By: Brian Suk
It is almost the end of September, and the NBA season is just on the horizon as 30 teams get set to battle it out for yet another 82 games. To say that this was an eventful offseason would be quite the understatement. From major moves to minor moves, there have been many changes that have occurred that have altered the landscape of the NBA.
The biggest and most shocking move this offseason most definitely belongs to 27-year old superstar small forward, Kevin Durant. His infamous decision to sign with the Golden State Warriors has sent ripples throughout the sport of basketball. From Golden State fans jumping up and down in excitement, to Oklahoma City fans posting viral videos of Durant jersey burnings, pretty much every team has been affected by this move. The former free agent, after losing to the Warriors in the 2016 postseason, made the decision to sign with the team that defeated his former team, the OKC Thunder.
The Warriors are now in the making of a potential dynasty, as they were the 2015 champions, as well as falling short in a 7 game series to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 season. They are now in possession of the MVP’s of the past 3 years- Steph Curry winning it twice in a row, and Kevin Durant once. His move has been dubbed by many fans and critics alike as cowardly, as the Golden State Warriors were the team to boot OKC from the WCF, as well as already being title favorites without Kevin Durant. Was this a ‘bandwagon” move? Or was this just the logical choice of a superstar who is tired of losing?
The Eastern Conference has also undergone some noticeable changes. The Boston Celtics made a major move this summer, by adding the big man Al Horford. The Celtics finished 5th in the East last season, being knocked out in the 1st round of the playoffs by the Hawks. Now, with the addition of the All-Star center, many experts project them to be as high as 2nd or 3rd in the east.
Another team that underwent a huge change is the Indiana Pacers. Emphasizing a new, faster style of play, GM Larry Bird has fired former head coach Frank Vogel. He has also traded away the former PG George Hill for former All-Star PG Jeff Teague. Other notable additions include PF Thaddeus Young, C Al Jefferson, and PG Aaron Brooks, all who will help promote up-tempo basketball, as well as a stronger bench presence. Coupled with superstar Paul George, and rising star Myles Turner, this team looks much more formidable this year.
The New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls are the last two teams that have undergone some major changes. After several years of tanking, the Knicks have finally decided to surround Carmelo Anthony with some talent. After basically robbing the Chicago Bulls in a totally one-sided trade, the Knicks acquired PG Derrick Rose and C Joakim Noah from the Bulls. Add in rising star Kristaps Porzingis, and for the first time in a while, the Knicks will be contending in the east.
The Bulls, on the other hand, have arguably gotten much worse. After dumping key players Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol, and Joakim Noah, they have committed to building around Jimmy Butler added players such as Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade, two aging players who are well past their prime.
