NBA: 6 old faces in new places entering the 2017-18 season

Breaking down the six biggest offseason moves of a busy NBA summer

There is always some noise that happens in the NBA offseason, but this summer certainly felt more active than previous years.

Which players that were dealt or signed with new teams this offseason will have the biggest impact this season? We explore.

Kyrie Irving – G – Boston Celtics

2016-17 Stats: 25.2 PPG, 5.8 APG, 3.2 RPG

2017-18 Stat Prediction: 27 PPG 6 APG 4 RPG

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Kyrie Irving requested a move, and he got what he wished for, to possibly the best situation in the NBA available for him besides of course Cleveland.

Irving is probably on the same tier as Isaiah Thomas, so I don’t think his stats will go up much but they will be better than his last year’s numbers. I also think his efficiency will go up a lot with the nature of Brad Stevens being a better coach than Lue. The latter should help the former get a lot more open looks, via design.

Carmelo Anthony – F – Oklahoma City Thunder

2016-17 Stats: 22.4 PPG 2.9 APG 5.9 RPG

2017-18 Stat Prediction: 20 PPG 4 APG 7 RPG

I don’t care what you tell me about him being old, Melo can still get it done. The numbers prove it. I predict his scoring numbers drop a little this season, but everything else will go up. Something to watch, his efficiency to go up A LOT this year. We could see him around the 45-50 field goal percentage clip.

Jimmy Butler – G/F – Minnesota Timberwolves

2016-17 Stats: 23.9 PPG 5.5 APG 6.2 RPG

2017-18 Stat Prediction: 22 PPG 6 APG 6 APG

Jimmy Butler is going to have a great year in Minnesota, but he is going to do more things for them off the numbers than with them. This team needs defense, badly. They will have Butler focus more on that side of the ball rather than needing him to score 25 a night. He will be efficient and smart on offense, and cause havoc on D. He should help propel the Wolves to playoffs spot too, possibly even a homecourt advantage seed.

Gordon Hayward – G/F – Boston Celtics

2016-17 Stats: 21.9 PPG 3.5 APG 5.4 RPG

2017-18 Stat Prediction: 25 PPG 4 APG 6 RPG

Gordon Hayward won’t directly contribute to the W/L column in the sense the Celtics are now a 65-win team or something like that. What he will do is make them a better overall squad. When the Celtics play other top tier teams, he will instantly be a bigger threat because of his talent and skill. The Celtics might win only 55-60 games this year, but more of those wins will be against better teams.

Chris Paul – G – Houston Rockets

2016-17 Stats: 18.1 PPG 9.2 APG 5.0 RPG

2017-18 Stat Prediction: 20 PPG 12 APG 4 RPG

Paul makes every team he ever goes to instantly better. It will be no different here. It will also be his first time playing with another quality wing player. All his life his teams have been lackluster, especially in the wing area. James Harden and Paul will possibly be the best offensive backcourt in the NBA, if not the best. The potency of them on that side of the ball will unreliable. Paul will have some of his best efficiency and offense numbers of his career this year.

Paul George – F – Oklahoma City Thunder

2016-17 Stats: 23.7 PPG 3.3 APG 6.6 RPG

2017-18 Stat Prediction: 25 PPG 4 APG 8 RPG

There really was no bigger acquisition this summer than Paul George. What he is going to do for the Thunder and Westbrook is going to invaluable. He’s gonna help crash the glass, he’s gonna score effectively and when needed, and he will bring more defense for the perimeter.

Must Read: 10 Bold Predictions For The 2017-18 NBA Campaign

George alone brings probably another 7-10 wins to OKC this season. George might mess around and have his best all-around season of his career in 2017-18.

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NBA: 6 old faces in new places entering 2017-18

By Nicholas Gonzalez | Oct 13, 2017