NBA: Timeline of Offseason Trades

     The NBA’s 2017-18 season kicks of on Oct. 17, with a doubleheader featuring the Boston Celtics versus the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Houston Rockets versus the Golden State Warriors. Basketball fans can’t wait for the season to begin and it is in part due to one of the most active offseasons in recent NBA history. From blockbuster trades to sideline drama, the the months of July, August and September were full of transactions and rumors.

Trades:

Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves (June 22)

Timberwolves Grade: B+

     After a below .500 record season this past year, the Timberwolves made a crafty move to gain all-star shooting guard Jimmy Butler from the Chicago Bulls. While the Timberwolves made some noise with recent outbreak star rookie, Karl Anthony Towns and good play from athletic forward Andrew Wiggins, with a career high of 23.6 points per game, they were still young and did not have a veteran presence or enough depth to help them  win games against some of the top-tier teams. With the addition of Jimmy Butler, the 6’7 all-around shooting guard, adds not only another scorer but also veteran experience, having been in playoff situations and with an Olympic gold Medal under his belt with a defensive mindset. Butler played with the Timberwolves’ head coach Tom Thibodeau in Chicago, and he will help Minnesota squeeze into the postseason and get a taste of what the future could hold for this young, talented team.

Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets (June 28)

Rockets Grade: A

     Last year, no one can say the Rockets were not good. They finished with a commendable record of 55 wins and 27 losses and are considered a team to be reckoned with with James Harden, the best shooting guard in the league, leading the team offensively. The Rockets also have great role players in Eric Gordon, Trevor Ariza and Nenê. But after getting knocked off in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games by the San Antonio Spurs, it was clear it wouldn’t be enough. In the highly competitive Western Conference, even if you can beat anybody for one game, you can’t do it in a seven game series. The Houston Rockets would have been decent for this year unless they made a move to compete with the best of the best in the playoffs. Adding super-star point guard Chris Paul, the Rockets get a much needed facilitator and play-maker with experience. Paul can also score and hold his own on the defensive end. He will take the ball out of Harden’s hand, allowing him to concentrate more on defense while making every player on the team better. The back-court of Chris Paul and James Harden is scary to most teams and will help them get much closer to beating the Warriors to get to the Finals.

Celtics and Cavs Swap of Stars (Aug. 22)

Celtics Grade: B

Cavs Grade: B+

     No one saw it coming. On Aug. 22, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded away Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and a 2018 first-round pick in return. Assuming that the two best Eastern Conference teams were already all set for the upcoming season, this mega-trade instantly prompted nationwide chatter and question. Hearing news that LeBron and Kyrie were not on the same page, the media took it and ran with it. An unnecessary amount of drama ensued and people came to think after the trade that the reason for it was a problem with their relationship. However, this was not a case of LeBron being too hard on Kyrie or Kyrie not doing enough for LeBron. Even though social media and the basketball court can be deceiving, it was later made known that Kyrie and LeBron were only “work-friends.” Therefore, Kyrie thought it no trouble to request a trade without conferring with LeBron. Many teams showed interest in Kyrie and for good reason; the man hands-down has the best handle in the NBA and he is a prolific scorer and overall offensive all-star. To some, it was preposterous for the Cavs to trade away a player who significantly helped LeBron bring the Cavs to  three straight finals. To replace Kyrie, the Cavs received an extremely talented guard in Isaiah Thomas, with Jae Crowder, a solid defensive forward, Center Ante Zizic and a potential great player with a 2018 first-rounder. NBA fans can’t wait to see how this offseason move plays out in the upcoming season.

Another Celtic Addition (July 14)

Celtics Grade: A

     In order for the Celtics to maintain the balance they have at each position, they signed free-agent Gordon Hayward for a four-year, $128 million deal. The all-star forward is a key pickup to give the Celtics another go-to offensive player. This past year, Hayward averaged 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Utah Jazz.

Carmelo Anthony and Paul George to the Thunder (July 6, September 25)

Thunder Grade: A+

     After Kevin Durant left the Thunder for the Warriors, it was crystal clear that Oklahoma City needed help. Although Russell Westbrook is a dominant player, winning in the NBA today is a team effort. To be successful and win a championship, a team needs at least two stars and a sufficient bench. The addition of all-star forward Paul George from the Pacers gives the Thunder a great two-way player who will compete every game. Carmelo Anthony has been a dominant veteran and his offensive efficiency and all-star plays back that up. With Westbrook racking up triple-doubles at the point and Melo and George at the 2 and the 3, the Thunder’s new big three is as scary as it sounds for other teams.

Reunited at Last (September 27)

Cavs Grade: A

     For fans across the globe, the signing of Dwyane Wade, a 3-time NBA Champion and 12-time NBA All-Star, to the Cleveland Cavaliers is a happy reunion. Wade gets to join one of his best friends, LeBron James, in the pursuit of another championship ring. Wade and LeBron played with each other in Miami for four seasons, getting to the Finals four times and winning twice, but have been longtime friends since the 2003 Draft. This duo is one of the most exciting ones, Wade and James being acclaimed for their amazing alley-oops and spectacular overall play.