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After a long decision-making process, the NBA finally announced its Opening Night schedule and the season is now under a month away with the first game tipping off on December 22. Individual workouts and media availability have already started for players and on December 6, group practices will begin.
Once the 6th hits, that pretty much marks the date where any other potential significant trades won’t be happening. At that point, the team you have is the same team you want to practice with each other for at least two and a half weeks and take into the season. In fact, maybe it’s already past the point of making any more big moves. And that is kind of disappointing considering the rumors around this offseason were absurd. Here are some of the trades that would have broken the NBA had they happened…and still could happen before things tip off.
James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets
At one point it seemed like this was almost a certainty. The Houston Chronicle reported that, “Harden wants to move on from the Rockets, the Chronicle has been informed, and is trying to force his way via trade to Brooklyn, allowing The Beard to form the NBA’s next superteam and rejoin forces with former Oklahoma City teammate Kevin Durant.”
It looked like for a few days there both teams were trying to work something out but the Nets weren’t going to part ways with Kyrie Irving, the logical choice to come back to the Rockets. It would’ve taken quite the load for the Nets to bring in Harden but also would have made almost no sense and you have to wonder if a team with Harden, KD and Irving would workout so well.
Russell Westbrook to the New York Knicks
If the Rockets had gone ahead and traded Harden, calling it a full rebuild would have been the smartest move. This means Westbrook would have been the next man to go. The Knicks are always at the forefront of the NBA rumor mill but it seems like they can never actually work a deal out and convince anyone to come in free agency. This would have been their shot to get a legitimate star to the city to pair with RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin and Julius Randle. Tom Thibodeau says he doesn’t plan on a rebuild and Westbrook could help make them contenders in the East.
John Wall to the Milwaukee Bucks
Here is one that won’t be happening but man this would have been fun. The Bucks went ahead and traded WAY too much for Jrue Holiday. They sent a boat load of picks and players to acquire a guy who has played in one All-Star game. I would have preferred to see Wall, a guy who hasn’t been giving a real fighting chance, team up with Giannis and make a legitimate run in the East. With Wall asking for a trade, the Bucks would’ve had some leverage and could have maybe gotten him even cheaper.
Myles Turner to the Boston Celtics
If you aren’t a Celtics fan, keep scrolling.
Ok….just Celtics fans here?
WHAT THE F**K was Danny Ainge doing here???? The Celtics seemed to have had Gordon Hayward going to the Pacers for Myles Turner in the bag but instead, they played hardball with Indiana and Hayward said peace. Now he is playing for the Hornets and the Celtics will continue to struggle without a legitimate big man for what feels like the 10th straight season. Ainge has drafted extremely well in Boston but his tactics as a free agent and trade getter have been poor at best.
By: Matt Lively CruelFan.com
