Via Yaron Weitzman
FOX Sports NBA Writer
So it was an exciting first few days of NBA discount season.
We’ve seen a lot of teams change All-Stars, big expansions – oh, and Kevin Durant it seems move.
More big moves are sure to come, but this seems like the right time to pause and reassess where things are across the NBA. With that in mind, let’s take a look at five winners and one loser in the season so far.
Former teammates James Harden, John Wall enter the important season 2022-23
FOX Sports NBA writer Yaron Weitzman joins Joy Taylor on “The Herd” to discuss the latest on the NBA’s freelance agency.
Winner: Rafael Stone and Houston Rockets
Have you ever looked at the situation of a team and wished a market existed for you to place a short bet? Well, the general manager of the Rockets, Rafael Stone, basically did exactly that when he sent James Harden arrive brooklyn network in exchange for a draft selection pack, as opposed to a young star in Ben Simmons are from Philadelphia 76ers.
Two years later, the Nets are on the verge of collapse, and the Rockets own all of their future options. Combine that with the addition Jabari Smith through the third pick in the draft, and suddenly the Rockets seem to be on the cusp of something interesting.
Winner: The Boston Celtics’ title chance
Remember how during the NBA Finals it became increasingly clear that the Celtics could actually use someone else who could produce offensive behavior? Well, apparently the group’s brain trust agreed.
enter Malcolm Brogdonwhom the Celtics acquired with a combination of reserves and first pick in 2023. They also added Danilo Gallinari. Neither is a perfect player, and both must prove they can continue on the field, but both will add the juices needed to a Celtics team that has won two titles. .
Winner: Chaos Fans
It’s hard to believe Kyrie Irving ends in Philly. All indications are that he landed with LeBron James again, this time in Los Angeles Lakers purple and yellow. There is no other team in a position worthy of their Irving trade-off. So yeah, we’ll hear a lot about him over the next 12 months.
Winner: “WOW” Trading Fan
We had two of the first 48 hours of free agency.
First is Atlanta Hawks‘decided to send a bunch of choices to San Antonio Spurs exchange for All-Star 25 years old Dejounte Murray. It’s an interesting deal and will make the Hawks better. Murray’s defense and versatility make him a great fit alongside Trae Young.
However, the trading of the week belongs to Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazzwho then three times nominated Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert went to Minnesota in exchange for what appeared to be 22 draft options.
This is an attractive deal as we’ve seen in recent years. From the Minnesota side, the addition of Gobert means they will now play The town of Karl-Anthony at level 4. You don’t see many teams these days rolling around with two seven-legged players on the field.
T-Wolves and new head Tim Connelly clearly think that Gobert – specifically his defense – is what the Town is now-Anthony Edwards core needs to make the next leap. I’m not sure I agree, at least not to the extent that I would give up all unprotected options. But also: Who cares! This deal makes the T-Wolves better, and the basketball fan in me loves it.
Loser: Donovan Mitchell (present)
Meanwhile, for Utah, this appears to be the beginning of the end of the Mitchell era. Sending Gobert is one thing, but doing so for a draft equity-focused package is a clear message from new CEO Danny Ainge. There is also this one:
Loser: Nets Culture
Is Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving responsible for the Nets’ failure?
Marcellus Wiley and Emmanuel Acho are contemplating who is to blame for the failure of Brooklyn.
To be fair, the Nets’ decision to sell their souls 3 years ago in exchange for Durant and Irving’s services is something every team should take. And they certainly knew that Irving would carry luggage. That said, I don’t think anyone saw it this are coming.
Or Durant asked to trade just one year after signing a four-year contract extension.
The good news for the Nets is that they should have some solid options. You’ll never get fair value for Durant, but general manager Sean Marks could pull together a bunch of young players and/or draft picks in a deal, paired with Simmons (remember him). no?), which can give the Nets a youthful, core goodness to rebuild around.
But Irving and Durant are supposed to bring titles to Brooklyn, not just headaches. This “super team” would go down as one of the biggest failures in professional sports history.
Yaron Weitzman is an NBA writer for FOX Sports and the author of Rise to the top: the Philadelphia 76ers and the most incredible run in professional sports history. Follow him on Twitter @YaronWeitzman.
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