What Actually Changed Hands
The 2007-12-29 trade between Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz is easiest to judge by first identifying what each team received and then comparing how those assets turned out. The list of assets contains 3 distinct pieces: Gordan Giriček, 2009 first round pick (less favorable of Jazz, Knicks picks) (protected top 22 in 2009, top 15 in 2010, top 17 in 2011, top 16 in 2012, top 16 in 2013, else 2014 second round pick, $1.15M cash) (2010 #23-Trevor Booker), and Kyle Korver. Philadelphia 76ers received Gordan Giriček and 2009 first round pick (less favorable of Jazz, Knicks picks) (protected top 22 in 2009, top 15 in 2010, top 17 in 2011, top 16 in 2012, top 16 in 2013, else 2014 second round pick, $1.15M cash) (2010 #23-Trevor Booker); Utah Jazz received Kyle Korver. Players, draft choices, rights, cash, and contract mechanisms are not interchangeable simply because they share a transaction line, so the historical grade follows what each credited asset actually became. The four public sources establish the movement of the pieces from both franchise histories. The evaluation then measures useful production, draft conversion, retained optionality, and downstream value that can be traced directly to this exchange, rather than importing later franchise successes or failures.
The Hindsight Separation
The verdict is Jazz Win, with Philadelphia 76ers graded D and Utah Jazz graded B+. Philadelphia traded Kyle Korver to Utah for Gordan Giriček and a protected first that ultimately conveyed as a second-round asset. Korver became a long-term elite shooter and key Jazz contributor, while Philadelphia’s return was short-lived. The realized production clearly favored Utah. That evidence controls the direction of the verdict. Trade-day roster need, salary structure, competitive window, and front-office intent can explain why either club accepted the deal, but they do not erase the realized outcomes of Gordan Giriček and 2009 first round pick (less favorable of Jazz, Knicks picks) (protected top 22 in 2009, top 15 in 2010, top 17 in 2011, top 16 in 2012, top 16 in 2013, else 2014 second round pick, $1.15M cash) (2010 #23-Trevor Booker) and Kyle Korver. The grade pair also keeps the judgment proportional. A losing side may still receive a useful player or asset, and a winning side need not land a superstar to finish ahead. The D/B+ relationship records the size of the completed value gap behind Jazz Win.
Why the Better Grade Holds
The stronger return is best understood through the value created by those assets, not through reputation or package size. Philadelphia traded Kyle Korver to Utah for Gordan Giriček and a protected first that ultimately conveyed as a second-round asset. Korver became a long-term elite shooter and key Jazz contributor, while Philadelphia’s return was short-lived. The realized production clearly favored Utah. That perspective fits the trade details comparison between Gordan Giriček and 2009 first round pick (less favorable of Jazz, Knicks picks) (protected top 22 in 2009, top 15 in 2010, top 17 in 2011, top 16 in 2012, top 16 in 2013, else 2014 second round pick, $1.15M cash) (2010 #23-Trevor Booker) for Philadelphia 76ers and Kyle Korver for Utah Jazz. One productive player, one useful draft outcome, or one reusable right can outweigh several smaller pieces; conversely, a long package can disappoint when none of its components create durable value. The D grade for Philadelphia 76ers and B+ for Utah Jazz therefore reflect what the packages produced in aggregate. This keeps the case for Jazz Win tied to the trade itself instead of to hindsight that belongs to unrelated transactions.
What the Other Side Received
The other side still deserves a separate reading rather than being reduced to the lower grade. Utah acquired Kyle Korver for Gordan Giriček and a protected first-round pick later used on Trevor Booker. Korver became an elite floor spacer for the Deron Williams-Carlos Boozer teams, while Philadelphia received useful but less impactful assets. The difference supports a slight Jazz edge. That context helps explain what Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers were trying to gain from their respective returns. A lower grade can include rotation help, a draft chance, cash relief, or a defensible roster solution; the issue is whether those benefits matched the value surrendered. Here the trade does not place Gordan Giriček and 2009 first round pick (less favorable of Jazz, Knicks picks) (protected top 22 in 2009, top 15 in 2010, top 17 in 2011, top 16 in 2012, top 16 in 2013, else 2014 second round pick, $1.15M cash) (2010 #23-Trevor Booker) and Kyle Korver on equal footing. The explicit D/B+ grades capture the completed difference while leaving room for legitimate trade-day logic. Keeping the comparison focused prevents later events from distorting this trade.
Final Verdict
Jazz Win. The grades are Philadelphia 76ers D and Utah Jazz B+. The trade moved Gordan Giriček, 2009 first round pick (less favorable of Jazz, Knicks picks) (protected top 22 in 2009, top 15 in 2010, top 17 in 2011, top 16 in 2012, top 16 in 2013, else 2014 second round pick, $1.15M cash) (2010 #23-Trevor Booker), and Kyle Korver. Philadelphia traded Kyle Korver to Utah for Gordan Giriček and a protected first that ultimately conveyed as a second-round asset. Korver became a long-term elite shooter and key Jazz contributor, while Philadelphia’s return was short-lived. The realized production clearly favored Utah. The verdict follows what those assets became, not whether every decision looked unreasonable at the time. By crediting only production, draft results, rights, cash value, and downstream use attributable to this deal, the D/B+ grade pair remains a proportional summary of the completed transaction.