NBA offseason rundown: Paul George, Chris Paul trades steal the summer
What were the most interesting offseason moves this summer in the NBA?
Despite the Golden State Warriors predictably winning the 2017 NBA title and still the heavy favorites to repeat in 2018, that hasn’t stopped other teams from getting better this offseason.
Let’s summarize the offseason and look at a handful of the most interesting moves that transpired this past summer.
Paul George To The Oklahoma City Thunder
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Everyone expected for Paul George to get traded, but definitely not to the Thunder. No one expected him to get traded to a team with as little assets as OKC. Nonetheless, though, Paul George will be teaming up with NBA MVP and triple-double machine Russell Westbrook for at least one season.
Although still much weaker than the Warriors, they should still be interesting to watch.
Avery Bradley To The Detroit Pistons
Bradley was dealt to the Pistons after the Celtics acquired Gordon Hayward. The reasoning behind the trade was simple. Boston needed more frontcourt depth, no matter the cost. After drafting Jayson Tatum, they just had too many wings to handle, so one needed to go.
Instead of trading a young talent, they traded a sure thing guard for a sure thing – Bradley for Marcus Morris. I don’t agree with the trade fully, as I think they got the weaker Morris twin, but I understood why the trade was done.
Chris Paul To The Houston Rockets
We all kind of knew Christ Paul would be on the move, but most thought it would be by the hands of free agency and to either the Cavs, Spurs or Pelicans. Not many people viewed the Rockets as a viable option until days or even hours before the trade.
Paul pairs with James Harden to now become the best backcourt in the NBA, essentially. There is no doubt this Houston team will now give GSW and SAS fits, but can they top one of them, let alone both to get to the NBA Finals?
What else moves were surprising to you? Let me know!