The NBA offseason is very much in full swing, and there are still moves left to be made. However, plenty of big ones have been made already, including some that will change the face of the NBA.
That doesn’t automatically mean they’re all good moves. Some teams have spent a lot of money and may not be all that much better for it. Others, however, will reap the benefits of being bold or smart with the opportunities presented to them. Here are ten moves that rank among the best of the offseason so far.
10. Pelicans receive massive haul from Lakers in Davis trade
The Pelicans were in a bad spot. They were lucky enough to draft a franchise player in Anthony Davis, but after seven seasons of mostly mediocrity, he demanded a trade. New Orleans declined to trade him in-season, ruining both the Pelicans and Lakers’ respective seasons. Then after the season, New Orleans hired David Griffin to run the team, and he did the prudent thing: he worked with the Lakers on a trade rather than hold a grudge against them, but he drove up the price on them. All the way up. Griffin received Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart (two former No. 2 overall picks), three first-round picks and a pick swap, and turned it into much more. Griffin made the most of a bad situation, and it’s hard to imagine him having gotten more of a return.
9. Warriors land D’Angelo Russell in Durant sign-and-trade
Russell is far from a perfect fit in the Golden State offense, but that might not really be the point of this move. The Warriors will likely be without Klay Thompson for at least the majority of next season, and Russell should be able to fill that role. The Warriors wouldn’t really have a fit for Russell along with Steph Curry once Thompson returns, so there is talk of Golden State moving him (to Minnesota maybe?), which they can’t do until Dec. 15. By then, the Warriors should have a better idea of where Thompson is at. At the very least, the Warriors got a valuable piece instead of losing Kevin Durant for nothing, even if it ultimately cost them Andre Iguodala.
8. Celtics sign Kemba Walker
On paper, the Celtics are probably inferior talent-wise by replacing Kyrie Irving with Walker. But Walker is regarded as a leader and a good guy to have around, whereas Irving was ill-suited as a leader. Walker can play, too — he averaged 25.6 points per game last season and is a 35 percent career three-point shooter. Walker may well prove to be a better fit in Boston and help them reach their potential.
7. 76ers receive Josh Richardson in Butler sign-and-trade
The Sixers managed to turn the thought of losing Butler into a cheaper but talented player in Josh Richardson. No, Richardson does not bring what Butler does to a team, but he’s a starting-quality player with room to get better. He has shown steady improvement in his four NBA seasons, culminating in 16.6 points per game with Miami last year. He’s also an outstanding defender who will hound opposing wings. That’s about as good as Philly could have dreamed of doing in a deal like this.
6. 76ers sign Al Horford
Similarly, as the rest of the league embraces shooters, the 76ers stockpile big men. Horford will play alongside Joel Embiid at something like the power forward position, but he’s a threat to stretch and space the floor. Embiid’s dominance of the low post will free him up on offense and allow him to wreak havoc against smaller lineups on both sides of the ball. He completes a very talented starting five for Philadelphia that will make them one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference next year. More importantly for Philly, Embiid will not have to go up against Horford in the playoffs.
5. Pelicans draft Zion Williamson
The most obvious move of the NBA offseason also doubles as one of the best. Williamson was the slam dunk first overall pick and will serve as a centerpiece for the Pelicans’ franchise for years to come. He should be an impact player from day one, and coupled with his newly-acquired teammates, New Orleans could be a threat to make the playoffs as soon as this year. If they are, Williamson will surely be a huge part of it.
4. Jazz trade for Mike Conley
This, coupled with the addition of Bojan Bogdanovic, quietly makes Utah a huge threat in the Western Conference. Conley is a veteran distributor who will serve as a valuable second option to Donovan Mitchell in the Jazz backcourt. He also gives the Jazz some much-needed 3-point shooting at point guard. That second big scoring threat is something Utah has missed at times, and when you add Rudy Gobert in the low post, this is a very impressive collection of talent that really bears watching going forward.
3. Lakers acquire Anthony Davis
It’s the rare trade that works out for both teams, but it’s something the Lakers simply had to do. LeBron James did not have the supporting cast around him to content immediately, and the Lakers could not afford to waste another season of him under contract without making an honest effort to build a championship team. While questions linger about that supporting cast, James can now at least rely on Davis to dominate the post and score, and the move alone should propel the Lakers into the upper half of Western Conference teams. Davis should be a huge success in Los Angeles.
2. Nets sign Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving
This essentially counts as a package move, because it’s become quite clear that the two were going to go together to whomever they joined. The Nets ultimately won the lottery. There are certainly risks here. Irving’s leadership capabilities deserve to be widely questioned after a drama-filled tenure in Boston. Durant is facing a lengthy recovery from an Achilles tear and there are no guarantees he’ll be the same player when he returns. For the Nets, though, it’s a bet worth making. It gives them instant credibility and they have the supporting cast to make the playoffs — and make noise in them — even with just Irving. They’ll be a title contender if Durant comes back close to his best.
1. Clippers sign Kawhi Leonard, trade for Paul George
Signing Kawhi Leonard alone would have been considered the biggest move of the NBA offseason. But the LA Clippers didn’t just sign Kawhi; they traded for Paul George simultaneously. They knew Leonard was not going to come unless they had a second star to offer him, so he began recruiting players, while the Clippers opened up the phone lines scouring for trades. It led to a massive trade return for the Thunder that included Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, four unprotected first-round picks (2021 via Miami, 2022, 2024, 2026), one protected first-round pick (2023 via Heat), and two pick swaps (2023 and 2025). While that was an enormous price to pay, the Clippers considered it the price for not just George, but for George and Leonard, which made it worthwhile. Now they have two star two-way wing players to lead a team that already has great depth.
