Golden State Warriors Now Unbeatable in the NBA? 3 'Superteam' Deals to Match GSW
When Kevin Durant moved into the Bay Area to form the Golden State "superteam," the Warriors have had a target on their backs.
The decorated Thunder forward joined an already-star studded 2016 unanimous MVP Stephen Curry, sharpshooting Klay Thompson and defensive juggernaut Draymond Green in June—a move met with raging criticism from fans and NBA analysts.
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith notably ranted against the former MVP, calling him "weak" for leaving his Oklahoma City team who almost beat the Warriors in a 7-game Western Conference Finals matchup last season.
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Nevertheless, this development came as a challenge to top-tier NBA teams and players to work together in stopping an impending dynasty. Here are just some of the possible deals teams can concoct next season, formulated by Fox Sports using the ESPN Trade Machine.
Kevin Love to New York for Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony is undoubtedly the New York Knicks' franchise star. Even with his age and the rise of the much younger Latvian big Kristaps Porzingis, the former NBA scoring leader has proved that he still has one of the skillsets in the league. He recently proved that with an outstanding performance during the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Kevin Love, on the other hand, is not exactly loved by fans in Cleveland, or of the NBA for that matter. He did not step up to the plate much in the postseason, only making his presence felt in the last Finals game by shutting down Curry in the crucial minutes.
This move would guarantee the Cavaliers a pure scorer and veteran closer, feeding off of LeBron James' ball movement. The Knicks, meanwhile, will have a younger forward to match the promising Porzingis.
Blake Griffin to the Hawks for Paul Millsap and Kyle Korver
Atlanta successfully drew All-Star center Dwight Howard back to his hometown during this offseason, but with the departure of Jeff Teague, they are still far from a much-coveted title run.
Enter Blake Griffin, who is one of the rumored trade options in Los Angeles. With the former Slam Dunk Contest champ joining Howard, the Hawks can now build upon a formidably athletic frontcourt.
The Clippers, on the other hand will now have their own "superteam." Paul Millsap might be a tad smaller than most bigmen, but his versatility in the post and rebounding ability provides as much to the team as Griffin did. They will also have their own Splash Brothers, in the form of veterans J.J. Reddick and a valuable addition in Kyle Korver. With the passing and leadership of Chris Paul, they can have enough fuel for a title run.
John Wall and Markieff Morris to Utah for Derrick Favors and George Hill
This move would of course be leaning heavily to the Jazz—John Wall is the Wizards' undisputed superstar. But with rumors of the guard and Bradley Beal's locker room issues, this would be a smart move for Washington.
As for Utah, they might be losing defensive prowess in Derrick Favors, but it gives way to fast-paced offense-focused play, reminiscent of the 2004 Phoenix Suns. Speaking of the 2004 Suns, the Jazz had acquired Joe Johnson in the offseason. With Wall, giant Rudy Gobert and the shooting of Joe, Gordon Hayward and Markieff Morris, the Jazz would give the Warriors a heart attack.
Other teams may also land the spotlight: the Chicago Bulls with Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo, the Boston Celtics with Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford, and the Thunder, with a vengeful Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo.
Nevertheless, the fans will have to keep their cool until October, when the new NBA season tips off.
