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Worth a thousand words
This NBA offseason has been one of the most shocking and exciting in recent memory, and experts have spent months writing thousands of words that dissect every trade, free-agent signing and ambiguous tweet.
But we've had enough words. Sometimes in life, the best way to express your point is through an absolutely perfect GIF.
With that in mind, we've picked one GIF that best summarizes every NBA team's offseason. Enjoy.
Credit: CBS Sports graphic -
Atlanta Hawks
GIF: Welp, that's it
The members of the front office clearly looked at the team, threw their hands up and said, "We know what we have to do ..." Atlanta traded Dwight Howard for Miles Plumlee, made no effort to re-sign Paul Millsap and basically laughed out loud when refusing to match the Knicks' insane offer sheet for Tim Hardaway Jr. It's time for a full rebuild in the ATL, but hey, at least they brought back Mike Muscala!
Credit: GIPHY -
Boston Celtics
GIF: OMG
It finally happened. Danny Ainge surrendered some of his prized assets (including the previously untouchable 2018 Brooklyn pick) and went all-in to trade for Kyrie Irving. To do it he had to get rid of Isaiah Thomas -- one of the most popular players in recent Celtics history. Boston has an entirely new look for 2017-18, including free-agent signee Gordon Hayward, and many NBA fans were shocked to see Ainge finally make his big move.
Credit: GIPHY -
Brooklyn Nets
GIF: So you're telling me there's a chance ...
They have been desperately hopeless the past few seasons, but this offseason they finally got what they've needed: A promising young talent. Brooklyn traded for D'Angelo Russell, who at least provides Nets fans with a small glimmer of excitement about the future.
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Charlotte Hornets
GIF: Wait, what?
The Hornets made some great draft picks with guards Malik Monk and Dwayne Bacon ... but they had to go and screw everything up by trading for Dwight Howard. Sure they got him for basically nothing, but on the list of offseason additions, Dwight's name sticks out like a 7-foot sore thumb.
Credit: GIPHY -
Chicago Bulls
GIF: This is fine
They likely are reassuring themselves they made the right moves, but getting Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen for Jimmy Butler is an unmitigated disaster. Chicago waived Rajon Rondo and figure to buy out Dwyane Wade, setting them up for a rebuilding effort with no potential superstars. This is fine.
Credit: GIPHY -
Cleveland Cavaliers
GIF: Oh no ... oh no ... OH YEAH!
First, there were reports LeBron James may head to L.A. next summer. Then, Kyrie Irving demands a trade? This could have been an absolute disaster of an offseason, but somehow new GM Koby Altman pulled off an incredible trade to get Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, Brooklyn's 2018 first-round pick and (after some haggling) a 2020 second-round pick from the Celtics in exchange for Irving. Cavs fans have to be left with an ear-to-ear grin.
Credit: GIPHY -
Dallas Mavericks
GIF: That's what I'm talkin' bout!
They were in a tough spot with an aging Dirk Nowitzki and no discernible young stars when fate intervened. Dallas was able to snag Dennis Smith Jr., who many view as a potential franchise point guard, with the ninth overall pick in the draft. On top of that, Dirk took a minuscule contract to give the Mavs some spending flexibility for the coming years. They may not be great this season, but they've set themselves up nicely for the future.
Credit: GIPHY -
Denver Nuggets
GIF: To the next step ...
The Nuggets scored a huge win by signing All-Star Paul Millsap, and they've officially gone straight from high school to the pros. Last season, Denver was a talented young team with a high ceiling. This season, they're expected to make a serious run at the playoffs in the stacked Western Conference. Time to grow up, kids.
Credit: GIPHY -
Detroit Pistons
GIF: Unenthusiastic applause
Sure. They picked up Avery Bradley, which is great, but they lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Marcus Morris along the way. Detroit also added Luke Kennard, billed as the best shooter in the draft, so that's a good thing, we guess. Overall, the end product is just ... well, Hermione says it best.
Credit: GIPHY -
Golden State Warriors
GIF: Trying so hard not to laugh
The Rockets added Chris Paul. The Thunder added Paul George. The Cavs and Celtics swapped point guards. Yeah, that's cute. Meanwhile the Warriors got Kevin Durant to take significantly less money than he had to, signed Steph Curry to a supermax extension and brought back nearly every important piece from last year's championship team while adding role players like Nick Young, Omri Casspi and rookie Jordan Bell. Light. Years. Ahead.
