2017 NBA Offseason: 3 Important Names to Know

Boston Celtics
Boston seems to be the only team in the east trending upwards. They have the #1 draft pick (Markelle Fultz?) and enough cap flexibility to pursue Gordon Hayward (player for Brad Stevens in college). They could also move the top pick and other assets for Paul George or Jimmy Butler. What the Celtics do the next few weeks will be a major story.

Chris Paul
If CP3 resigns with the Clippers, it will remain business as usual in the west, as far as the Clippers go. But if CP3 makes a move, to say the Spurs, that puts the Spurs in the conversation to knock off the Warriors. Lot of big ifs though.

Carmelo Anthony
Don't laugh. Knicks Melo may have been a bust but "Olympic Melo", as last seen in the summer of 2016 is a very prolific scorer, when surrounded by other great talent. If he wound up being traded to the Cavs or Clippers, he would be a secondary scorer and could really have a larger impact than he would as a go-to guy on the Knicks.

By Michael Schneid