The NBA is leaving a lively and entertaining summer with the market before high-level basketball returns with the Paris Olympic Games. A market that has left several impactful movements among the candidates for the ring. Loves that separate, sudden breakups, new couples… Here are the 10 proper names that has left the market to date.
1
A new life with Luka Doncic
Klay Thompson (Dallas Mavericks)
Without a doubt, the big move of the summer. Although there may have been changes of team for other top-level stars, but no change of scenery as radical as that of Klay Thompsonwho decided to leave his lifelong home, the Golden State Warriors, to join the Dallas Mavericks of Luka Doncic y Kyrie Irving for three years and 50 million. He left the Lakers hanging, despite receiving a personal call from LeBron and an offer on the table 30 million higher.
The Warriors, including Stephen Curry, were dying to renew their contract, but, at their 34 years, The shooting guard has decided to start a new life, to break away from everything in order to fulfill himself again. He says that he still has a lot of basketball left in him and he will put it at the service of Irving and Doncic, forming a stunning trident that fits in by natural characteristics after breaking the historic partnership of the Splash Brothers.
2
The star that Embiid was asking for
Paul George (Philadelphia 76ers)
Despite the exponential growth of Tyrese Maxey -Most Improved Player of the Year-, Embiid wanted a top-level star at his side after the departure of James Harden and Daryl Morey made a splash by bringing in Paul George. With the forward and other complementary players like Caleb Martin, the Sixers hope to challenge the Celtics as the best team in the East.
PG already has 34 yearsbut last season, injury-free, helped the former Thunder player revitalize his roster. After the high price the Clippers paid for him – sending a lot of draft capital and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Oklahoma – George left without anything after failing to win a ring when he left as a free agent.
Kawhi Leonard He renewed his contract for 3 years and 150 million and the forward felt it was an affront that the Los Angeles team, with no salary space, offered him only 2 years and 60 million in his renewal. The Pennsylvania team signed PG for 4 seasons and 212 million. This has to be the year of the Sixers, they will think about Philadelphia. But how long have they been thinking about this already?
3
A luxury base for Wembanyama
Chris Paul (San Antonio Spurs)
Victor Wembanyama He needed a dance partner in the pick and roll and the Spurs went and brought him a true expert like Chris Paul, who signed for one year and 11 million.
The Warriors decided not to exercise their franchise option on CP3 – one season and 30 million – and the Texas team was eager for a master move. The veteran point guard 39 years He has always been looking for the ring that he lacks and that is becoming more difficult. San Antonio is looking for him but still in the long term, although Paul was more interested in the attractive idea of playing alongside Wemby.
The future Hall of Famer will give life lessons to the Frenchman while being a point guard who should fit perfectly with the unicorn, one of those vintage point guards that are few and far between and who prioritize the pass. Who knows if Juan Nunez could also benefit from CP3’s training if San Antonio snatches him from Barca next year.
4
Sacramento Coup
DeMar DeRozan (Sacramento Kings)
The lack of participation in the playoffs last season hurt Sacramento, which has made one of the hits of the market by bringing in DeMar DeRozan, who will form a new trident in the NBA along with Domantas Sabonis y De’Aaron FoxThe Chicago Bulls traded the shooting guard via sign-and-trade for Harrison Barnes, Chris Duarte, cash and two second-round picks.
With the Illinois franchise’s project stalled, DeRozan joins Mike Brown’s team, eager to grow in the postseason, although the two-time Coach of the Year will no longer have Jordi Fernández at his side, named head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.
At almost 35 yearsThe mid-range and clutch genius is looking to get rid of the thorn in his side that he felt after his transfer from the Raptors to the Spurs, forced to leave just one year before Toronto celebrated its first ring, which DeRozan still lacks.
5
¿Los Splash Brothers 2.0?
Buddy Hield (Golden State Warriors)
The Warriors have responded very well to Thompson’s departure, bringing in none other than the best three-point shooter of the last five years in terms of number of shots made (1,322), even above Stephen Curry (1.264). The two best shooters of the last five years, Curry also the best of all time, head to head.
To his 31 yearsHield sees himself as a good chance to fight for a ring in a Warriors team that is determined to cap off its dynasty with its fifth title in the last decade. With intelligent movement off the ball like Thompson, the question is whether Hield and Curry can be a remake of the Splash Brothers.
