The Golden State Warriors may have ruined the game with roadrunner-quick pacing, constellation-like ball movement and sharpshooting from distance that gave new meaning to the term floor spacing. But Kevin Durant took his talents to Brooklyn to play for the Nets and Klay Thompson will miss much of the season recovering from ACL surgery — leaving the team with more holes to fill beyond its sieve-like bench.
Veterans Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston have been sent packing and a bunch of new kids will be moving onto the Silicon Valley block. But no 2019 NBA free agency event will impact the Warriors more than Kawhi Leonard’s decision to move from the hustle and bustle of Toronto to the epicenter of the entertainment industry: Los Angeles, to play for the Clippers.
The Warriors have ruled the West for five straight seasons and those days have officially come to an end. By signing on the dotted line to play for Doc Rivers — bringing another dominant post with him in Paul George — the Western Conference is wild again, which does not bode well for a restructuring Golden State team that lost its back-to-back Finals MVP in free agency.
Here’s how the wild free agency of 2019 puts Western Conference teams on equal footing and knocks the Warriors into the middle of the pack:
First: Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
Superstars: Paul George, Kawhi Leonard
Impact players: Patrick Beverley, Wilson Chandler, Maurice Harkless
Coach: Doc Rivers
What it means: Rivers guided the 2008 Boston Celtics to an NBA title and Leonard won it all with the Toronto Raptors this year. If George, who had shoulder surgery in the offseason, can stay healthy, the Clippers will at least make life difficult for every team in the West, including the Warriors. Leonard avoided signing with the Lakers because he wanted to bust up the Lakers’ possibilities for building a dynasty. Thus, the next NBA title is any team’s for the taking, with some favoring the Clippers to win it all.
Next: Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
Superstars: Anthony Davis, LeBron James
Impact players: Avery Bradley, Quinn Cook, DeMarcus Cousins, Danny Green, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo
Coach: Frank Vogel
What it means: Despite the influx of players who are new to the team, there are a lot of players who are familiar with each other. Davis played with Cousins in New Orleans and Bradley played with Rondo in Boston. But this team also has a gaggle of former Warriors who will have insight into the Warriors’ ways: Cook, Cousins and McGee. Additionally, James, Cook, Green and Rondo have won championships, making the Lakers the team to beat in the Western Conference and beyond.
Next: Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
Superstars: James Harden, Russell Westbrook
Impact players: Clint Capela, Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker
Coach: Mike D’Antoni
What it means: With the addition of Westbrook, the Rockets now have two former MVPs instead of one and Harden is reunited with his former Oklahoma City teammate. The Rockets, however, have the same coach and many of the same players — none of whom have been able to get the team past the Warriors in the playoffs. Harden and Westbrook are both ball hogs and championships are never won by hero ball. But with the Warriors in rebuilding mode and down a couple of superstars, this is the Rockets’ best chance to get past Golden State.
Next: Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
Superstars: Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum
Impact players: Kent Bazemore, Jusuf Nurkic, Hassan Whiteside
Coach: Terry Stotts
What it means: The Warriors swept the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals and they are down a Curry due to Seth signing with the Dallas Mavericks in free agency. But with Golden State embarking on a youth movement — down Durant, Iguodala and Livingston in free agency and Thompson due to injury — Portland’s ability to bang past the Warriors just got stronger. This is especially true if Nurkic makes it back from the gruesome compound leg fractures he suffered on March 25.
