NBA's Top Trades and Signings of the 2009 Offseason

The NBA was full of big moves this off-season, and with Lamar Odom recently agreeing to re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, it appears as if the biggest moves of the off-season have been made-for now. So which teams made moves that considerably changed the landscape of the entire NBA? Let's look at the top 5 off-season moves of the 2009 NBA offseason.

5. Ron Artest Signs with the Los Angeles Lakers - This actually was a very big move in the grand scheme of things, and perhaps it was only its timing that takes away from it. Nonetheless, the arrival of Artest in Los Angeles assures us that we as NBA fans will not have to wonder which Lakers teams is going to show up throughout the playoffs. You can be assured that when Ron-Ron steps on the court, its full go every time, and that will certainly rub off on his teammates. With Trevor Ariza going to Houston, Artest is an upgrade at the small forward spot, and he should bring some all-around talent to the Lakers' 3-position.

4. Richard Jefferson traded to the San Antonio Spurs - The Spurs were headed on their way out of NBA Title contention for the first time a long time. But instead of fading off into the sunset, the Spurs elected to make one more big splash during the Tim Duncan era and bring in a basketball player in Richard Jefferson who can bring some explosiveness to the front court. Jefferson's arrival allows the Spurs to put out a very dangerous squad in the closing minutes of games, with Jefferson, Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili the newly acquired Antonio McDyess. Look, I'm not the biggest Jefferson fan, but the man can put the ball in the hole, and last season he shot the ball very well from the corners, where the Spurs love to spot up their shooters.

3. Shaquille O'Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers - Who would have thought that two of the biggest NBA stars of the past decade would end up in the mistake by the lake? Well, believe it our not, Shaq is bringing his star to Cleveland to pair up with King James for what just might be a 1-year title run. Shaq gives the Cavaliers a force inside that should counter anything and everything Dwight Howard is able to do in the paint. That said, the move by the following team may make Cleveland's objective of beating Orlando irrelevant.

2. Rasheed Wallace signs with the Boston Celtics - Yes, a move that really wasn't all that hard to make and involved a mid-level exception makes the cut at #2. Wallace's arrival in Boston gives them a front-court that just can't be reckoned with. Sure Orlando has the size, but they can't really put Rashard Lewis on Rasheed in the post. And now the Celtics can easily pull Howard out of the lane by having whomever he is guarding (either Rasheed or Kevin Garnett) stand outside on the perimeter. Getting Rasheed was a move of grand proportions, and it's a move that may have just made Boston the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.

1. Lamar Odom signs with the Lakers - As I hinted at earlier, Artest is actually a better player than Lamar Odom, but the timing of Odom's signing, and the fact that he almost went to another contender, makes his re-signing more influential than any new acquisition that occurred this summer. To put it plainly, Odom's return to LA makes them the favorite to win it all...again! Because with Odom coming off the bench, the Lakers just might have the best bench in the entire league. And now they have an insurance policy for both Artest and Andrew Bynum, leaving them a contender regardless of any unforeseen injuries-that is unless of course that unforeseen injury is to Kobe. Hell, Lamar ain't that good.