What were the best, worst, most surprising and most exciting moves this NBA offseason? The Crossover staff weighs in.
What was the best move of the offseason?
Howard Beck: The Rudy Gobert trade – and I don’t mean the Minnesota side of it (although I liked that too). I know, “best move” usually means “best acquisition.” But I’m going with Utah’s decision to pay Gobert for all those draft picks. It was bold and risky and will send the Jazz to the NBA basement for the foreseeable future. But it was necessary. To see also : Bloomberg UK Politics: Choosing the wrong politicians. The Gobert-Mitchell era had become obsolete. There was no upward left, and no ways to improve. Tearing down a 50-win team is tough. I admire the decision – and the drag.
Robin Lundberg: Malcolm Brogdon to the Celtics. The Eastern Conference champions improved in a subtle and smart way. For a team that was at times decimated by a lack of discipline in the NBA Finals, adding another high-IQ player who can also handle the rock and make plays was a good strategy. Now we have to see if Boston is done with big moves.
Mannix: Minnesota was ravaged for branching out over several years of future draft capital for Rudy Gobert. But Gobert instantly makes the ‘Wolves a top-10 defense and takes tremendous pressure off of Karl-Anthony Towns who, if he continues to make threes, will ease any concerns about having two bigs on the floor. With Anthony Edwards ready to take another step, you can easily put Minnesota in the top five in the Western Conference. From there, it will be up to Tim Connelly — one of the NBA’s best talent miners — to find the pieces that fit them.
Rohan Nadkarni: The Nuggets’ overall Bruce Brown was a perfect move for them. Aaron Gordon desperately needed help on the perimeter defensively, and Brown gives Denver a legitimate opportunity to throw at some of the explosive guards and wings in the West. Offensively, Brown should find plenty of open looks beyond Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, either as a screener or spacer. The Nuggets needed more defensive tenacity to be taken seriously as a contender. Brown gives them exactly what they were looking for.
What was the worst move of the offseason?
Beck: Kevin Durant’s trade demand. Whatever his reasons — and they remain unclear — it’s objectively a mistake from a basketball standpoint. This might be the best roster the Nets have ever had. On the same subject : Top NBA Finals Contender Rankings. Sure, there’s a lot of volatility (hello Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons), but on paper, this team is a championship contender with three All-NBA talents, flanked by two elite shooters (Seth Curry and Joe Harris) and capable role players. And Durant wants out? Which team — after trading away assets to get Durant — will give him a better chance to chase a title? If the goal is to win, his best move is to stay put.
Lundberg: Kevin Durant’s trade request. Whoever is in charge, KD, Nets…it’s all a mess! NBA fans love gossip and drama, but at some point player prerogatives become player rights, and I’m not sure that’s good for the league when stars under contract for four years ask out. At least let’s hope we all didn’t waste our time and energy following this and that there is a fix soon.
Mannix: I understand the Mavericks believe Jalen Brunson is replaceable. Tim Hardaway Jr. comes back, Christian Wood has been brought on and Luka Dončić has the ball anyway. But not paying Brunson — and that’s what it was ultimately about, money — could haunt the Mavs for the next few years.
Nadkarni: It’s not exactly a move, but the Heat loss of P.J. Tucker to the Sixers is a massive blow. Not only is Miami losing Tucker to a conference rival, but the Heat have yet to replace him. Is Miami’s plan really to start the season with Caleb Martin at power forward? Tucker’s defensive knowledge, willingness to guard stars, rebounding and shooting all contributed to the Heat’s success last season. His departure leaves an obvious hole on the roster and also adds to the normal season load for vets like Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler. While Tucker may not be an All-Star in a vacuum, the ripple effects of his departure are significant.
What was the most surprising move of the offseason?
Beck: Lakers’ failure to trade Russell Westbrook. Last season was a disaster. Westbrook isn’t getting any younger, nor better at shooting or defending or moving without the ball, nor (as far as we know) more willing to accept a diminished role. There is no reason to believe that things will improve in the coming season. This may interest you : Denver is celebrating another sporting championship – the women’s football team battling Mile High Blaze. Yes, trading Westbrook means burning a first rounder (or two) to motivate a trade partner. But it is the only rational way forward. And I still think it will happen before opening night.
Lundberg: Rudy Gobert to the Wolves. This move was surprising for two reasons: 1.) I wouldn’t have thought of Minnesota as a destination for Gobert given the presence of Karl-Anthony Towns and 2.) The return Utah was able to get for Gobert . Rudy is still a very good player, albeit a bit limited, so it takes something to get a guy like that, but it still wasn’t what I expected.
Mannix: Is Charlotte counting on bringing back Steve Clifford? The Hornets were stunned when Kenny Atkinson rejected their offer, so they returned to Clifford, who coached the Buzz from 2013-18, leading them to the playoffs twice. Charlotte is a team in need of development, with rookie Mark Williams joining a young core headlined by LaMelo Ball, and Clifford has a solid track record there. He’s also a great defensive coach – Charlotte was a top-10 defensive team in three of his five seasons. The Hornets finished 23rd last season, so they need the help.
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Nadkarni: I mean, did anyone have the Jazz trade four first-round picks (and a pick trade!) for Rudy Gobert? I still have no idea how to feel about this trade. And the shock move certainly appears to have complicated the superstar’s acquisition price. If Gobert gives you four picks, how many do you need to get Kevin Durant? Do you want to throw in some ownership?
What was the most intriguing move of the offseason?
Beck: Hawks acquisition of Dejounte Murray. No other offseason move has more potential to alter a team’s trajectory. Will it work? Who knows? But Murray’s length, playmaking and defensive ability should be the perfect complement to Trae Young. Both guards will have to adjust to having less control over the offense, and both may need to dial back their usage. But if they mesh well, it should solidify the Hawks as a top-six team in the East, and potentially as a contender down the road.
Lundberg: Dejounte Murray to Hawks. I love the possible fit between Dejounte and Trae Young. And given the history Murray has shown this summer and the fact that the Spurs were willing to move on from him and rebuild aside, it should be exciting to see the dynamic in Atlanta and whether they can make a leap in east.
Mannix: Can a 37-year-old P.J. Tucker make an impact on another franchise at the playoff level? Can Danuel House shoot well enough to crack the rotation? What is James Harden at this stage of his career? On paper, the Sixers look like title contenders. But how they come together will determine if they are.
Nadkarni: Dejounte Murray heading to Atlanta is a fascinating play for the Hawks. The team then traded Kevin Huerter, signaling (in my opinion) that they are ready to pay Murray in a few years and move forward with a Trae Young-Dejounte core. Murray’s talent has never been in doubt. His fit with Young is. And theoretically, his arrival should adjust Atlanta’s style of play, which at least has been successful for Trae. While I’m not convinced it will definitely be a success, it’s the new partnership I’m most excited to see when the season starts.
