Twenty NBA coaches, scouts and front-office executives told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps that the Atlanta Hawks executed the league’s most impressive off-season, giving the club seven of 20 votes in an informal poll.
Voting results
• Atlanta Hawks: 7
• Denver Nuggets: 4
• Houston Rockets: 3
• Oklahoma City Thunder: 2
• Orlando Magic: 2
• LA Clippers: 1
• Los Angeles Lakers: 1
Atlanta vaulted to the top spot after acquiring Kristaps Porziņģis, signing guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker and securing a future New Orleans Pelicans first-round pick projected to fall in the lottery. “I think they’ll be one of the best teams in the East, and they utilized every tool in their toolbox,” one unnamed executive told Bontemps.
The Denver Nuggets placed second. The reigning champions reworked their supporting cast around Nikola Jokić by bringing in Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valančiūnas, while moving Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn in exchange for Cameron Johnson.
Houston finished third after making the off-season’s boldest move—acquiring Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Orlando Magic tied for fourth with two votes each, and the LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers rounded out the list with one vote apiece.
Source: Hoops Wire
