It has only been a few short days since the Chris Paul trade with Houston dropped, yet already so many players have been added by teams or moved around the league via trade. It’s time for another look at what has happened, what effect — if any — the moves have and what is next.
Jeff Teague signs with the Timberwolves on a 3-year, $57 million contract
From podcasts to articles, Tom Schreier and I have listed Teague as one of the free agents we liked for this squad. The pass-heavy Teague is coming off his fourth consecutive season of averaging 15 points or more and can play well on both ends. The Wolves needed a guy who could elevate the already great talent around him; Teague is the man for the job.
Paul George traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder
What? How? Why? What did they get? These are all the reactions that hit when learning about the trade. As far as the return is concerned, Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis were shipped to Indiana for Paul George. Collectively, we should all sit back and ponder how this was the most the Pacers could grab for their blue-chip player? George has been to four All-Star games, compared to the combined zero that Sabonis and Oladipo have made. Two role players went to the Pacers for one of the best in the league. While this highway robbery is an article all its own, the real factor here is matching George’s defense with Russell Westbrook’s offense. This team still has a decent enough bench and some starting pieces for the defensive side, like Andre Roberson and Steven Adams. Now this team needs another shooter…..maybe Kyle Lowry?
Jrue Holiday stays with the Pelicans on a five-year, $126 million contract
This was a lot to pay for Holiday, but it is the only player they have to truly stretch the floor for the Pelicans. The Pelicans take 26 3-pointers per game. Nearly five per game came from Holiday, who spent over a month sidelined with an injury. While the price may make this an overpay, it probably means they had no shot at Lowry and felt pressure to lock up their guard. This move also shows that they are willing to give the DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis duo another year to develop.
Warriors lock up Curry with $201 million price tag
Two MVPs and two rings in the last three years along with bringing in Kevin Durant and giving up shots for a title run? Pay the man! That is exactly what the team did. The strategy for the Golden State Warriors over the next 3-to-5 years is simple: pay your four studs and plenty of vets looking for a ring will play for cheap to fill out the bench. That is exactly why David West came back for another year. Signing Stephen Curry to a five-year deal is the smart move and oh by the way — no, he is not overpaid.
Mills sticks with Spurs for four more years
The San Antonio Spurs will keep Patty Mills around on a $50 million deal, which effectively takes them out of the Lowry sweepstakes. While the money could have been thrown at Lowry, George Hill, Paul Millsap or even Holiday, I will not start to think I am smarter than Popovich and company. The Spurs will do Spurs things and win 60 games.
Blake will stay in L.A.
The Clippers and Blake Griffin came to a deal on a five-year, $176 million deal to keep a superstar in the organization. For the Clippers, it was either this or a total rebuild. Now the interesting lineup of Griffin, Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Sam Dekker, Austin Rivers and DeAndre Jordan are supposed to do something resembling a playoff run. This could be a fun team to watch play or a fun team to watch interact, perhaps like a throwback to the 2015-2016 Rockets.
Major Takeaways
While plenty of big moves are taking place — the unexpected George to Oklahoma City trade immediately comes to mind — the biggest observation is that the Warriors are doing lots of things to stay good while the Cavaliers have done nothing (yet) to get better. A team is great because of the front office, not only the players. While the Cavs floundered in five-team trade talks for George, the Warriors locked up Curry and Shaun Livingston (three-year, $24 million deal) and kept West around another year on the veteran’s minimum. This is not looking good if the Cavs want to run it back against the champs.
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