After taking a look at the offseason activity of a handful of teams in the Eastern Conference, we turn our focus to the Western Conference.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers all made significant moves for different reasons. The Thunder want to remain title contenders. The Kings want to make the playoffs. And the Blazers want to rebuild.
But did they make the right moves?
In this edition of the Three-Man Weave, the Sheridan Hoops staff takes a look at the additions made by these three teams and whether or not they were the right ones to make.
1. The Thunder matching on Enes Kanter: Good move or bad move?
CHRIS SHERIDAN, PUBLISHER: Great move. This will be the first time the Thunder have had a capable offensive center playing in their starting five alongside Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka. It also enhances their chances of competing for the title in a year when they absolutely must win one or face the almost certain departure of Durant.
CHRIS BERNUCCA, MANAGING EDITOR: It was really the only move. Much has been made of Kanter’s awful defense and the fact that the majority of his production with Oklahoma City came with both Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka sidelined. It is possible that he may even come off the bench behind Ibaka and Steven Adams, and new coach Billy Donovan may have to go offense-defense with him down the stretch. Yes, $70 million for four years is exorbitant for a bench player with holes in his game. But every decision GM Sam Presti makes now is geared toward preventing Durant from leaving as a free agent next summer.
MICHAEL SCOTTO, COLUMNIST: A necessary move. With Durant set to become a free agent next summer, now wasn’t the time for Oklahoma City to be pinching pennies. The Thunder have never had a player like Kanter at the center position. Consider this: No Thunder center ever had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the same game before the arrival of Kanter, who had 11 such games of out a possible 26 after arriving from the Utah Jazz. Losing Kanter for nothing would have had major consequences. It was a no-brainer to keep him.
2. The Kings adding Rajon Rondo: Good move or bad move?
SHERIDAN: He was a damn good player at one point, but Rondo’s lack of maturity as he has grown older is killing him. This is sort of like what happened with Allen Iverson, but to a different degree. Iverson’s off-court habits doomed him; Rondo’s attitude just cost him about $80 million. But as far as reclamation projects go, he is worth the risk at $9.5 million for one year.
RELATED: Good or bad moves by Knicks, Pistons, Pacers?
BERNUCCA: Good move, because it’s a one-year deal that can help both sides. If George Karl thinks DeMarcus 
Cousins is a pain in the neck, wait until he gets a load of Rondo, a point guard who masquerades as a pinched nerve. Rondo has the creativity and imagination to make every one of his teammates better and has something to prove to NBA GMs after his ugly exit from Dallas, which was all on him. Even if Rondo behaves, it is possible that his poor shooting could clog Sacramento’s offense. But if it does, the Kings can just go back to the drawing board next summer.
SCOTTO: Rondo looked like a shell of himself in Dallas and hit the low point of his career in the playoffs. His value diminished so greatly that he had to settle for a one-year deal with the Kings – a team many players bypassed despite receiving massive contract offers. Coming into the season with a chip on his shoulder and playing with scorers in DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay and Ben McLemore, along with Marco Belinelli to spread the floor, Rondo will have a chance to rack up assists. After feuding with Rick Carlisle, nobody would be shocked if a feud between Rondo and George Karl was next. Nonetheless, it’s worth a flier for one year if you are Sacramento for one year. If it doesn’t work, cut bait.
3. The Blazers blowing it up and rebuilding: Good move or bad move?
SHERIDAN: They really didn’t have a choice, but I think they could have done better than Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh when they decided to trade Nicolas Batum. Half the league has been trying to get that guy for half a decade, and the Blazers sold low on him after he had a down season. At 26, he also fit where they are trying to go.
RELATED: Who won the offseason? East | West | Best moves for the money East | West
BERNUCCA: A good move, although Portland will be a bad team for at least a season and maybe two. Neil Olshey is a sneaky-good GM who built the Clippers, built the Blazers and is now rebuilding Portland much faster than Rob Hennigan is rebuilding Orlando or Sam Hinkie is rebuilding Philadelphia. Having Damian Lillard locked up is certainly a nice starting point, but Olshey also has a roster with one player older than 27 (Chris Kaman), with three potential fixtures in C.J. McCollum, Meyers Leonard and Mason Plumlee still on their rookie deals. Now all he needs is some draft picks, and he has the cap room to swap for them.
SCOTTO: The Blazers didn’t exactly have a choice when LaMarcus Aldridge decided he was leaving. In the NBA, you’re better off being a contender or rebuilding. Being stuck in the middle does you nothing, unless you value a playoff berth and getting knocked out early. For some that’s acceptable. However, if your goal is to complete for a title, you go big or go home. Damian Lillard will be the face of the franchise going forward, which is a good start. Wesley Matthews was coming off a devastating injury and had maxed out his potential. Losing Robin Lopez and Nicolas Batum hurts short-term, but both can be replaced.