NBA Free Agency and Latest Trade Deals for 2016-2017 Season; Besides Warriors and Cavaliers, These Teams To Be a Threat
Next season's NBA won't resemble your father's league anymore.
Big-time and big names moves have dominated the off-season, none more notable than the transactions that saw stars Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah changing uniforms.
With Durant joining Golden State, the Warriors figure to be as potent as they've ever been, including the current era of back-to-back NBA Finals appearances.
Knicks on the Rise
Still, it can be argued that no team has done more this off-season to improve their lot than Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks. At least, that's what Rose would have you believe.
The former league MVP and perennial all-star has gone on record in asserting that the combination of himself, Noah, Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis puts them on par with Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in Golden State as the league's only "super teams."
While that remains to be seen, things are also undoubtedly looking up in Boston, where the Celtics nabbed veteran forward Al Horford in free agency and also added resourceful reserve types Tyler Zeller and Gerald Green.
In L.A., the Clippers stilled themselves for at least one more run by adding the veteran combination of Raymond Felton and Brandon Bass and resigning the trio of Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers and Wesley Johnson.
Meanwhile, Durant's Golden State arrival meant some of the team's former mainstays were left looking for new homes and no team took more advantage of that development than the Mavericks.
Dallas signed free-agent forward Harrison Barnes and traded for former No. 1 pick and starting center Andrew Bogut, both of whom figure to frontcourt starters in Dallas alongside Dirk Nowitzki.
Champs Still Strong
As for the defending champion Cavaliers, LeBron James and J.R. Smith are almost locks to re-up with Cleveland, where management has also added such capable veterans as Mike Dunleavy and Chris "Birdman" Anderson.
With Rose and Noah out in Chicago, the Bulls have also been active, though no one can say with any great level of certainty how the nucleus of Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade and Rajon rondo will work out.
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