NBA Offseason: Teams Making the Biggest Moves
The summer of 2014 promises to be the biggest offseason in NBA history with potential free agents LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, Dwyane Wade and many more. Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Julius Randle and Marcus Smart will highlight a star-studded draft class with many potential franchise players as well. This summer though, we have seen Doc Rivers move to the West Coast, Anthony Bennett taken as the top pick in the NBA Draft, Chris Paul re-signed by the Los Angeles Clippers and Dwight Howard joining James Harden in Houston. These moves followed one of the best playoffs the NBA has had in years, highlighted by LeBron and the Miami Heat winning back-to-back titles.
A little more than one week into free agency, many productive players remain looking to ink a multi-year contract. Contending teams are looking to solidify depth and rebuilding teams are attempting to add a young star to build around, a la the Charlotte Bobcats signing Al Jefferson.
Here are a few teams that have made the biggest moves this offseason.
New Orleans Pelicans
It’s been an exciting offseason for newly named Pelicans. They were able to trade for Philadelphia 76ers All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday on draft night, swapping him for incoming rookie Nerlens Noel. With Holiday running the point, the Pelicans are set for the future, as the move signaled an end to the failed experiment of Austin Rivers at point guard after just one season.
Can Holiday lead the Pelicans to the playoffs? Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com
The Pelicans also landed Tyreke Evans from the Sacramento Kings in a three-team deal that included the Portland Trail Blazers. That means they will have a starting backcourt next season of Holiday, Eric Gordon at shooting guard and Evans playing small forward. That trio could present an offensive onslaught on a nightly basis. Anthony Davis in his second year should continue to develop as well and Ryan Anderson gives the team a big man who can stretch the floor. Most recently, sharp shooter Anthony Morrow was signed as well, giving the team a scoring threat off the bench.
Whether or not Anderson is still on the team or not next season (he has been targeted in trade discussions), the Pelicans have a young core that can grow together and maybe compete for the last playoff spot in the western conference.
Potential Starting Lineup
PF- Ryan Anderson
SF- Tyreke Evans
C- Anthony Davis
SG- Eric Gordon
PG- Jrue Holiday
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are going all out for a title next season, trading for veterans Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry. Owner Mikhail Prokhorov will pay a hefty luxury tax bill, but the trade with the Boston Celtics was bold. It allows Kevin Garnett to slide back to his natural position at power forward and team with Brook Lopez in the frontcourt. All_Star point guard Deron Williams now has two perimeter threats to play with in Joe Johnson and Pierce. The trade also rid the franchise of Gerald Wallace’s contract.
KG will bring his defensive mindset to the bright lights in Brooklyn next season. Photo Credit: Keith Allison
Terry will provide a scoring punch off the bench with big man Andray Blatche, who was recently re-signed to a multi-year deal. Backups Tyshawn Taylor, Mirza Teletovic and rookie forward Mason Plumlee should learn a great deal from playing with a veteran heavy squad.
The success of this team will be determined by its health come playoff time. The regular season should be about developing team chemistry and implementing a defensive philosophy which will be led by Garnett. It will be crucial for the Nets’ young players to develop as the season progresses and then once playoffs begin, the veterans can lead the way in hopes of capturing a title.
Potential Starting Five
PF- Kevin Garnett
SF- Paul Pierce
C- Brook Lopez
SG- Joe Johnson
PG- Deron Willams
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors surprised everyone by making a strong push to acquire Dwight Howard, but instead they traded for an All-Star swingman and elite defensive stopper in Andre Iguodala. They also recently reached agreements with veteran center Jermaine O’Neal, forward Marreese Speights and guard Toney Douglas.
“Iggy” will provide the Warriors with offensive and defensive prowess.(Photo by Howard Cheng/Creative Commons)
Adding Iguodala to the Warriors lineup will allow Harrison Barnes to come off the bench and also play power forward in spots like he did in the playoffs. O’Neal is going to provide the team with veteran leadership backing up Andrew Bogut and by mentoring second-year center Festus Ezeli as well. Speights will fill the void left by Carl Landry as David Lee’s backup. Lastly, Douglas becomes Jarrett Jack’s replacement off the bench, who was a pivotal component to the Warriors success in the playoffs that allowed Stephen Curry to play off the ball. Douglas has the ability to score, but throughout his career has never averaged more than 10 points per game.
Potential Starting Lineup
PF- David Lee
SF- Andre Iguodala
C- Andrew Bogut
SG- Klay Thompson
PG- Stephen Curry
Houston Rockets
The biggest headline of the offseason was the Dwightmare. Dwight Howard, after two years of indecision, decided to sign with the Rockets. Howard immediately transforms the franchise into a title contender, pairing with the league’s fifth-leading scorer in James Harden and a supporting cast of Chandler Parsons, Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik.
With Harden and Co., Howard has a reason to smile in Houston.(Photo Credit/Flickr.com/Keith Allison)
With Howard on the roster, Asik becomes very expendable and even though there are reports that the Rockets are denying his trade request, Asik will be traded to another team before next season. The Rockets need an upgrade at power forward and missed out on acquiring Josh Smith, as he signed with the Detroit Pistons. Asik can be swapped for a starting power forward like Ryan Anderson of New Orleans, Howard’s former teammate in Orlando. A stretch 4 would be an ideal fit for Howard and the Rockets style of play.
In a competitive western conference, the Rockets could realistically finish as a top four seed next season.
Potential Starting Lineup
PF- Terrence Jones
SF- Chandler Parsons
C- Dwight Howard
SG- James Harden
PG- Jeremy Lin
Los Angeles Clippers
For a few weeks, Lob City had serious concerns regarding Chris Paul and if he was going to re-sign with the franchise. That concern was eliminated once the Clippers agreed to give the Boston Celtics a future first-round draft pick for Doc Rivers. Rivers wanted to coach Paul and Paul had absolutely approved the hire, as it was considered the main reason why he agreed to re-sign.
One of the biggest moves of the offseason was the Clippers hiring Rivers. (Flickr.com photo by Keith Allison)
The Clippers then made a move to surround Paul with even more shooters, flipping backup point guard Eric Bledsoe for two starters in J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley via a three-team trade with the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks. Redick is a lethal 3-point specialist who will thrive playing off the ball with Paul. They also signed Darren Collison, who averaged 12 points and 5.1 assists per game last season with the Dallas Mavericks, as Paul’s backup. Reggie Bullock was also the team’s lone draft choice, a 6’7″ small forward from North Carolina who can shoot the 3 as well and defend.
They were also able to re-sign Matt Barnes and Ryan Collins. Jamal Crawford remains the team’s explosive bench player who can drop 20-plus on any given night. With the addition of Rivers as coach and by getting more shooters for Paul to distribute to, the Clippers could emerge as the favorites to come out of the Western Conference.
Potential Starting Lineup
PF- Blake Griffin
SF- Jared Dudley
C- DeAndre Jordan
SG- J.J. Redick
PG- Chris Paul