The NBA 2023-24 offseason saw some blockbuster trades, and the whole concept of a superteam was redefined. While some teams have made smart moves to restructure their rosters, those with existing superstars have added more additions to their ranks to become championship competitors that can be upended overnight.
The February trade deadline saw Kyrie Irving being traded to the Dallas Mavericks. However, this is far from the end, Kevin Durant soon joined the Phoenix Suns, playing alongside Devin Booker, Chris Paul and DeAndrew Ayton, however, Paul and Ayton left one after another.
Let's take a look at the NBA's three blockbuster offseason deals for the 2023-24 season, which arguably changed the competitive balance between Eastern and Western teams.
3. Chris Paul joins the Golden State Warriors
It was a double-edged sword for the Golden State Warriors, with management sending Jordan Poole to the Wizards and getting veteran Chris Paul.
While the deal makes sense from a monetary standpoint, as Poole has a four-year, $128 million contract extension, getting a 38-year-old player, despite being one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, may not be entirely beneficial to the team.
Given his injury history, the first challenge is to see if he can fit in for much of the regular season. With the combination of Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry's splash, the team already has a solid backcourt, and it's hard to see Paul starting with the Splash duo.
The only way to fit is that if a player accepts a backup role, he will be the backcourt conductor of the second team. His experience and ability to play make him the best choice for the Warriors, and if all goes well, the Warriors will be the NBA's 2023-24 team to watch.
2. Bradley Beal joins the Phoenix Suns
Bradley Beal was the main installment of NBA offseason trade rumors, linked to multiple teams, but his eventual base is Phoenix, where he will play alongside Booker and Durant with the Suns in the new season.
The Suns' current Big Three are biased toward offense, and people are worried about their depth and future, sacrificing four first-round picks and six second-round picks, Landry Shamet and Chris Paul to get Beal.
But with the Damian Lillard trade, they now have some role players to help the team enhance their roster depth. In the three-team trade, the Suns got Nurkic, Nasir Little Territter, Johnson and Grayson Allen in exchange for Ayton and Kamara.
With the addition of Beal, this team has made it abundantly clear that their intention is to fail if they don't win the title.
1. Damian Lillard joins the Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks made a surprise and risky trade to get Damian Lillard, who was expected to go to the Miami Heat.
To get the efficient outside shooter in a three-team trade with the Portland Trail Blazers and Suns, the Bucks gave up their two-time All-Star point guards Joe Holladay, Grayson Allen, their unprotected swap for a 2029 first-round pick and a 2028 and 2030 first-round pick.
In contrast, they knew it was a way to keep Alphabet and a way for them to win the title for the second time in four years.
Lillard averaged 32.2 points and 7.3 assists per game in his final season with the Blazers, and while there are fears that the Bucks will lose depth, they have three seasons left with Lillard and a chance to add more suitable players around him and Alphabet Brother. They are still a defensively strong team and are now real title contenders.
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