Paul George, Klay Thompson and DeMar DeRozan have been among the most notable names of the 2026 NBA offseason.
It may seem surprising, considering that all three are established stars who are now entering the later stages of their respective careers. Still, each was involved in one of the most notable moves since free agency began.
George landed with the Boston Celtics in the trade that sent Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. Thompson agreed to leave the Dallas Mavericks and, according to the latest reports, is expected to join the Miami Heat on a two-year deal. DeRozan, meanwhile, is headed to the Denver Nuggets on a one-year contract.
All three moves are intriguing. But what can we realistically expect from these three veterans in their new environments?
Paul George on the Celtics: A New Piece for Jayson Tatum
The speculation surrounding a potential Jaylen Brown trade finally ended on July 1, when the 2024 Finals MVP was dealt to Philadelphia. As part of the trade, the Celtics acquired Paul George.
The 16-year veteran is a nine-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA selection. His résumé speaks for itself, but so does his injury history, which has increasingly affected his availability and performance over the years.
George will wear the fifth jersey of his NBA career after previous stops with the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers, where he spent the past two seasons.
Last season, George appeared in just 37 regular-season games. He returned during the final month of the campaign and was available for the playoffs, where he had some notable moments during Philadelphia’s surprising first-round upset of the Celtics — now, ironically, his new team.
During the 2025-26 season, George averaged 17.3 points in 30.7 minutes per game while shooting 43.9% from the field, nearly identical to his 44.0% career mark.
At 36, his injury history raises an obvious question: Can George stay healthy enough to contribute consistently to a Celtics team built around a Jayson Tatum who is entering his prime, but is also coming off an Achilles injury, and Derrick White, who is approaching his 32nd birthday?
It feels like a short-term gamble — but a high-risk one.
Klay Thompson: Is He the Shooter Miami Needed?
As soon as the Heat completed the trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, one idea became obvious: Miami needed shooting.
It appears they may be addressing that need with Klay Thompson.
After two difficult seasons with the Mavericks, Thompson is reportedly headed to Miami to strengthen a franchise hungry to return to championship contention.
Thompson was one of the key pieces of the NBA’s last dynasty, winning four championships with the Golden State Warriors. But those days are becoming increasingly distant. Injuries that kept him off the court for two seasons, combined with Father Time, have gradually taken a toll.
His numbers have declined steadily, particularly since leaving Golden State in 2024.
That decline was evident during his final season in Dallas. Thompson started just eight of the 69 games he played, averaging 11.9 points per game while shooting 39.3% from three-point range. Both figures were career lows.
His shooting ability, however, remains undeniable.
Thompson has made 2,899 three-pointers, the fourth-most in NBA history. He is 74 threes away from passing Ray Allen for third place, although Stephen Curry and James Harden remain well ahead of them at the top of the list.
Miami could use Thompson in a more specialized role.
He doesn’t necessarily have to start. Instead, the Heat could bring him off the bench as a perimeter threat whose primary responsibility is to stretch the floor and knock down three-pointers.
It’s an obvious concept in today’s NBA. But in Miami’s revamped roster, Thompson could become a luxury addition, particularly with the new project built around Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo, two frontcourt stars.
DeMar DeRozan to Denver: How Can He Help the Joker?
The Nuggets made some moves of their own over the past week.
First, Denver traded Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers. That created a roster opening that the team filled just days later by signing DeMar DeRozan.
One of the most highly regarded free agents still available, DeRozan arrives in Denver as another attempt to maximize Nikola Jokic’s championship window.
After 17 seasons in the NBA, DeRozan remains productive, even after spending the past two years in less competitive environments.
In his final season with the Sacramento Kings, he averaged 18.4 points in 31.2 minutes per game while shooting 49.7% from the field. Those numbers become even more notable considering he missed just five games throughout the entire season.
Much like Thompson in Dallas, DeRozan agreed to leave Sacramento and become a free agent. Despite falling outside the NBA’s championship contenders in recent years, he was still linked to teams such as the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers before ultimately landing in Denver.
That speaks to the potential impact he can still have.
The Nuggets are coming off a disappointing first-round playoff exit last season. Jokic averaged a triple-double during the regular season, but that wasn’t enough, particularly with the inconsistency surrounding players such as Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.
It’s difficult to determine exactly how much better Denver will become with DeRozan in the rotation.
Perhaps the Nuggets are betting on his durability and consistency to provide a more sustainable offensive option — one that can help them make a deeper playoff run than they have managed over the past two seasons.
You can also read this article in Spanish: George, Klay y DeRozan cambian de equipo: ¿Cuál será su real impacto en la NBA 26-27?
