This past off-season for the NBA was hectic. Tons of big name player moved all around, reshaping the NBA.

It all started on July 7 2016. One of the top players in the league, Kevin Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors had just come off a record breaking season winning 73 games. The addition of Durant skyrocketed them into talks of the greatest basketball teams of all time.

At the end of the 2016-2017 season the Warriors easily won the championship beating LeBron James’ Cavaliers four games to one. Following the jaw dropping blowout the NBA took a drastic turn.

The NBA as a whole has shifted in the past ten years. A team could typically win a championship with two superstars, now a team needs at least three. Teams desperately picked up the phones and started to build a solution that could take down the Warriors.

On June 22 2017 news broke that Bulls shooting guard, Jimmy Butler was headed to Minnesota. The bulls traded Butler for Zach Lavine, Kris Dunn, and a seventh overall draft pick. Butler was now reunited with his old coach Tom Thibideau.

A week later all-star point guard, Chris Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets. This was shocking news, as now Houston had arguably one of the best backcourts in the NBA, but would it be enough to take down the Warriors?

In the following days all-star small forward, Paul George was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. This was a huge surprise. George was expected to become an unrestricted free agent and sign with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers. When word broke that George was headed to OKC and join forces with reigning NBA MVP, Russell Westbrook it once again stacked the west, creating another super team.

On July 4 2017, word broke that small forward Gordon Hayward was heading to Boston. Hayward started with a slow and quiet career. However in the past three seasons, Hayward has become a top small forward in the NBA. Hayward was one of the biggest names on the market this offseason. The acquisition of Hayward instantly boosted the Celtic’s ranking in the East.

On July 22, all-star point guard Kyrie Irving requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Irving, the number one overall pick in the 2011 draft had been with the team for six seasons. He won rookie of the year in the 2011-2012 season, and helped take down the Warriors in the 2015-2016 NBA Finals. This was a huge surprise for both fans and the league.

Following the Kyrie Iriving news, the Cleveland Cavaliers signed former NBA MVP Derrick Rose to a one year contract. Rose was once the most explosive point guard in the league, but in recent years has struggled to perform at his peak due to constant injuries.

On August 23, Kyrie Irving got his wish. Irving was to be sent to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and two draft picks. This trade was shocked the nation. The Cavs may have lost an all-star point guard, but in the long run easily won the trade.

Carmelo Anthony had been trapped in New York City for years. Originally Melo signed a five year 124 million dollar contract. However towards the last few years of his contract the Knicks had disastrous seasons. Melo was ready to leave, but the Knicks wouldn’t let him go that easy.

On September 23 2017 Carmelo Anthony was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a draft pick. Finally Melo was free, but more importantly a new super team emerged out of the West. Could the Thunder’s new super team be enough to take down the Warriors?