With so many NBA trades and movements going on, there is no way to tell what the future holds. It is still the offseason which means there are more deals just waiting to happen. What we know so far is that some of these transactions will seem familiar because they involve someone returning to their previous habitat. Here are some of the deals that will see prodigal sons going back home.
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Steve Clifford
Thanks to Kenny Atkinson for turning down the head coaching job offered to him; Clifford will now be the coach for the Charlotte Hornets for a second time. Clifford had a five-year stint with the Hornets and went to the NBA Playoffs twice during that span. Let’s hope a return to Charlotte means a return to the postseason for the team.
Ricky Rubio
Rubio was traded away to the Indiana Pacers when he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers early this year. He never played for the Pacers though, due to a knee injury. Five months later, we get to see Rubio return to Cleveland, where he hopes to be fully healthy. He will be an important piece of a team that is on the rise now that they have Donovan Mitchell.
Thomas Bryant
Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers five years ago and then spent the next four seasons playing for the Washington Wizards. The Lakers needed a big man for the upcoming season, and an opportunity to sign Bryant was hard to ignore. Bryant returns to the Lakers with the hope of sticking around much longer this time. He only played 15 games for the Lakers during his first tour of duty with the team.
Gorgui Dieng
Dieng has seen his playing time decline as the years went by, but he is still a solid contributor from the bench. The San Antonio Spurs must really like Dieng, a nine-year NBA veteran because they are giving him another chance to play. He first played for the Spurs in March 2021 before joining the Atlanta Hawks. Now he is back for his second rodeo in San Antonio.
Sterling Brown
Brown had his best season with the Houston Rockets two seasons ago. He had career-highs in minutes played, and points scored before signing a deal with the Dallas Mavericks. Now, Houston’s fans have to hope that he can provide them with much-needed bench production when he returns. The challenge for him now is to prove once again that he belongs to the team.
JaVale McGee
McGee, a three-time NBA champion, is preparing for another stint with the Mavericks. He was a part of this team during the 2015-16 season before signing with the Golden State Warriors. After playing for five teams since his last stay in Dallas, McGee returns with a wealth of knowledge and championship experience that he can share with an eager Luka Doncic.
Jerami Grant
Grant has a different kind of homecoming. He never played for the Portland Trail Blazers, but he is still coming home. How? It’s simple. Grant was born in Portland when his father, Harvey, played for the city in the 1990s. The younger Grant averaged close to 20 points per game when he was healthy. That alone will make the state of Oregon welcome him back like a long-lost son.
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