The NBA is known for teams quickly adopting successful strategies from others. Playoff success is heavily analyzed to identify winning formulas, while failures are studied to avoid repeating mistakes.
After a busy year of trades and free agency, it`s worth looking at what the NBA might have learned about building a successful team. While the upcoming playoffs could shift perspectives, many of the significant moves from last summer and the trade deadline have already shown their impact, for better or worse.
Here are eight key lessons from the past year`s player transactions, valuable for teams aiming to improve this summer.
1. Avoid Trading a Generational 25-Year-Old Superstar Without Clear Reason
This lesson seems obvious, yet experience has reinforced its importance.
Since February, the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic, faced fan backlash, and lost most of their key players to injuries. However, with Anthony Davis returning from injury, Dallas has improved recently, winning four of their last five games and re-entering play-in contention.
2. Surround Young Stars with Shooters for Best Development
Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons is a leading candidate for Most Improved Player. A key factor in his improvement is the team`s changed roster.
Last season, the Pistons had the worst NBA record (14-68) using outdated lineups lacking spacing, more suited to their 2004 championship era. They ranked near the bottom in 3-point shooting. Only Jaden Ivey made over 100 threes, but at a low 34%.
This offseason, Detroit hired a new coach and added shooters to support Cunningham. Malik Beasley, Tobias Harris, and Tim Hardaway Jr. were brought in. Beasley now leads the league in 3-pointers made.
While the Pistons are now an average 3-point shooting team overall, the improved spacing has benefited both the team, now competing for a playoff spot, and Cunningham`s performance. He`s become an All-Star and leads the league in assists to Beasley for 3-pointers.
This lesson is especially relevant for teams like the Orlando Magic, who struggle with 3-point shooting and need to surround young stars like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner with better shooters.
3. Be Cautious with Expensive Free Agents in Their 30s
The largest free agent contracts for players changing teams last summer included:
- 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 six teams have improved this season, with the success partly attributed to the youngest player, Hartenstein. The older free agents have generally underperformed.
Paul George`s first season with the Philadelphia 76ers was disappointing and cut short by injuries. His scoring declined significantly, and he struggled to fill the void when Joel Embiid was injured. The Sixers likely anticipated some decline from George during his contract, but not so early.
Caldwell-Pope also hasn`t met expectations in Orlando. While injuries have hurt the Magic, they expected more from their big free agent signing. His 3-point shooting dropped significantly in Orlando, and he`s scoring the least since his rookie year.
DeRozan and Thompson have put up decent stats for the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks, respectively, but haven`t elevated their teams significantly. They are on track to face each other in the play-in tournament. Thompson`s contract also limited Dallas`s roster flexibility due to salary cap restrictions, hindering their ability to replace injured players.
4. Don`t Prioritize Long-Term Financial Concerns Over Current Win Potential
The Minnesota Timberwolves` trade of Karl-Anthony Towns was primarily a financial decision. His large contract extension, combined with extensions for Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, meant heavy luxury tax payments and roster restrictions.
To manage finances, the Timberwolves traded Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. However, this move arguably made a potential Finals contender worse.
Towns is likely to make All-NBA with the New York Knicks, and the Timberwolves have clearly regressed without him. They had already lost more games by February than in the entire previous season and are now fighting to avoid the play-in tournament after reaching the conference finals last year.
For teams like the Timberwolves, who haven`t reached the Finals, winning should be the top priority, not just maximizing profit. This is a crucial lesson for owners, especially for teams like the Boston Celtics, who face high luxury taxes but have a championship-caliber roster.
5. Trading a Star Player Isn`t Always Necessary
In today`s NBA, it`s often assumed that unhappy star players will inevitably be traded. However, the Cleveland Cavaliers offer an alternative.
Rumors suggested Darius Garland might want a trade if Donovan Mitchell extended his contract. Mitchell did extend, but Garland stayed. The Cavaliers never considered trading Garland, and he didn`t request a trade.
Mitchell and Garland both became All-Stars this season, and the Cavaliers could achieve their best franchise record. Not every situation with a dissatisfied star can be resolved peacefully, but it`s not impossible.
6. Mid-Sized Contracts Are Valuable for Team Building and Trades
Teams often build rosters with a few star players and many lower-paid players, especially with stricter salary cap rules. However, mid-sized contracts are still very valuable, particularly for trades.
The Golden State Warriors` pursuit of Jimmy Butler illustrates this. They acquired Buddy Hield, De`Anthony Melton, and Kyle Anderson on mid-sized contracts. Hield became a key scorer. Melton was traded for Dennis Schroder, also on a similar contract. Schroder and Anderson were then used to facilitate the trade for Butler.
The Suns, lacking mid-sized contracts, couldn`t acquire Butler without trading a star player. The Warriors` diverse salary structure gave them more flexibility in trades. Consequently, the Suns are struggling, while the Warriors have become a strong team since acquiring Butler.
7. Avoid Overpaying for Non-Star Players in Trades
The Knicks had successful acquisitions like Jalen Brunson, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Donte DiVincenzo, and traded for Josh Hart and OG Anunoby. Seeking to add another Villanova player, they traded for Mikal Bridges.
However, the cost was high: five first-round picks and a swap to the Nets. This was similar to prices paid for All-Stars like Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell, and Rudy Gobert. Bridges, however, had never been an All-Star. Role players shouldn`t cost so much.
While Bridges was expected to elevate the Knicks, his performance has been less impactful than anticipated. His efficiency is down, and his defense has declined. The Knicks` defense is mediocre and worse with Bridges on the court. They struggle against top offenses and are not yet top-tier contenders, and the high cost of the Bridges trade limits their future improvement options.
8. Double Down on Your Strengths
The Thunder were already a strong team with the West`s best record last season despite a young roster. GM Sam Presti made key moves to enhance their strengths: signing Isaiah Hartenstein and trading for Alex Caruso, a top defender.
The Thunder already had a top-five defense but sought to improve it further. Caruso is considered an elite defender, and Hartenstein is also highly rated defensively. This has resulted in one of the best defensive teams in NBA history, contributing to the Thunder`s exceptional point differential.
In the NBA, it`s always beneficial to amplify strengths. Already have a strong defense? Add more top defenders. Loaded with shooters? Draft another. Full of playmakers? Sign another creative player. Complementary strengths drive success, as seen with the Thunder.
