Teams More Likely To Deal This Year
I have a hunch that NBA Teams will be far more likely to deal this year. And I have two reasons for that assertion:
Swarm and Sting
Reason I: No Kevin Durant sweepstakes this year.
The 2016 free agency season was all about which team would land Kevin Durant. Virtually each NBA team with the aspirations of post-season play held their cards close to the vest in hopes of landing KD in free agency. Only the Golden State Warriors succeeded, but the domino effect in free agency after the Durant signing echoed throughout the NBA.
This year, there certainly are plenty of talented players projected to be available. But there is not the same sense of “saving ourselves for KD” in the NBA this year.
The Mighty Have Fallen In The NBA
Reason II: Sacramento Kings dealing DeMarcus Cousins broke ranks with NBA Teams hoarding elite talent.
On one hand, when the Sacramento Kings dealt DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans for literally a King’s ransom, the NBA dynamics changed. On the other hand, when the Los Angeles Lakers front office switched, the team finally converted from “denial” to “rebuilding”. And even the Chicago Bulls have had to deal with a dysfunctional team this year. So too have the New York Knicks entered the “too dysfunctional to believe” realm now.
There are 11 NBA teams with three or more NBA draft picks right now. Right now, the Philadelphia 76ers have the most picks with five, and the possibility of six at the conclusion of the NBA Lottery. Even NBA teams in the playoffs who are early exits year in and year out are under tremendous pressure to improve the team this season. With the highly touted 2017 NBA Draft, there will be plenty of teams seeking opportunity to draft.