Kemba Walker, Al Horford, and Jimmy Butler all stayed in the Eastern Conference, but they all changed teams, spicing up the 2019-20 NBA season.
There is no denying that Brooklyn Nets made the biggest splash in free agency so far, locking up Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to four-year deals, but they aren't the only Eastern Conference team that bolstered its roster.
The Boston Celtics quickly recovered from Irving's departure by signing Kemba Walker to a max contract. The Philadelphia 76ers were also able to assemble a good roster, highlighted by the signing of Al Horford. Lastly, the Miami Heat are ushering in a new era with Jimmy Butler. What exactly does acquiring these players mean for each team?
For the Celtics, they didn't get a player that's better than Kyrie, but Walker is definitely close when we're talking about numbers. Walker averaged 25.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists last season. The question is, can he play with the younger guys on the team?
The answer is yes.
Over the past eight seasons, Walker has played for an incompetent franchise that failed to build a roster good enough to make the playoffs. Yet, he never complained. He played his heart out for the Hornets and the city of Charlotte.
Kyrie, on the other hand, complained about his role in 2016 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He didn't want to live behind LeBron James' shadow, so he asked for his own team, and he got it with the Celtics. However, when things didn't go his way, he decided to walk away from Boston. Walker would not do that. He already said that the reason why he joined the Celtics is to win a championship. He will definitely do everything he can to help the team.
For the Sixers, acquiring Horford was great, considering the fact that they lost Butler to the Heat. Big Al is an experienced veteran who can be a good mentor to both Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris. He has already proved in Boston that he can work with a younger squad, so he should have no problem doing the same in Philly.
Aside from being a locker room leader, Horford also makes the Sixers a very good defensive team. He's expected to be the primary rim protector alongside Embiid. Horford averaged 1.3 blocks last season.
With Big Al on board, Philly's starting five is going to be one of the tallest in the league. Embiid is a seven-footer, Horford and Ben Simmons are both listed as 6'10, while Harris is 6'9. Add 6'6 Josh Richardson, and the Sixers will definitely give opposing teams a problem on the defensive end. One can argue that Philly has the potential to be the best defensive team in the NBA next season.
That group is tall, but it is also quick and athletic enough to run a fast-paced offense.
For the Heat, they have found a new leader in Butler. The All-Star forward decided to take less money to join Miami, and that's something fans should be happy about. He also has the support of Heat legend Dwyane Wade, which speaks volumes about the franchise's confidence.
Over the past two seasons, Butler has been able to get impressive numbers despite sharing the floor with at least two stars. He averaged 21.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while playing for the Timberwolves two years ago, alongside Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins, and he put up 18-5-4 for a Sixers team that had Embiid and Simmons last season.
So imagine what he can do for the Heat, which have no other superstar.
I have already predicted Butler to be one of the MVP candidates next season, so do not be surprised if he puts up monster numbers for Miami. The only concern about him is his tendency to clash with his teammates and coaches. But if Jimmy can keep his emotions in check, the Heat will do just fine. He should understand they are not a championship contender at the moment; patience will play a key role if the Heat want to be successful in the future.
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While a lot of people believe that Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will rule the East next season, I wouldn't count out the Celtics, Sixers, and Heat. These three can do something special. A couple more moves between now and the trade deadline could make them a threat to the reigning MVP, and possibly the rest of the league.
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