NBA Preview: Moving day
An offseason full of shockers
Insanity. The perfect, single word to describe this past NBA offseason.
The pressure to build a championship team was higher than ever after the Golden State Warriors’ superteam won its second title in its three-year saga with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In response, hopeful contenders made jaw-dropping moves throughout the summer in order to make a push toward dethroning the Warriors’ dynasty.
The pressure to build a championship team was higher than ever after the Golden State Warriors’ superteam won its second title in its three-year saga with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In response, hopeful contenders made jaw-dropping moves throughout the summer in order to make a push toward dethroning the Warriors’ dynasty.
On draft night, the Minnesota Timberwolves kicked off the hectic offseason by trading for former Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler. The All-Star joined stud big man Karl-Anthony Towns and dynamic forward Andrew Wiggins to give Minnesota a true competitor in the Western Conference.
With the Western Conference growing stronger and stronger, the Houston Rockets traded for veteran point guard Chris Paul to complement perennial superstar James Harden and the sharpshooting Rockets squad.
The Oklahoma City Thunder responded to the West’s talent surge by trading for Indiana Pacers All-Star Paul George, pairing him with reigning MVP Russell Westbrook. In September, the Thunder then traded for former New York Knicks offensive superstar Carmelo Anthony to form a formidable big three.
Out East, Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge snatched former Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward via free agency, reuniting him with his college coach, Brad Stevens.
Shock waves were then sent through the league when Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving asked to be traded ― and who else but Ainge to pounce on this opportunity and snag Irving through a blockbluster trade for the superstar.
The league has now become significantly top-heavy, with many teams collecting All-Stars. As a result, there are atrocious teams such as the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks, who will compete for the number one draft pick rather than a playoff berth.
Despite this record-setting separation in talent across the league, the high-caliber moves made during the offseason make the NBA more intriguing than it has been in recent years.
The Warriors and Cavaliers saga has to come to an end eventually, and these competitors pose a serious threat to the juggernauts of the NBA.
With the Western Conference growing stronger and stronger, the Houston Rockets traded for veteran point guard Chris Paul to complement perennial superstar James Harden and the sharpshooting Rockets squad.
The Oklahoma City Thunder responded to the West’s talent surge by trading for Indiana Pacers All-Star Paul George, pairing him with reigning MVP Russell Westbrook. In September, the Thunder then traded for former New York Knicks offensive superstar Carmelo Anthony to form a formidable big three.
Out East, Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge snatched former Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward via free agency, reuniting him with his college coach, Brad Stevens.
Shock waves were then sent through the league when Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving asked to be traded ― and who else but Ainge to pounce on this opportunity and snag Irving through a blockbluster trade for the superstar.
The league has now become significantly top-heavy, with many teams collecting All-Stars. As a result, there are atrocious teams such as the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks, who will compete for the number one draft pick rather than a playoff berth.
Despite this record-setting separation in talent across the league, the high-caliber moves made during the offseason make the NBA more intriguing than it has been in recent years.
The Warriors and Cavaliers saga has to come to an end eventually, and these competitors pose a serious threat to the juggernauts of the NBA.
