Sir Charles in Charge
Fansided

Your Game of Thrones guide to the 2017-18 NBA season

By Jonathan Macri

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Kevin Durant #35, Stephen Curry #30, Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Kevin Durant #35, Stephen Curry #30, Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – OCTOBER 8: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots over Tai Wesley #42 of Melbourne United during the first half of a NBA preseason game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on October 8, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – OCTOBER 8: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots over Tai Wesley #42 of Melbourne United during the first half of a NBA preseason game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on October 8, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

"“We’ve had vicious kings and we’ve had idiot kings, but l don’t know if we’ve ever been cursed with a vicious idiot for a king”"

– The rest of the league to the Pacers and Bulls

It’s one thing to have a top-ten NBA player and lose him for nothing. Cleveland, Miami and Oklahoma City did what they could and, well…tough nuts.

It’s another thing to be boxed into a corner and forced to deal a really good player for a middling return. For all the Clippers’ and Knicks’ decades of combined incompetence, the trades they pulled off this summer were the best they could do given the circumstances.

But for one team, let alone two, to trade an elite NBA talent for the equivalent of a stack of free vacuum coupons at the local carwash is a travesty that even Joffrey would scoff at.

Thanks to their combined incompetence, the NBA landscape may be inextricably altered for the foreseeable future.

The Lakers were sitting pretty, thinking Paul George was a done deal. Now they have to wonder if a star in his prime would leave a team that is at least a 50/50 bet to make the conference finals every year for the foreseeable future. (actually, maybe OKC fans shouldn’t answer that question…)

The Wolves figured to have another few years of growing pains. Now they plugged Jimmy Freaking Butler in place of exactly no one who helped them win games last year.

The rest of the East was counting on LeBron’s Hollywood takeover, but does he still want to deal with the bloodbath that awaits him out West? (Did that make you feel better Cavs fans? No? It’s almost like you’ve seen this movie before…)

So yea…way to go Kevin Pritchard and GarPax. You not only left a messy one, but you got some on the toilet seat and didn’t even bother to wipe it off. Pacers and Bulls fans all hope you both take a nice big swig of wine at your next grand birthday gala.

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