Well, it was a crazy Sunday with money flying around like the bulls running in Pamplona. Here is the recap.
Eastern Conference
- Nets – Brooklyn ends up a huge winner with landing Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant (even though he won’t play next season). Plus, they added aging big man, DeAndre Jordan. The Nets trade D’Angelo Russell to Memphis in a sign and trade. The other NY team will be the big draw going forward.
- Bucks – The Bucks lose Brogdon, but they did sign Khris Middleton to a 5 year deal, keeping that core together, along with the signing of Brook Lopez. They should be the top team in the East again.
- Sixers – The core remains intact, but Jimmy Butler walks, Tobias Harris resigns, and Al Horford is added to give a stable, veteran presence. They look like a contender in the East to me.
- Pacers – Indiana makes a nice move in landing Malcolm Brogdon, but let Bogdanovic walk. Still, Brogdon with Oladipo is a really nice backcourt.
- Heat – In a more shocking move, Jimmy Butler goes to South Beach instead of a contender. He will be the man there, plus the Heat are trying to move Goran Dragic to Dallas.
- Raptors – Kawhi is still making his decision, but Toronto successfully resigned Marc Gasol.
- Celtics – As I wrote here, Al Horford leaves officially, as did Kyrie Irving, but Boston adds to their young core, Kemba Walker. That should make them right in the mix again. Terry Rozier leaves the team for Charlotte.
- Magic – Terrence Ross was signed to a 4 year deal.
- Knicks – Wow. So much for their big year. Instead, they land 2nd tier guys like Julius Randle from the Pelicans and Taj Gibson. Not what the Knicks fans were looking for.
Western Conference
- Warriors – The Ws didn’t sit still as Durant walked. Instead, they made an interesting move to trade Andre Iguodala to Memphis for D’Angelo Russell. Iggy is said to likely be bought out in that contract.
- Lakers – A lot of rumors still about Kawhi going there. That would make another super team. A more concrete move is Iggy likely going there when he gets bought out by Memphis.
- Jazz – After making the trade for Conley, the Jazz weren’t done. They sign Bojan Bogdanovic from the Pacers. Derrick Favors is walking.
- Pelicans – Favors is going there, which will give them a true center in that mix. Plus, JJ Reddick was signed, so a shooter with that young, run and gun squad.
- Clippers – The Clips could be left out of the excitement if Kawhi choose the Lakers. They did re-sign Patrick Beverly, though.
- Mavericks – As expected, the Mavs give Kristaps Porzingis a 5 year max deal. Maybe they work out that trade with the Heat for Goran Dragic, too.
- Nuggets – Jamal Murray was signed to an extension.
- Blazers – Portland gave Dame Lillard the super max 4 year deal.
- Houston – No major moves, no cap space. Butler going to Miami hurts their chances, and maybe Harden and Paul need to work it out with no more help.
The biggest domino yet to fall is Kawhi Leonard. Lakers, Clippers or Raptors. The balance of the NBA rests in his hands. Will it be a year of parity, which I want. Or will it be another super team that can’t be beat for 2-3 years. Other guys will flow after that – Iggy buyout, etc. On paper now, I would say that the league is pretty balanced with Leonard as a Clipper or Raptor.
Wegs