Chapter 296: Nike’s Fall From Grace.
(TL/n: Sorry for the missed updates. Life got a bit hectic the past two days. Good news is, I'm back on track, and the missed Chapters will be dropping slowly throughout the day.)
As the free agency frenzy simmered down, the Lakers made a surprising move — they decided not to re-sign Jeremy Lin. Instead, they scooped up last season's Finals standout, Matthew Dellavedova, on a veteran minimum contract.
Dellavedova's decision to leave the Cavaliers was simple. In Los Angeles, he'd get more minutes and possibly even a starting role.
The Lakers' second-year guard, Jordan Clarkson, showed promise but was more suited for a sixth-man role. Meanwhile, Dellavedova's gritty defense and three-point shooting fit the Lakers' current needs perfectly.
In addition to Dellavedova, the Lakers kept stacking their roster with veterans. Richard Jefferson, one of the famed 'Nets Big Three,' joined the team. Perkins, who had previously played alongside LeBron James, also signed on. Even Amar'e Stoudemire and Seth Curry — Steph's younger brother — inked deals with the purple and gold.
The Lakers' offseason moves had fans reminiscing about the 2010 Heat. Once again, LeBron was building a superteam, plugging in experienced veterans to bolster their championship chances.
The new-look Western Conference was shaping up to be a brutal battleground.
The defending champions, the Warriors, remained a powerhouse. The Spurs had bolstered their roster by signing LaMarcus Aldridge. The Rockets welcomed back a fully healthy Chris Bosh. And, of course, the Lakers now boasted a superteam with their 'epic' Big Three.
These four juggernauts were in a league of their own. The West was no longer the chaotic, free-for-all battlefield it had been in the past. Instead, it was top-heavy, with a clear hierarchy.
Even the perennial playoff race would feel the squeeze. Gone were the days when the eighth seed in the West could notch 50 wins.
One Western team that did make waves, however, was the Kings.