Golden State Warriors
Additions
2015 Draft Class: Kevon Looney
Free Agents: Draymond Green, Leandro Barbosa, Marreese Speights, Brandon Rush
Trades: Chris Babb, Jason Thompson
Subtractions
Free Agents: Justin Holiday
Trades: David Lee
Current Free Agents: Ognjen Kuzmic
The 2015 NBA Champs are looking at taking the floor in 2015-2016 with an almost identical roster to last season. The biggest transactions came in the form of agreeing to contract renewals with Draymond Green and Leandro Barbosa, both of whom played integral roles for the Warriors in the 2015 NBA Finals. Green has the potential to be a great defensive player in the league and has received much praise for such from coaches and scouts around the league. Mareese Speights is another young talent who could develop in the wake of a renewed contract. With veteran David Lee being dealt to the Boston Celtics, the Warriors got younger while dumping a large salary. The seasoned veterans that remain, including 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala and 2015 NBA MVP Stephen Curry, will lead the way once again in 2015-2016 as the reigning champs prepare to defend their title.
Los Angeles Clippers
Additions
2015 Draft Class: Branden Dawson
Free Agents: Josh Smith, Paul Pierce, DeAndre Jordan, Austin Rivers, Pablo Prigioni, Wesley Johnson, Cole Aldrich
Trades: Lance Stephenson
Subtractions
Free Agents:
Trades: Matt Barnes, Spencer Hawes
Waived: Jordan Hamilton, Lester Hudson
Current Free Agents: Glen Davis, Hedo Turkoglu, Dahntay Jones, Ekpe Udoh
An eventful offseason for Doc Rivers appears to have the Clippers in better shape than 2014-2015, when they were riddled by a historic collapse in the Western Conference Semifinals. Playoff experience, or lack thereof, has been the dagger for a Clippers team that has failed to make a deep run in the postseason. Paul Pierce, who won a championship in 2008 with Rivers and the Boston Celtics, was brought in to address that issue. Pierce is not the All-Star of the past, but showed he still has clutch running through his veins in the Eastern Conference Playoffs back in May. The biggest offseason move for the Clippers, however, shocked the NBA world and turned reports on their heads. When it seemed like DeAndre Jordan was destined to join the Dallas Mavericks, the dominant shot-blocker and rebounder changed course and chose to re-sign with the Clippers. What's more is the team went out and signed Josh Smith shortly thereafter, giving them much-needed assistance off the bench at the forward position. The real question, however, is how will Chris Paul mesh with three headcases in Jordan, Smith, and Lance Stephenson?
Los Angeles Lakers
Additions
2015 Draft Class: D'Angelo Russell, Larry Nance Jr., Anthony Brown
Free Agents: Brandon Bass, Louis Williams
Trades: Roy Hibbert
Subtractions
Free Agents: Jeremy Lin, Wayne Ellington, Jordan Hill, Wesley Johnson, Ronnie Price, Ed Davis
Trades:
The big splash for the Lakers was made with the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, when they elected to draft D'Angelo Russell. The highly coveted 6'5" point guard from Ohio State is expected to be the franchise player of the future for the Lakers. A big problem for the Lakers this offseason, however, was the reluctance of big-name free agents to sign with the team-a problem that was reportedly generated from Kobe Bryant, who will be playing his last season in a Lakers uniform in 2015-2016. A Kobe-less Lakers team is hard to imagine and, aside from Russell, the team is hardly prepared for that time. Lou Williams was their biggest signing and the 2015 Sixth Man of the Year was the second big upgrade to their backcourt. The starting five also got better with the signing of Brandon Bass, a player who has received much praise around the league throughout his career. Roy Hibbert will be an interesting fit and, from an optimist's point of view, a uniform change could ignite the declining center. While the Lakers improved this offseason, a big chip still lies on Bryant's shoulder, which may be ailing by season's end.
Phoenix Suns
Additions
2015 Draft Class: Devin Booker
Free Agents: Tyson Chandler, Brandon Knight, Ronnie Price, Mirza Teletovic, Sonny Weems
Trades: Jon Leuer
Subtractions
Free Agents: Gerald Green, Marcus Thornton, Brandon Wright
Trades: Marcus Morris, Danny Granger, Reggie Bullock
Current Free Agents: Earl Barron
After an explosive set of moves at the trade deadline back in February sent not one, but two guards out of Phoenix, the Suns continued that trend this offseason. Gerald Green and Marcus Thornton both walked away in free agency, leaving Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe in the starting backcourt. The addition of Tyson Chandler, however, was the biggest move of the offseason for the Suns. Chandler has several years of playoff experience, including an NBA Title in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks. Although he is an aging big man, he will likely be the starting center and will be crucial in facilitating the development of young center Alex Len. If rookie Devin Booker can provide quality minutes off the bench, the Suns will be in good shape. However, the way management has handled young talents, including the Morris twins, makes for a potentially unstable environment.
Sacramento Kings
Additions
2015 Draft Class: Willie Cauley-Stein
Free Agents: Rajon Rondo, Marco Belinelli, Caron Butler, Seth Curry, Quincy Acy, Kosta Koufos, Omri Casspi, Duje Dukan
Trades: Arturas Gudaitis, Luka Mitrovic
Subtractions
Free Agents: Andre Miller, Derrick Williams
Trades: Carl Landry, Nik Stauskas, Ray McCallum, Jason Thompson
Current Free Agents: Reggie Evans, Ryan Hollins
Lucky for Kings fans, DeMarcus Cousins and George Karl seem to have worked something out-at least temporarily- that will avoid a trade of the talented big man. While the signing of Rajon Rondo improves the Kings' roster, it is important to consider his previous issues with Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle, coupled with the fact that he shares an alma mater with Cousins. Regardless, it is hard to conceal the fact that the Kings' roster improved with added players in Willie Cauley-Stein, Marco Belinelli, and veteran Caron Butler, who was on the Mavericks roster during their championship run in 2011. Cauley-Stein, another Kentucky product, has the potential to be a powerful NBA forward. Outshined by his teammate Karl-Anthony Towns in the draft, the seven-footer is aligned for a breakout rookie season for the Kings.