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5 NBA Stars Who Might Switch Teams This Summer – essentiallysports.com

Published 05/01/2017, 2:19 PM EDT

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With Round 1 of the 2017 NBA Playoffs in the books, several players will be testing the free agency waters this off-season. The free agency this year boasts of several superstar names such as Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Chris Paul and Paul Millsap. We take a look at 5 star players who might leave their current team in search of something better, perhaps a shot at the NBA Championship.

1. Paul George

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Paul George is one of the hottest names in the game right now. After losing 4-0 at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, it’s a no brainer that George would be looking at his options right now. He has expressed several times that he wants to play for a Championship team Pacers have clearly failed to build a team centred around George. He has clearly shown his distrust in the Pacers and might head out west. Potential options include Portland, Los Angeles and even Utah. Gordon Hayward of Utah Jazz and several other players want their teams to pursue George. C.J. McCollum even took to Twitter expressing how he feels about PG as a teammate.

Although PG doesn’t turn a free agent until after the next season, chances are that the Pacers might work out a trade for him.2. Jimmy Butler

Nobody really knows what to expect from Jimmy Butler right now. He’s clearly established himself as one of the best two-way players in the game but unfortunately that’s as far as it goes. Jimmy Butler has been able to propel the Chicago Bulls through round 1 of the playoffs despite a 2-0 lead on the road. The Bulls got swept by the Celtics after losing Rajon Rondo to a thumb injury after game 2. Both Rondo and Wade were crucial in carrying the Bulls to the playoffs and both of them turn free agents this off-season. If even one of them chooses to leave, Butler has some thinking to do about trade options if he ever wants to contend for a championship.3. Blake Griffin

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The Utah Jazz sent the LA Clippers packing in game 7 yesterday despite Chris Paul’s tremendous performance in all seven games. That’s the same story being repeated again and again. Blake Griffin couldn’t play in most of the games because of a serious leg injury. The time has come for Griffin to pick a lane. LA is the probably the most cursed franchises of all time. They have been a no show for the past six postseasons despite having the big-three of Jordan, Paul and Griffin. As the saying goes, they’re just a good regular season team. Paul might have verbally agreed to re-sign with the Clippers but Griffin hasn’t. Griffin is from Oklahoma City and if rumours are to be believed, he might sign with Oklahoma City Thunder and join forces with Russell Westbrook. Let that sink in.4. Carmelo Anthony

The Basketball gods work in mysterious ways. LA Clippers crash the playoffs, their big-three are on the verge of breaking up and Carmelo Anthony might get traded to Los Angeles. Melo’s career is yet again at a crossroads. New York Knicks is in a terrible mess as a franchise and ever since the regular season ended, all we’ve heard about Melo is his trade talks. Trading Melo is the most realistically sound decision Phil Jackson can make at the moment flourishing both Melo and the Knicks.5. Derrick Rose

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Derrick Rose‘s star status has been under the scanner lately. While there’s no denying that he has exhibited flashes of his former self, the reality is the polar opposite. He suffered yet another injury in the last stretch of the regular season, this time a torn meniscus. Rose will be a free agent in July and he will have a sea of options to go to. Potential destinations for Rose include San Antonio who we all know as the model organisation of the NBA, something that is imperative for a injury prone player. He might always choose to play for Memphis where he comes from. He has a ton of options and re-signing with New York is not one of them, not by a long shot.

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Piyush Vats

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Die Hard Basketball fan from India. Loves everything sports! Peace.
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