Credit: GIPHY -
Houston Rockets
GIF: Gaming the system
When Chris Paul says he wants to join your team, you figure out a way. Rockets GM Daryl Morey schooled the league in a salary cap master class, even trading for some players just so he could include them in the deal. In exchange for Paul, the Clippers got Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Darrun Hilliard, DeAndre Liggins, Kyle Wiltjer, a protected first-round pick next year and cash considerations. Now Houston just needs to make sure they have enough players to field a team.
Credit: GIHPY -
Indiana Pacers
GIF: Raging dumpster fire
Everyone knew they needed to trade Paul George, but it's very hard to believe they couldn't have done better than an overpaid Victor Oladipo (he actually makes MORE money than George) and an unproven Domantas Sabonis. The future in Indiana is bleak ... but at least it'll be warm.
Credit: GIPHY -
Los Angeles Clippers
GIF: Gradual acceptance
They probably weren't happy when Chris Paul informed them he wanted to go to Houston, but they had to know he was leaving eventually -- things just weren't working. Now is as good a time as any for this club change direction, and at least they were able to pick up some players for Paul (rather than losing him to free agency), trade for Danilo Gallinari and retain Blake Griffin to usher in the new era of Clippers basketball.
Credit: GIPHY -
Los Angeles Lakers
GIF: Stay in yo lane
Lonzo Ball could be the most exciting rookie to come into the league in a long time. Too bad we can't see him behind his dad. You can't mention the Lakers without mentioning LaVar Ball, and the controversial Big Baller Brand patriarch overshadowed what was actually a great offseason for the Lakers.
Credit: Tenor -
Memphis Grizzlies
GIF: A very grizzly goodbye
This club had a ho-hum offseason, with one notable exception. The team bade farewell to "grit-n-grind" co-founder Zach Randolph, who signed with the Kings. Randolph spent eight seasons in Memphis, and his departure continues coach David Fizdale's strategic shift from the ways of the past.
Credit: GIPHY -
Miami Heat
GIF: Hey, these guys aren't so bad
After falling short on a big swing for Gordon Hayward, the Heat salvaged the offseason by bringing back Dion Waiters and James Johnson, in addition to signing Kelly Olynyk. They didn't make any huge moves, but they're basically running back the same team that went 30-11 in the second half of last season. Could be worse ...
Credit: GIPHY -
Milwaukee Bucks
GIF: Smarter than you
They basically did nothing this offseason, and it was the smartest thing they could have done. Instead of spending large sums of money on marginal players, they held onto their cap room and trusted their young core, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, to continue to develop.
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Minnesota Timberwolves
GIF: Let's get this party started!
2020 NBA champs! They made the earliest big move of the offseason, trading some young assets to the Bulls for Jimmy Butler on draft night. Butler now joins a core that features former No. 1 overall picks Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, in addition to newly acquired Jeff Teague, Taj Gibson and Jamal Crawford. The future is certainly bright in Minnesota ... or maybe that's just the glare from the snow. We can't tell.
Credit: GIPHY -
New Orleans Pelicans
GIF: Just take it all!
The Pels were in a tough spot this offseason: They wanted to retain Jrue Holiday, but knew it would cost a fortune. So they did what they felt they had to do ... they threw $126 million at Holiday to keep him in New Orleans for five years. They're hoping Holiday, DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis can figure out how to be successful. If not, this investment will not age well.
Credit: GIPHY -
New York Knicks
GIF: What have you done!?
They were on the right track ... they really were. They parted ways with Phil Jackson, got a potential star in the draft with an unpronounceable last name (Frank Ntilikina), and didn't rush into any silly Carmelo Anthony trades. But then they went out and signed Tim Hardaway Jr. to a four-year, $71 million contract, far exceeding anyone's reasonable estimate for a player of his caliber. Knicks gonna Knicks.
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Oklahoma City Thunder
GIF: Surprise!
Sooooo sneaky ... Many teams were reportedly in on Paul George -- the Celtics, the Cavs, the Rockets -- but nobody saw Thunder GM Sam Presti coming in with the haymaker the day before free agency began. OKC picked up George, shed Victor Oladipo's massive contract in the process, re-signed Andre Roberson and added Patrick Patterson at an under-value price. Westbrook and George should be worth a No. 5 seed by themselves, and the ceiling is much, much higher. Well played.
