Jacob Dresner
Photo from Pixabay
The NBA offseason has been extremely eventful, with players being traded and signing to new teams. This article will discuss my personal opinion and ratings on how good or bad these big trades and free agency signings are based on the teams’ current situations. In addition, I will be considering their future based on players’ ages and salary situations.
Gordon Hayward to the Charlotte Hornets (D-)
Gordon Hayward is currently on a 30-million-dollar contract per year for the next four years on a middle of the pack team with great rookies. My problem with this trade is the fact that Gordon is ten years older than everyone else on his team, meaning by the time his teammate will reach their primes, he’ll be a washed-up bench player with an absurd contract. This puts the Hornets in a bad salary situation and Mr. Hayward on a just ok team. There was no point in this signing for the hornets which is why I give this a low grade of a D-.
John Wall to the Houston Rockets (C)
John Wall was traded to the Houston Rockets for Russel Westbrook and a second-round pick. This was a very lateral trade for the Houston Rockets; the team traded a point guard who cannot shoot for another point guard who cannot shoot. Might I add that they are both on 35-million-dollar contracts for the next four years. In addition, John Wall has been out due to an injury for the past TWO YEARS. Trading for him is just not a risk I would have taken. I rated this a C grade because the upside for John Wall is being a good point guard who cannot shoot but can do anything else on the court. That is exactly what they had with Russel Westbrook.
Serge Ibaka to the Los Angeles Clippers (A-)
This was a fantastic signing for the Clippers. After losing Montrezz Harrell to free agency (which was practically inevitable), the Clippers went out and picked up a better center who can space the floor and play defense. Also, he has chemistry with Kawhi Leonard, the star player, after they were in Toronto two years ago. I cannot give it an A+ because the Clippers should have gone for a point guard, as that was their biggest need, but this was still a great move that the team should be proud of.
Dennis Schroder to the Los Angeles Lakers (A+)
The Lakers are the reigning NBA champions and easily the best team in the league. Last year the only thing they were missing was a scoring point guard who could stretch the floor and take pressure off Lebron James. What do they do? They get a great point guard in Dennis Schroder who does all of that and more. He is only 27 years old and he instantly makes the Lakers a better team. I applaud the Lakers for making an amazing free agency acquisition.
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