The NBA trade part of the offseason is approaching fast and in 2014, names like Omer Asik, Jeremy Lin, Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo, Tyson Chandler and Eric Gordon could be on the move, as they could be on the trading block for teams like the Houston Rockets, LA Lakers, Chicago Bulls, NY Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers.
The playoffs are coming and that will take over the basketball world until the summer, but for the teams that aren't in the postseason, the offseason begins now. Omer Asik is likely to get moved over the summer after he was close to getting traded this year, while Chandler could also be moved with Phil Jackson taking over, as he needs to clear space and Chandler has a massive contract.
Jeremy Lin is getting into the final year of his three year contract and that means the Rockets could have some takers despite the price since it will be expiring now. The Pelicans could look to move Gordon after a couple years of rumors, while Kevin Love and Rajon Rondo are sure to get mentioned again after the deadline this year saw countless rumors involving the two players. Love will be a free agent in two years and the Timberwolves may move him ahead of time to ensure they get some value in return.
For fun, here is a look back to before the season to see how some teams were predicted to go as we looked at what clubs could be the most improved in the NBA this year.
The NBA season is just around the corner and after a crazy offseason came and went with players like Josh Smith and Dwight Howard changing uniforms as well as some interesting trades, it's time to look at the most improved teams heading into the season, with the best options in the New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons and the Brooklyn Nets.
The Pelicans easily belong on this list if only for trying to improve, as they pulled off two of the best trades in the offseason by snagging both Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday in deals from the Kings and the Sixers. The Pelicans felt that despite being one of the worst teams in the league last season, their young players had enough talent to turn things around with some veteran help, so the team went out and got some.
The Kings were moving in a new direction and the team took advantage by getting the deal for Evans and the better one might be from the Sixers, as Holiday has consistently been showing that he is one his way to being one of the best young guards in the league. The Kings and the Sixers were going nowhere, now the two young players have something to actually play for and with Anthony Davis already there as well as Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson, the Pelicans will not be a walk over team in the West.
Holiday may start over Evans, but that really isn't an issue, as both can come off the bench at times and Holiday will try and work on improving his game even more after averaging nearly 20 points last season with eight assists. The Kings liked Evans, but realized that they still needed to sign DeMarcus Cousins, so instead they traded away the former rookie of the year. Those additions along with a solid core already should make for a bottom playoff team in NO after the Hornets won 27 games and lost 55 last season.
The Trail Blazers could be an interesting team as well with LaMarcus Aldridge, already on the roster and with Mo Williams coming in, the team could turn things around. The team has a great young star in Damian Lillard and they were able to snag Thomas Robinson from the Rockets after they needed the space for Dwight Howard and years down the line that could be considered a team-changing move.
The Chicago Bulls are already improved from last season just due to the fact that Derrick Rose is back in the lineup, but beyond that the team added even more. One of the main weaknesses for the team last season with three point shooting, so what did they do? They signed one of the best long range shooters in the league in Mike Dunleavy and now they will have a chance to greatly improve their shooting from long range while also helping things be more efficient on the floor overall. The team drafted Tony Snell and also added a couple free agents to shore up the bench. The Bulls feel that they can challenge the Heat and with Rose back, there's no reason to think they won't be there in the conference finals.