Credit: GIPHY -
Orlando Magic
GIF: Mmmmmkay
They're excited about Jonathan Isaac, who they drafted No. 6 overall. Whatever you say. We've seen this song and dance before with Elfrid Payton, Mario Hezonja and Aaron Gordon, so we'll have to see Isaac do it on the court before we jump up and down with glee. The addition of Jonathon Simmons could be fruitful, but we're still left wondering which -- if any -- direction the Magic are headed.
Credit: GIPHY -
Philadelphia 76ers
GIF: Trust ... the ... process?
It's over! The process worked! Well, sort of. As excited as Sixers fans are that their young core of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz is finally in place, they know that all three have played a combined 31 NBA games. What if Embiid can't ever get healthy? What if Fultz and Simmons aren't as good as advertised? What if J.J. Redick goes on a nine-month eating binge after cashing in for $23 million? There's reason to be excited in Philly, for sure, but there's just as much reason to be terrified.
Credit: GIPHY -
Phoenix Suns
GIF: Yeah, it's gonna be a while
They did fine in the draft, adding two-way prospect Josh Jackson to what was already one of the youngest teams in the league, and didn't sign any veterans to help steer the ship. They had an extreme outside chance at landing Kyrie Irving, but that didn't come through, so they're stuck with a franchise player -- Devin Booker -- who's only 20 years old. They may be good eventually, but it's not any time soon.
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Portland Trail Blazers
GIF: Super confused
This group appears to be planning for something big for the future -- we just don't know what. Rather than adding players via free agency, Portland traded up to draft big man Zach Collins at No. 10 and picked up a potential rotation big in Caleb Swanigan at No. 26. Meanwhile they dumped Allen Crabbe (and the $56 million he's still owed) on the Nets, but Crabbe was one of their best 3-point shooters. With Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, Portland should be in win-now mode, but their offseason moves didn't exactly reflect that. What are they up to?
Credit: GIPHY -
Sacramento Kings
GIF: Wait, these are the SACRAMENTO Kings, right?
The longtime laughing stock of the league, they showed an uncharacteristically shrewd eye in their first post-DeMarcus Cousins offseason, adding vets George Hill, Zach Randolph and Vince Carter while drafting potential franchise cornerstones De'Aaron Fox, Justin Jackson and Harry Giles. Either someone replaced the entire front office with basketball-savvy aliens, or they're finally starting to move in the right direction.
Credit: GIPHY -
San Antonio Spurs
GIF: Haha, good one!
We're supposed to look at this uneventful offseason and think, "Hmm, maybe this is the year they finally start to go downhill." Nice try ... not buying it. San Antonio lost Jonathon Simmons and Dewayne Dedmon but brought back Patty Mills, Pau Gasol and ageless wonder Manu Ginobili. They also took a sneaky flier on Rudy Gay, who's coming off Achilles surgery. The Spurs always try to fool us into thinking they're on the decline, but we know they'll be right there around 55 wins once April rolls around.
Credit: GIPHY -
Toronto Raptors
GIF: So ... hard ... to ... keep ... smiling
They brought back Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry while adding some much-needed 3-point shooting from C.J. Miles. Yay. But they're essentially the same team that was embarrassingly swept by the Cavs in last season's playoffs. They were finally able to dump DeMarre Carroll's contract, but that won't stop this year's team from suffering the same fate it does every season -- and no matter how much the fans try to smile, they know it.
Credit: GIPHY -
Utah Jazz
GIF: I'm not crying, you're crying
In retrospect, the writing was on the wall -- but that doesn't mean it still doesn't hurt ... a lot. Gordon Hayward left Salt Lake City for Boston and took the hopes of the up-and-coming Jazz with him. They replaced George Hill with Ricky Rubio, and fans can look at Donovan Mitchell, the potential steal of the draft, as a reason to smile, but ultimately there won't be anything but tears in Utah following Hayward's unceremonious departure.
Credit: GIPHY -
Washington Wizards
GIF: Going all in
First, they matched Otto Porter's four-year, $170 million max offer sheet, then they signed John Wall to a supermax extension that will pay him $207 million over the next five years. This came just a summer after the Wiz signed Bradley Beal to a five-year, $128 million extension. Add that up and you've got ... well ... a lot of money. Washington is clearly all in with its trio of young athletes -- the question is, will they be good enough?
Credit: GIPHY
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