, defenseless, and minimally talented, Butler is strictly a third-stringer.

Grade: D-

Joe Smith — Chicago
Like Old Man River, Smith just keeps rolling along. Rebounding, scoring on jumpers and hustle, playing physical defense, picking and popping, occasionally capable of filling the net with assorted moves in the low post, and doing all kinds of off-the-ball dirty work.

Smith would help just about any team in the league. Even though he's on the down-side of his career, he'll give Scott Skiles 20 minutes worth of hard work and interior presence.

But he's still not the blue-chip inside-scorer that the Bulls need.

Grade: B

DeShawn Stevenson — Washington
An acrobatic scorer in the lane with an improving jump shot, Stevenson is also an excellent defender — one of the precious few semi-stoppers the Wizards have. Indeed, he's one of the league's most underrated players.

Grade: B+

Chris Mihm — Los Angeles Lakers
Mihm is an athletic and mobile big man who can jump on the boards and run the floor. He scores on put-backs, face-up jumpers from medium range, and (mostly) on right-handed jump hooks. The rap against Mihm is that he's soft, shies away from contact, and is a less-than-adequate post defender. Even so, he's comfortable in the triangle and will help the Los Angeles Lakers more than either Kwame Brown or Andrew Bynum will.

Grade: C+

Travis Outlaw — Portland
The wildly talented Outlaw has nearly unlimited potential. He can quick his way into the lane and also run with the guards. He can jump and touch a star. And he can slide through heavy traffic to find a makeable shot. What he can't do is shoot from long range with any degree of consistency, play straight-up defense, or pass. Still, he could possibly evolve into a high-flying dynamic scorer off the bench. Outlaw's expected development provides one more reason why Darius Miles should be persona non grata in Portland.

Grade: B

Jake Voskuhl — Milwaukee
Runs well for such a big guy. Also sets sturdy screens, and can occasionally hit a turnaround jumper in the pivot and a mid-range jumper from a step above the stripe. But he survives on his hustle and his physicality. Perhaps some of Voskuhl's aggression will rub off on Andrew Bogus.

Grade: C

Casey Jacobsen — Memphis
An excellent catch-and-shoot guy with legit 3-point range, who also moves well without the ball. Jacobsen always plays with great energy, and his herky-jerky, awkward movements can surprise opponents. Can be pressured into turnovers, however, and can be banged. On defense, he has trouble handling screens and low-post scorers — compensates for his deficiencies here by looking to take charges. If the Grizz can indeed uptempo their offense, then Jacobsen could be a useful sub.

Grade: C

Desmond Mason — Milwaukee
Mason is a powerful wingman who can shoot, leap, slash without the ball, drive hard with the ball, defend, and compete. Don't expect him to be an accurate passer or to avoid making aggravating turnovers. An excellent addition.

Grade: B+

Jason Hart — Utah
Quick and active. Likes to push the ball, then drive and dish. Drives much better going right than left. Limited range on his jumper. Hart's primary job is to transport the ball, start the offense, and pressure the ball on defense. As such, he'll be a perfect fit in Utah's highly disciplined game plan.

Grade: B-

Travis Diener — Indiana
This guy's in the league strictly because of his ability to drain 3-pointers. Period. A quasi-useful zone-buster.

Grade: D+

See more at http://msn.foxsports.com