The Bahamian was a free agent and the Sixers signed him to trade him through the sign-and-trade formula in exchange for a second-round draft pick.
6
Declaration of intent in New Orleans
Dejounte Murray (New Orleans Pelicans)
There was also concern in New Orleans about their performance in the playoffs, once again far from making noise with an elimination in the first round and a sweep against the Thunder (4-0).
If that series made one thing clear, it’s that Louisana lacks a reliable top-level guard after CJ McCollum’s disappointment, so the Pelicans went for Dejounte Murray, paying the Atlanta Hawks with Dyson Daniels, EJ Liddell, Larry Nance Jr., Cody Zeller and two first-round draft picks.
Murray, 27, will be in charge of the Pelicans after sharing it with Trae Young in Atlanta in a duo that has not worked. Another Big Three in the NBA may have been born with the ex-Spurs player Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson. However, Willie Green’s team needs Williamson, injured again last season, to play in the playoffs once and for all.
7
An ideal piece
Mikal Bridges (New York Knicks)
The Sixers and Paul George deal may have had more impact, but the Knicks have not wanted to be left behind in the East and have also made a splash with the addition of Mikal Bridges in a deal with the neighbor, paying the Brooklyn Nets Jordi Fernandez with Bojan Bogdanovic, Mamadi Diakite, Shake Milton and plenty of draft capital, including four first-round picks.
An all-in deal to get a top-level player on both sides of the court who should fit into Tom Thibodeau’s team, a guy who gives his all on defense, with a wide repertoire in terms of shooting range and as capable of taking on more of the ball as of playing more on the sidelines of it, something he did with the Suns playing alongside Chris Paul and Devin Booker.
That being the case, I should get along with a Jalen Brunson Newly renovated as AND Anunoby. The Knicks, who came very close to the Conference Finals last season, are serious business.
8
The giant that Ja Morant needed
Zach Edey (Memphis Grizzlies)
The Hawks took the Malaga native at number 1 Zaccharie Risacher and the Wizards in 2nd Alex Sarrbut probably, at least because of the fit with their star, the best move of the draft could have been made by the Memphis Grizzlies selecting Zach Edey at number 9.
Two-time NCAA Player of the Year, the Grizzlies may have found in the 2.24m Canadian giant the pick-and-roll partner that Ja Morant was missing, with the Tennessee team without a ‘5’ since the transfer of the injured player. Steven Adams a los Houston Rockets.
Between the speed of the point guard, who has now recovered, and the big body of Edey, both should form an efficient duo in the 2×2. The center still has shortcomings such as his lack of shooting and his lack of mobility in defense, but his blocks are what Santi Aldama’s Grizzlies need the most.
9
A proper replacement for Jokic at last
Dario Saric (Denver Nuggets)
It may not be one of the most glamorous moves, but it is a very smart one that covers needs that the 2023 champion has had on his roster, even during the season he won the ring.
Saric is an ideal substitute for Nikola Jokic being, with all due respect, a center with a similar profile, with game vision, ability to penetrate and outside shooting. The 30-year-old Croatian did not renew his contract with the Warriors and the Nuggets signed him in free agency for two seasons and 10.6 million.
The former Sixers player can play alongside Aaron Gordon and even Jokic in potential quintets with a double ‘5’. Since DeMarcus Cousins, in the 2021-2022 season, the triple MVP He did not have a reliable backup center, with the Nuggets using 2.03m Jeff Green in the small forward lineup of their second unit during the championship campaign.
With rookie DaRon Holmes II almost certainly out of action next year, Dario Saric’s role becomes even more important.
10
Experience of a double champion
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Orlando Magic)
Among the role player additions, KCP is one of the most notable. The Magic, gaining momentum to fight in the playoffs to which they returned last year, were looking for experience for their outside line and have gone to kill two birds with one stone with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who lifted the trophy. Larry O’Brien con Lakers (2020) y Nuggets (2023).
KCP was in free agency after not activating his player option and Orlando signed him for three seasons and 66 million, Denver losing another key role piece after experiencing the same thing last summer with Jeff Green y Bruce Brown.
Guaranteed defense especially with the ability to pass screens from the player 31 years and reliable outside shooting for Orlando.
2024-07-16 04:56:08
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