We’re deep into the dog days of summer, and the NBA offseason is officially cooling down. The NBA Draft has come and gone, big free agents have drawn their battle lines and people are almost done having a heart attack about Timofey Mozgov getting $16 million per season from the Los Angeles Lakers. With nothing but the always-exhilarating Summer League games ahead of us, here are the biggest winners and losers of the NBA offseason.
Winners
Boston Celtics
Celtics fans may not have seen the blockbuster trade that they wanted, or the draft prospect that they coveted, but they did land Big Al.
People may not realize it due to the Celtics being the most successful franchise in the history of the NBA, but Boston has never landed a big free
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The Nets also attempted to poach mediocre role players with huge contracts in Allen Crabbe and Tyler Johnson, but failed to land either player when the Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat matched the offers. Now, the Nets get to crown Jeremy Lin as their biggest free agent signing.
As seasons go by, Brooklyn fans have no other option but to sit and watch as there team gets worse and worse, with no end in sight.
Oklahoma City Thunder
If you look at the Thunder’s offseason prior to Kevin Durant’s big decision, you can say it was a productive one. The team acquired an intriguing talent in Victor Oladipo and added another young talent in rookie Domantas Sabonis. Oklahoma City got younger while staying at the same competitive level.
Then Durant left.
Oklahoma City isn’t on this list just because Durant left, but because he gave them the kiss of death on his way out the door. It’s one thing to have a team lose a top three talent in the NBA. It’s a horse of a different color when he unleashes a looming plague on your franchise.
Durant’s departure means Russell Westbrook is likely on his way out too. You know it, I know it, and the Thunder know it. Hopefully, Oklahoma City can get decent talent in return if they trade Westbrook, but the franchise may never be the
During the 2013 playoffs Russell suffered a career threatening injury when he tore his meniscus. Westbrook would end up sitting out most of the regular season. Once Westbrook came back from his injury almost immediately teammate kevin durant had a foot injury and missed basically the whole 2014-2015 season. With Westbrook now being basically the only real scoring option he went off and recorded six triple doubles from eight games and averaged 28.7 points per game. Although Russell had a very nice season the Oklahoma city thunder did not succeed in making the
When you think of the current NBA, chances are you may have thought of the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have been a dominant team in the last couple of years. It is a great franchise. They have a great history as a team, great players, and very great success.
About a month ago, the Portland Trail Blazers had one of the best starting lineups in the league. They were young and rising and a perennial playoff team. Fast forward a month and the Trail Blazers are without four of their five starting players. Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews, Robin Lopez, and LaMarcus Aldridge are no longer with the team.
But the question is how all of these strong personalities and undeniable talents will play out on the court together. It can either be a success for a franchise that hasn’t had many peaks since the days of Chris Webber, Jason “White Chocolate” Williams, and Mike Bibby, just to name a few. But this current roster holds the most talent that this team has seen in years and they can capitalize on that to finally make some noise in a tough Western
NBA article NBA fans still shocked about Kevin Durant leaving Oklahoma City and how much hate he is getting from all his fans and the community of NBA basketball. LeBrone James still thinks Cleveland cavaliers should trade more players even when they recently had Kyle Korver. LeBrone also thinks he can keep functioning Cleveland without Kevin Love on the team. We the community do not like the way NBA players move teams and leaving their old team into the dust. Many players like Kevin Durant, Dwayne Wade, Derrick Rose and Kyle Korver have left their team to join a new one.
However, Isaiah is suffering from and a non-fixed hip Injury. Therefore, if Boston wanted Kyrie that bad they had to come off more assets in the deal. Also, former Cavs Star Kyrie Irving requested a trade earlier in the year and was said that he basically did not want to play the shadow of former teammate LeBron James and that he wants to go somewhere else where he can be the number one man on the team. Everyone was shocked to hear about the news considering the fact that LeBron James led them to go to 3 straight finals since he has been back in Cleveland. Other stars in the NBA had words about the request saying that it was “crazy” and that anyone would be lucky to be guaranteed a shot in the finals every year. Why would Irving want to leave a situation where he could play with the league's best player LeBron James? On the other hand, stars Isaiah Tomas and Jae Crowder are more than happy to join King James and the Cavaliers at another chance at a ring. This next season will continue to get more exciting to closer it gets. The Pre-season starts in October and everyone can’t wait to get a sneak peek and see the new teams in action for the first
Once Kevin Durant’s contract ended the entire NBA opened up to him wanting his name on their roster. To start with the option that so many OKC Thunder fans were hoping to see hold Kevin Durant’s career. A long term contract
In the offseason the Detroit Pistons acquire Marcus Morris of a trade from the Suns. The Suns traded Morris, Reggie Bullock and Danny Granger to Detroit, receiving only a second-round draft pick in 2020. Shaquille oneal says "this looks like a great trad for the Pistons a great building block." Later that week the Pistons make another trade for ersan illyasova. The Pistons
The San Antonio Spurs, notorious for their identity and under the radar transactions, have strung together an offseason that has quietly revitalized the gaping holes in their roster. San Antonio was successful in snagging 2-time NBA champion Pau Gasol in free agency, more than making up for the impending retirement of future hall of famer Tim Duncan. Gasol, unsuccessful in making the playoffs this past season, tested the free agent market, looking to take his talents to a contender that could best assist him in chasing one more ring in this final window of his career.
Two years ago the Lakers drafted their point guard of the future in D’Angelo Russell, and although he
The Warriors will enter next season as defending champions after a historical run to the Larry O'Brien trophy. The Cavaliers made the finals and pushed Golden State to six games despite missing three opening-night starters, two of which are all-stars. Thus far this offseason they have resigned Kevin Love, LeBron James, and Iman Shumpert. They intend to do the same with Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith. They also added Mo Williams and are showing interest in big time scoring wingmen such as Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson. The San Antonio Spurs held their core intact while adding LaMarcus Aldridge, the biggest name free agent on the market this year. There front court only got better as they picked up former all-star David West on a discount. Boy have the Clippers been in the news this offseason. To make a very long story short, they resigned the leagues leading rebounder, DeAndre Jordan. Paul Pierce will be back home next year reuniting with Doc Rivers. They also added the talented but troubled Lance Stephenson.
Durant is becoming one of the best players in the world. He is evolving as a player with the Warriors and doing a successful job in raising his game to the next level. Since joining the Warriors Durant has improved upon his skills, attitude, and leadership. Durant is going to continue to grow and remain successful for his new team. This team is destined for greatness with the addition of Durant. They have had very few mistakes since Durant came, which is very amazing for this young team. Durant will help continue the winning ways in the bay area for many years to
The Miami Heat was struck by different unlucky news this offseason. After being left out by LeBron James two years ago, it is the turn of Dwayne Wade to leave the city that many thought would be his last team before he retires. After the Wade departure it was Chris Bosh turn to receive a bad news. Bosh was not cleared by doctors to play because of his health condition.
Initially, the disaster could have started when the Lakers selected Russell over Jahlil Okafor in the 2015 NBA Draft. After making that pick, the first thought is, "ok, they'll get at least one out of Aldridge or Love, right?" Well, instead they will enter the 2015-16 season with Roy Hibbert at
Ironically enough, it was when Brook Lopez got hurt that turned things around. Mason Plumlee got a lot more playing time, and was thriving in his bigger role. I don’t know whether Lopez’s absence allowed him more time to study concepts, or he saw the writing on the wall. Either way, Lopez came back a new