Photo. Tim Tadder

With the exception of a few mid-major names still on the market (Anderson Varejao, Brevin Knight, Matt Barnes, etc.) and a few teams still looking to make moves (Boston, Miami, Lakers, etc.), the NBA’s free agency period for 2007 is all but over. The big names are all off the board, almost every team’s roster is set or close to being set, and after last week’s Kevin Garnett trade, a bigger move can’t be made — save for an out-of-nowhere Kobe trade in the next couple months. That said, we graded some of the significant free agent signings of the summer, giving out two grades for each: one for the team, one for the player.

Gerald Wallace, Bobcats (6 years, $57 million)
Crash: (A-) The list of teams after Wallace included some championship contenders (Dallas) and teams in bigger markets (L.A.), but the ‘Cats came with the money and the familiarity factor.
‘Cats: (A) Charlotte is building something, and Wallace is a vital piece of the puzzle. No one on their roster can match his perimeter defense and all-out energy. They had to break open the wallet and keep him if they seriously want to contend.

Chauncey Billups, Pistons (4 years, $46 million)
Billups: (A) If it ain’t broke…
Pistons: (A) Watching the playoffs, it looked like Smooth might be starting that downward spiral. But even a declining Billups is better than most PGs in the League, and letting Chauncey walk would be a clear sign of rebuilding when Detroit is still very much in the championship mix.

Mo Williams, Bucks (6 years, $52 million)
Mo: (A) Mo had to endure a lot of losses due to Milwaukee’s never-ending slew of injuries. But at the same time, those injuries might have been the best thing to happen for a guy in his contract year. Playing for long stretches without Mike Redd, Charlie V, Bobby Simmons and others in the picture, Mo was free to make it rain. He put up a career-high 17.3 points a night and it landed him a nice $8.6 million a year.
Bucks: (B) After Billups, Mo was the best point guard on the market, and if the Bucks hadn’t re-signed their guy they could have gone into the season looking at possibly starting Charlie Bell at the point (or they would have had to draft someone like Acie Law). There is some concern over whether or not Mo can control that trigger finger and distribute the rock to the Bucks’ other scorers.

Grant Hill, Suns (2 years, $2 million)
Hill: (A+) Couldn’t ask for more. He’s going to a championship contender where he’ll be able to play significant but sensible amount of minutes, and in a system that caters to his strengths. No one’s gonna expect too much out of Hill at this point; he could even pull a Robert Horry and keep the Ferrari on neutral most of the season before kicking it in gear for the playoffs.
Suns: (B+) They get a legit NBA scorer, a small forward with a point guard’s handle, and a smart veteran leader, all wrapped in one. And at the end of the day, it won’t cost Phoenix a lot of money, which seems to be their main objective these days. The only drawback is that Hill could only play 30 games.

Vince Carter, Nets (4 years, $60 million)
Vince: (A+) Another monster contract and all the shot opportunities he could ask for, and on a playoff team to boot. And he gets to play with J-Kidd. The only other somewhat-legit winner that could have afforded Vince was probably Orlando, but he’s in the right place in Jersey.
Jersey: (B+) That’s a lot of money for a 30-year-old guard, but who else can Jersey turn to as a go-to scorer? The guy is still good to drop 40-plus a few times a year. And with the Brooklyn move coming up in a couple years, having a guy like Vince to put butts in seats in crucial.

Darko Milicic, Grizzlies (3 years, $21 million)
Darko: (B) Orlando seemed to be the best fit for Darko from a development standpoint, but he and his camp were obviously put off by the Magic’s real or imagined lack of enthusiasm in wanting to re-sign him. Larry Brown created enough confidence issues for Darko in Detroit; it’s better he go to a team where he at least feels wanted.
Grizzlies: (B-) If you think Darko will turn into a player someday, then you’d say Memphis got a good deal. If you think he’s a burger, you’ll say they just wasted money. The good thing is that it’s a short contract, so the Grizz won’t be stuck with an albatross if Darko doesn’t pan out.

Derek Fisher, Lakers (3 years, $14 million)
Fisher: (A+) Not even on a basketball level, Fisher being able to go to a city where his daughter can get the proper medical care is obviously the most important thing. As far as on the court, Fish goes back to a familiar place where he knows the system and has Kobe’s trust right off the bat.
Lakers: (B+) Fisher’s got a lot of mileage on the tires, which makes the length and money on his contract seem kinda steep. But his leadership, clutch shooting, defense and knowledge of the triangle will prove to be invaluable as long as he holds up.

Mikki Moore, Kings (3 years, $18 million)
Mikki: (B) The career journeyman capitalized on his opportunity in Jersey (he should send a thank-you card to Nenad Krstic) and got some stability with his deal in Sacto. Playing time isn’t gonna be easy to come by, though, with Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Kenny Thomas, Brad Miller, Spencer Hawes and possibly Corliss Williamson (if he re-signs) in the picture.
Kings: (C+) They needed some kind of energy in the front court — all of those aforementioned guys are either old, slow or both. Moore is energetic, but he’s not much of a rebounder, and is he really gonna be as productive against the All-Star caliber bigs he’ll be facing in the West?

Smush Parker, Heat (2 years, $5 million)
Smush: (A+) Smush seemed like he was on the fast track to Europe before the Heat stepped up and offered him a deal. Now he’s on a legit contender, will compete for a starting spot, and gets to roll the Smushcalade on South Beach.
Heat: (C+) They missed out on every other free agent point guard on their radar, leaving Smush as a last resort. While he has been the starter on a playoff team for the last two years, has he done anything to make you think he’s gonna help Miami fend off the Chicagos, Detroits, Clevelands and Bostons of the East?