The NBA is known for its copycat nature. Teams closely observe playoff successes and failures to adapt strategies. A year filled with significant trades and free agency moves provides valuable insights into building a winning team. While the upcoming playoffs may shift perspectives, many recent transactions have already yielded clear outcomes.
Here are eight key lessons from the past year`s transactions, relevant for teams aiming to improve this summer.
1. The Peril of Trading a Generational 25-Year-Old Star Unexpectedly
This lesson should be obvious, yet experience has made it clearer.
Since February, the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic, faced fan backlash, and saw key players sidelined by injuries. Despite these challenges, recent wins have improved their play-in tournament chances.
2. Surround Young Stars with Shooting Talent
Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons is a strong contender for Most Improved Player. This improvement is partly due to a better team environment.
The Pistons, after a poor season, previously struggled with outdated lineups hindering spacing, reflected in their poor 3-point shooting stats.
However, changes in coaching and player acquisitions brought in shooters like Malik Beasley, Tobias Harris, and Tim Hardaway Jr., creating space for Cunningham. Beasley now leads the league in 3-pointers made.
This enhanced spacing has benefited both the team, now contending in the Eastern Conference, and Cunningham, an All-Star this season. His assists on 3-pointers to Beasley and Hardaway highlight this synergy.
This lesson is particularly relevant for teams like the Orlando Magic, who need to improve their 3-point shooting to support players like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
3. Exercise Caution with High-Priced Free Agents in Their 30s
The largest contracts signed by free agents switching teams last summer include:
- Paul George (34 years old): four years, $212 million
- Isaiah Hartenstein (26): three years, $87 million
- DeMar DeRozan (35): three years, $74 million
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (31): three years, $66 million
- Tobias Harris (32): three years, $52 million
- Klay Thompson (34): three years, $50 million
Only two of these players` teams have improved, with the youngest player, Hartenstein, being part of a success story. The older free agents` outcomes are less positive.
Paul George`s season with the Philadelphia 76ers has been disappointing, marked by decreased scoring and injuries. This decline occurred earlier in his contract than anticipated.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in Orlando has also underperformed, with the Magic`s struggles partly attributed to injuries but also to his lower 3-point shooting percentage compared to his previous seasons.
While DeMar DeRozan and Klay Thompson have performed statistically well for the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks, respectively, their teams haven`t significantly improved. They are even potentially facing each other in the play-in tournament. Thompson`s contract also restricted Dallas`s roster flexibility.
4. Avoid Sacrificing Current Talent for Long-Term Financial Concerns
The Minnesota Timberwolves` trade of Karl-Anthony Towns was primarily financially motivated. His large contract extension and future luxury tax implications led to his trade for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
However, this move weakened a potential contender. Towns is performing at an All-NBA level with the New York Knicks, while his former team has regressed, struggling to reach their previous season`s success.
Winning should be the primary goal for NBA teams, especially those like the Timberwolves seeking their first Finals appearance, rather than just maximizing profit. This lesson is relevant for teams like the Boston Celtics, balancing high payroll with championship aspirations.
5. Trading a Star Player Isn`t Always Necessary
Despite the trend of trading unhappy star players, the Cleveland Cavaliers offer an alternative. Rumors suggested Darius Garland might seek a trade if Donovan Mitchell extended his contract, but Mitchell signed, and Garland remained.
The Mitchell-Garland backcourt has thrived, with both becoming All-Stars and the Cavaliers potentially achieving their best franchise record.
While not every situation resolves peacefully, as seen with the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler III, keeping a star player is sometimes viable.
6. Mid-Sized Contracts Hold Significant Value
In the current NBA, teams often lean towards either star-heavy or minimal-contract rosters. However, mid-sized contracts remain valuable, especially for trades, due to salary-matching rules.
The Golden State Warriors` pursuit of Jimmy Butler III illustrates this. They acquired players like Buddy Hield, De`Anthony Melton, and Kyle Anderson with mid-sized contracts. These players, and subsequent trades involving them, allowed the Warriors to acquire Butler without dismantling their core stars, unlike the Phoenix Suns, who lacked such contract flexibility and struggled to make similar moves.
This flexibility has contributed to the Warriors` improved performance compared to the Suns.
7. Avoid Overpaying for Non-Star Players in Trades
The Knicks made successful acquisitions like Jalen Brunson and trades for Josh Hart and OG Anunoby. However, their trade for Mikal Bridges, costing significant draft capital, raises questions.
The Knicks traded a package similar to those for Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell, and Rudy Gobert, all perennial All-Stars. Bridges, while a good player, isn`t of that caliber. Role players shouldn`t demand such high draft pick costs.
Bridges` performance in New York hasn`t elevated the team as expected. The Knicks` defense has not improved with him, and they still struggle against top teams. Their record against elite teams remains poor, limiting their contender status and future improvement options due to depleted draft assets.
8. Emphasize and Enhance Existing Strengths
The Oklahoma City Thunder were already strong, but they improved further by acquiring Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso, reinforcing their defensive prowess.
Despite already having a top defense, the Thunder prioritized even greater defensive strength. Caruso and Hartenstein are statistically top defenders, contributing to the Thunder`s historically strong point differential.
In the NBA, maximizing strengths is key. Whether it`s defense, shooting, or playmaking, adding more talent in areas of strength can propel a team to greater heights, as demonstrated by the Thunder`s success.
