One of the most entertaining offseasons in NBA history has hyped up the 2019-20 NBA season which is set to tip off on Tuesday Night.

Heading into the past offseason, after the Toronto Raptors captured their first NBA title in franchise history, many free agents were ready to move in a different direction. Resigning wasn’t a common move for many, but all-star Klay Thompson, after rumors spread about possibly joining the Lakers, signed a monster deal with the Golden State Warriors to remain in the Bay Area. 

That was a well needed sign for the Warriors because, shortly after, they lost star forward Kevin Durant to the Brooklyn Nets. Kevin Durant was up in the air about what team to sign with, and the safe sign would be to rejoin the Warriors and continue the team’s 3-year dominance. But Durant chose to try and silence the haters and signed with the Nets, along with ex-Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving, who also struggled finding a true connection and bond in his franchise.

A team that continues to be a threat every year in the Western Conference, is the Houston Rockets. And that is because of the man with the beard, James Harden. Harden averaged 36 points last year, but with the addition of Russell Westbrook, will it help the Rockets and Harden, or will chaos launch in Houston? Two great friends, and huge personalities who love to have the ball in their hands at all times, the dynamic duo will work, but the struggles of James Harden and Russell Westbrook in the playoffs will continue, and the Rockets won’t see past the Western Conference Finals.

The NBA was in shock when finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, to return to his hometown. Shortly after signing, the Clippers made a deal to acquire star forward Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder. After having a successful year, the Clippers quickly jumped from playoff contenders to NBA title favorites.

The other team in Los Angeles, the Lakers, acquired teammate of Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, an excellent 3-point shooter that was a huge part of the Toronto Raptors’ championship run. The Lakers were able to lock in Anthony Davis, but had to give up young talent like Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart. The team in purple and gold overall had an A+ offseason because they were able to keep one young rising star named Kyle Kuzma. The former Utah Swoop will bring life to the second unit for the Lakers, giving the team the depth they need in order to make a run at title number 17.

Rival to the Lakers, the Boston Celtics, were able to make up for loss of Kyrie Irving, by acquiring all-star Kemba Walker from the Charlotte Hornets. Unfortunately, the team did lose veteran Al Horford to the 76ers, who are the favorites to win the East.  Assuming everyone stays healthy and Ben Simmons improves his mid-range and 3-point shooting, the Celtics and 76ers should be the rulers of the Eastern Conference.

The one seed Milwaukee Bucks lost in heartbreak fashion last year to the Toronto Raptors, but Giannis Antetokumpo has shown, heading into this season, that he will do whatever it takes to be an NBA champion. There is no one in this league that can stop the Greek Freak, but after many teams built up their franchises this offseason, the Bucks made hardly any moves. That could be a good thing or it could be a bad thing. 

I am unsure that the Bucks have what it takes to beat a team like Boston or Philly in a seven game series if they don’t have home court advantage. The City of Boston and Philadelphia are two of the craziest and passionate fan bases in the world, and with the deep rosters they have built, I don’t see any other match up in the Eastern Conference Finals then one between the 76ers and Celtics.

The Western Conference gets deeper year after year. There are 11 legitimate playoff contenders in the West, and of those 11, 6 teams could easily be the team representing the Western Conference in the NBA Championship. Even after the Warriors lost Kevin Durant, the Golden State Warriors are my Western Conference Champion favorites, slightly ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers. Here is why. 

The Warriors acquired D’Angelo Russell in a sign and trade with Kevin Durant, so they regained some super power despite the loss of KD. Even though Klay Thompson will be out the majority of the season, he will return at some point, and I have no doubt in my mind that he will continue to produce at the level he was at this past year. 

And last but not least, the Warriors have the greatest shooter the game has ever seen, a top three player in the league, and the best point guard in the league, Stephen Curry. The two time MVP, will win another MVP and lead his Golden State Warriors back to the NBA finals for the sixth straight year.