Ranking The Top 5 Moves Of The NBA Offseason So Far
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Every NBA offseason is filled with various trades and signings that shake up the landscape of the league. This year has been no different, as already, many star players have found themselves new homes across the association in hopes of a fresh start. Some of these changes are likely to have massive ramifications on the upcoming push for the championship, and the acquisition of new star players have set a few select teams up for imminent success. In that spirit, here are the top five moves of the NBA offseason thus far.
#5: Derozan Joins Forces With Fox, Sabonis In Sacramento
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Two parties who are known for their lack of playoff success have now teamed up to try and re-write that narrative. Demar Derozan has long been one of the best pure scorers in the league, and despite being 34 years of age, he is coming off a season where he averaged 24 points per game on 48% shooting. Unfortunately, he was stuck on a meandering Chicago Bulls team that didn’t give him the opportunity to shine in the playoffs like other top scorers. The Sacramento Kings also missed the postseason last year, falling in the Play-In Tournament after injuries to Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk. Now fully healthy, Mike Brown’s team will once again be led by their stars De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, but they now have the experience and talent of Derozan to lean on as well. While this move likely doesn’t vault the Kings into championship contention, it gives them a legitimate big three that can compete with most anyone in the Western Conference.
#4: Pelicans Win Dejounte Murray Sweepstakes
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The Pelicans have steadily built up a collection of solid players over recent years, and they’ve added another one in the former Atlanta Hawks guard. Murray was rarely ever able to play point guard while teamed up with Trae Young, which saw a slight dip in his overall production compared to his years as a Spur. Now, he will return to lead ball-handler duties in New Orleans, as he joins veteran CJ McCollum in the backcourt. Leading up to the trade, there were rumors that the Pelicans would have to give up star forward Brandon Ingram if they wanted to bring Dejounte Murray aboard, but instead they were able to get away with trading essentially just Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance, and two future first round picks. By not depleting their current talent pool, they are now in position to make a push in the Western Conference, with Zion Williamson likely leading the way for a young yet talented roster.
#3: Thunder Add Two Key Role Players
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Combining two moves into one here, the Thunder had one of the most successful offseasons of any team across the association. They not only managed to flip the declining Josh Giddey into veteran defensive menace Alex Caruso, but Sam Presti also brought in former Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein on a three year, $87 million deal in free agency. Both new additions add to what is already a deep roster in Oklahoma City. Hartenstein will likely slot in as their new starting big man, a position they were keen to fill going into the new season. On the other hand, there is a good chance Caruso will come off the bench, but his tenacity and versatility will make him a formidable sixth man of the year candidate if that is the case. This young Thunder team filling the holes in their roster could spell trouble for the rest of the league, as their retooled lineup will be poised to improve upon their already impressive performance last time out.
#2: Nova Knicks Complete Their Lineup
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Mikal Bridges to the Knicks has been a long-lasting pipe dream for most fans of the orange and blue. Ever since the Villanova trio of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo began seeing success together, everyone pointed to another former Wildcat, Bridges, as the team’s next trade target. The Knicks and the Nets had not made a deal with each other in over 40 years, so the prospect of landing the 27 year-old forward was always a longshot. But, the Knicks pulled it off, and paid a steep price of four unprotected first-round picks to make it happen. Now, Mikal Bridges joins a starting lineup of Brunson, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson. His defensive and scoring abilities fit perfectly into a team that is ready to compete, and has a head coach in Tom Thibodeau that is always keen to add two-way players to his roster. The Knicks are all in on trying to knock the Boston Celtics off the top of the Eastern Conference, and Bridges could prove to be the crucial piece that gets them over the top.
#1: Philadelphia Lands Biggest Free Agent Of The Year
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As soon as Paul George declined his $48.8 million player option, he became the best player up for grabs this offseason. While he is 34 years old, the superstar forward is still near the top of his game, as he averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game last year while shooting 47.1% from the field. George still has all-star level abilities, as do two players on his new team, the 76ers. Joel Embiid, when healthy, continues to be one of the best players in basketball, and Tyrese Maxey has emerged as one of the primer young guards in the league. The new big three in Philadelphia has all the makings of a championship threat. Combine that with the signings of Eric Gordon, Caleb Martin, and Andre Drummond, and you have a team that is ready to win now, and win in a big way. Injuries will, of course, be a concern for both George and Embiid. However, bringing in the best player on the market this offseason lands the 76ers not only the top spot on this list, but also their best opportunity at a championship in decades.
How would you rank the best moves of the NBA offseason thus far?
