We’re still a few months from the 2019-20 NBA season but so much has already happened since the conclusion of the NBA Finals.
The NBA free agency has been a whirlwind, with a plethora of deals and trades that took place. Plenty of All-Star players, former MVPs and some of the well-known names in the league switched teams. And, some teams, with their off-season additions, are catapulted to the status of legitimate contenders.
With all of these big and small happenings in the league, it is easy to lose track of the important moves that are expected to alter the landscape of the season. But don’t worry, we got you! Read ahead for some of the juiciest actions we have witness so far this 2019 NBA off-season.
Kevin Durant Moves East
So long, Golden State Warriors being the consistent run-way favorite entering the NBA season. Since the controversial signing of Kevin Durant with the Warriors in 2016, the team had been the consistent odds-on favorite.
Now, Durant made a bold move and signed a four-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets, where he’ll be joining veterans Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan. With these signings, there’s no doubt that the Nets has a big chance of gaining traction this upcoming season.
Harden and Westbrook in Houston
Childhood friends and former teammates James Harden and Russell Westbrook will be playing on the same team once again. This time though, it’s going to be with the Houston Rockets.
From 2009 to 2012, Harden and Westbrook played together with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both players have gone on to win several scoring titles and MVP Awards since.
Being two high-volume, ball-dominant guards, some concerns were raised about how they will find harmony in the game. But both of the players are the least bit concerned about this set-up.
“We played with each other in the NBA and the Olympics and all that,” Harden said via the Sporting News. “When you have talent like that, it works itself out. You communicate. You go out there and compete possession by possession.”
The feeling is mutual as Westbrook said something very similar to Harden’s statement via ESPN. “So we’ve played with each other in Oklahoma City, and to be able to win something, you’ve got to be willing to sacrifice some parts of your game and we both understand that. We both understand that we have one common goal and that’s to win a championship.
Can Clippers Win Their First Title in History?
With Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Patrick Beverley rounding out the Los Angeles Clippers roster, the team is entering the 2019-20 NBA season with a real chance of winning their first title in franchise history.
With the trio, the Clippers now has a high chance of moving out from the shadow of the Los Angeles Lakers. Expected to be equipped defensively and equally dominant offensively, will this be the season when they are going to claim the league’s center stage as their own? I guess we’ll find out in a few months.
Will Warriors Still be a Contender?
After a rough couple of months for the Golden State Warriors, will they be able to bounce back? Last season, the team muddled through the NBA Finals without star players Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson after both suffered from serious leg injuries. Then, they lost the Finals to Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors. If these weren’t enough, the team also lost Kevin Durant to Brooklyn Nets in free agency earlier in July.
But with two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry and 2017 Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green still playing for the team, who can write the Warriors off? Thompson will be back eventually and they also added All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell in a sign-and-trade with Brooklyn.
LA Lakers as the Early Favorites
Lebron James’s first season with the team may not be as impressive as everyone thought it would be, but adding Anthony Davis on the roster cracked open a title window for the team. With the skills of James and Davis, it is not surprising that the Los Angeles Lakers are the early favorites of the season.
Anything short of the 2020 NBA title will be considered a disappointment for Los Angeles. With this power duo, this team will surely be selling out all seat tickets to wherever stadium they’ll be playing in.
So there you have it. Which team is your early favorites in the 2019-20 NBA season? Make it a habit to check this blog for the latest sports updates and on all things live events.