We are living in a new era of the NBA
By Gregory Mair
With Kawhi Leonard deciding to go to the Clippers and not the Lakers, we are now living in a different era of the NBA
We thought Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving – who joined forces on the Brooklyn Nets – pulled off the biggest move of the offseason.
We got hoodwinked and bamboozled; Kawhi Leonard pulled a power move that made the Los Angeles Lakers adding Anthony Davis take the back seat.
Kawhi, the silent killer, made a move no one expected, while we all had our eyes on Brooklyn and LA. The other LA team, led by arguably the greatest executive in NBA history Mr. Jerry West, not only managed to sign Leonard but also followed up that move by trading for Paul George.
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In the end, the Clippers might enter the 2019-20 season as not only the favorites to win the Western Conference but possibly one of the real favorites to win the NBA Finals.
This move forced LeBron James and the Lakers to scramble to fill out their roster. While they sat and waited for Leonard’s decision, they let other viable free agents slip thru their hands. They were able to grab Danny Green, which I think they overpaid for, for $30 million over two years.
LA then followed up that move by signing Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins to short contracts.
The big question, now, is if that is even enough to win the Western Conference. Nope, not at all. Especially not when considering what the Clippers just added. The Clippers added a Finals MVP and an All NBA player to a 48 win team, that clawed their way to the playoffs last season with tenacious hard-nosed defense.
Brooklyn is about two years away with having to wait on Durant and hope he returns close to his old self. But for now, it’s Kyrie’s team to carry. The East is wide open. The Sixers got better with picking up Al Horford and bringing back Tobias Harris. The Celtics got Kyrie’s replacement with the electrifying Kemba Walker.
Kawhi shook up the NBA world; this is the first time in a while we can say one team isn’t going to dominate the season. The West will have a new representative in the NBA Finals while the Warriors recoup from injuries and losing KD.
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This is an NBA I could live with, well until my Knicks become relevant again. So, for now, the King of South Central Los Angles and the NBA wears braids, doesn’t talk much and has a weird laugh, so be it. Can’t wait for this season to pop off!