The release of the 2017-18 NBA schedule is the first step into the preseason. It gives the basketball spectrum a chance to look ahead and project a team’s possible destiny.
The schedule also gives the basketball world the chance to see when certain players return to their old teams. As a result, it makes the schedule release a little more enticing.
Here are the Top-5 returns for the upcoming NBA season:
5.) Jimmy Butler returns to Chi-Town (February 9)
Before Jimmy Butler left north to the state of Minnesota, he treated 35 staffers to dinner. When the superstar returns to Chicago, he just might treat his former team to a loss. The rumors about a possible Butler trade swirled around the league the entire beginning of summer. The Cavaliers pursued the star as well but the talks fell through.
Butler was under the impression he would remain in the plans of the Bulls Front Office. He was wrong.
“I thought I was going to be there so I’m not going to say word for word what they said, but when I left there I did think I was going to be there,’’ Butler said via the Chicago Sun-Times. “But like I said, it’s a business and it is what it is.”
4.) DeMarcus Cousins comes back to the capital of California (October 26)
Boogie Cousins was traded during All-Star weekend in New Orleans. It was ironic that he dealt to the hosting city and team. After the deal, Cousins had some not-so-kind words for the Sacramento Front Office.
The talented big man said Kings general manager Vlade Divac wanted to speak with him after the trade. When the trade went down, Divac reached out to him but was in for a rude awakening.
Cousins didn’t answer.
“Nah. For what? It was a coward move, so I’m pretty sure I will get a coward response,” he said in an interview with The Undefeated’s Marc Spears. “For what? And I’ve seen this happen before. I’ve been there through all same types. … I was there with [coach] Mike Malone’s [firing]. I’ve seen how they operate. I know what kind of answer I will get anyway. So, what is the point?”
3.) Hollywood welcomes back CP3 (January 15)
Chris Paul and James Harden were determined to play with each other next season, and the two superstars got their wish.
After the trade, Doc Rivers was disappointed to see his starting point guard leave the Clippers.
“That part is over. And that bugs me,” Rivers told ESPN. “But we’re not done trying to reach our goal. Sometimes you gotta do it a different way. Because the way we tried to do it didn’t work.”
In the end, the Clippers head coach was OK with Paul leaving the organization.
“He left because he wanted to be with James Harden,” Rivers said, per Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times. “Let’s not get that twisted. I wish him well. I have no problem with that.”
2.) Paul George faces old team in the Circle City (December 13)
NBA fans love drama. The Paul George fiasco was a complete disaster for the Indiana Pacers. Larry Bird resigned and it left Kevin Pritchard in a dilemma. The new Pacers General Manager sent PG-13 to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.
“It was difficult both on a personal and professional level,” Pritchard said in a statement issued by the team. “Everyone here knows what Paul meant to this franchise; he was both a tremendous human being as well as player here for seven years. We thank Paul and his family for their contributions to the Pacers and wish him well.”
George and his agent forced the move when it was leaked that he intended to leave the team as a free agent to the Los Angeles Lakers next summer. The Cavaliers pursued George, but that ended when Pritchard changed his mind via text message.
1.) Gordon Hayward returns to Salt Lake City (March 28)
Before Gordon Hayward made the decision to sign with Boston Celtics, Chris Haynes of ESPN.com leaked the All-Star’s intention to reunite with his former coach, causing Hayward to delay his decision on the fourth of July. Hours before the decision, Hayward was leaning towards returning to Utah.
In his Players Tribune article, Hayward cited redemption as his number one reason to join Brad Stevens and the Celtics.
Other notable returns included in the 2017-18 NBA schedule include Ricky Rubio heading back to Minnesota on October 20, Paul Millsap returning to Atlanta on October 27, and Danilo Gallinari going back to Denver on February 27.
