The Defining Moments of the 2013 NBA Offseason

Even though a meaningful NBA game hasn't been played since mid-June, the 2013 offseason delivered enough compelling moments to rock the basketball world to its core.

It was a summer of transition for many clubs, as they reshaped their rosters or made coaching changes.

We'll remember the Dwight Howard sweepstakes and the blockbuster trade between the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics, but there were several other landmark events that altered the complexion of the upcoming season.

What were the defining moments of the coaching carousel? What about the draft? Which free-agency moves will make the biggest impact?

Find out as we break down the most pivotal events of the offseason.

10. Andre Iguodala Makes Golden State Even More Dangerous (July 5)

After falling to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, former Denver Nuggets swingman Andre Iguodala decided to join Mark Jackson's club.

The Dubs were already a dangerous bunch, but Iggy's arrival makes them more versatile and uncontainable than before.

Iguodala gives Golden State another top-tier ball-handler, passer and offensive playmaker. More importantly, he supplies them with an elite defender who will serve as a star stopper and make the entire Warriors unit better.

His signing ensures that the team's fun ride in the 2013 playoffs wasn't an isolated event.

9. Brian Shaw Finally Gets His Chance (June 25)

The gigantic grin on Brian Shaw's face says it all.

After eight years as an assistant and a slew of interviews for various head coaching positions, the 47-year-old coach earned the trust of the Denver Nuggets.

Fans, media, colleagues and former players had lobbied for Shaw before, but he was never able to land a top-dog gig. Now he takes the reins of a franchise in transition.

Coaches and players who worked with him in Los Angeles and Indiana praised his ability to get the most out of his pupils. If he can do similar work in Denver, the Nuggets will remain competitive.

8. New Orleans Pelicans Add Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans (June 27)

Teams like the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets garnered a boatload of attention for upgrading their rosters this summer (and rightfully so). But we can't ignore the improvements made to the front line of the New Orleans Pelicans.

First, there was the draft-night trade that sent Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Jrue Holiday to NOLA. By acquiring the 23-year-old dynamite playmaker, the Pelicans successfully added a floor general who's truly a dual threat.

Then New Orleans pulled off a three-team deal that brought Sacramento Kings slasher Tyreke Evans to the bayou.

Armed with a bright young point guard and an ultra-athletic wing with size, the Pelicans' starting five is now strong enough to flirt with 40 wins.

7. Anthony Bennett Lands No. 1: First Surprise in a Night of Surprises (June 27)

As the 2013 NBA draft approached, we knew it was going to be a wild one because the top of the draft wasn't set in stone.

The night ended up living up to the wild billing.

Nerlens Noel, Alex Len and Victor Oladipo were front-runners for the top selection, but the Cleveland Cavaliers threw a wrench into everyone's mock drafts by choosing UNLV's Anthony Bennett.

It was the first of many head-turning moves on draft night. For example, Len and Noel fell to the fifth and sixth picks, while Cody Zeller shot back up the charts and landed fourth.

Trades abounded, including a handful in the first round, and the unpredictable sequence of selections and transactions continued in the second. 

Even though this wasn't a talent-laden class, the craziness of the draft was more than enough to keep us riveted.

6. 2 Elite Veteran Coaches Shown the Door (June 10)

If there's one thing we learned about NBA coaching job security this summer, it's that there isn't any.

The fact that George Karl and Lionel Hollins are no longer with their clubs is a testament to how demanding front offices are, and how tricky organizational politics can be.

Karl led the Denver Nuggets to the third-best record in the Western Conference and won Coach of the Year honors, but disagreements about a contract extension contributed to his firing.

Meanwhile, Hollins led the Memphis Grizzlies to the franchise's first-ever Western Conference Finals, and the team didn't renew his contract. He didn't see eye-to-eye with executives, so the club decided to part ways with him.

That's a rough outcome for two highly successful, highly respected coaches.

5. Andrew Bynum Headlines Cleveland Cavalier Additions (July 19)

Andrew Bynum's stock has plummeted during the past year, thanks to his knees.

His future was up in the air entering the 2013 free-agency period, but the Cleveland Cavaliers showed a little faith in him by offering a nonguaranteed, incentive-laden contract.

If his body holds up and he pans out, it could be one of the biggest steals in years. He has 20-point, 10-rebound-type skills, and he's still just 25 years old.

Bynum wasn't the only free-agent pickup the Cavs made. Earl Clark and Jarrett Jack may prove to be critical role players in Cleveland's march back to relevance.

We might end up looking back on the 2013 offseason as the summer that got the Cavaliers over the hump.

4. Jason Kidd Hired as Brooklyn Nets Head Coach (June 12)

One of the most surprising events of the summer was the Brooklyn Nets hiring a coach who was nine days removed from his retirement as a player.

The move to hire Jason Kidd made a splash, which is something the club has become good at ever since Mikhail Prokhorov took over as owner. Nets fans just hope their beloved former player can learn quickly on the job and take his loaded roster on a title run.

Kidd is surrounded by an experienced staff, highlighted by his former coach, Lawrence Frank, and he's blessed with a veteran roster that knows how to win.

Expect Kidd to empower his support system to thrive, and expect Brooklyn to compete with the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks in the pursuit of the Miami Heat.

3. Doc Rivers Leaves Boston for Lob City (June 25)

It was the right time for everyone to move on.

After a disappointing and injury-stricken 2012-13 season, the Boston Celtics brass had a bunch of decisions to make. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett weren't locks to return, so Doc Rivers and the Celtics began discussions about his potential exit.

The Los Angeles Clippers' coaching vacancy ended up being the perfect fit, and the two clubs worked out a deal to send Rivers to Tinseltown in exchange for an unprotected 2015 first-round draft pick.

Fans and media offered varying reactions to the move, most notably ESPN's Bill Simmons' assertion that Rivers quit on the Celtics. Rivers would soon defend himself and explain his departure.

With Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett eventually getting dealt, Rivers' departure was a good move for all involved. 

It allowed Boston the opportunity to truly rebuild, giving way to the hiring of Brad Stevens from Butler. It also gave the Clippers an upper-echelon coach who can help them take that next step in the NBA food chain. Most importantly, it solidified Chris Paul's decision to return to Lob City.

2. Boston Celtics Trade Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn Nets (July 12)

On draft night, the basketball world was rocked with the news that the Boston Celtics were trading their veteran stars.

In exchange for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry and D.J. White, the Brooklyn Nets sent Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Keith Bogans, MarShon Brooks, Kris Joseph, three draft picks and the option to switch first-round picks in the 2017 draft.

It signaled the official dismantling of the old Celtic guard and marked the beginning of the rebuilding process.

For Brooklyn, the transaction meant an influx of experienced stars and proven winners. It offers the club a window of opportunity to seriously contend in the Eastern Conference.

This trade has storylines within storylines, but none more compelling than Pierce's departure from Boston. He spent the first 15 years of his career as a Celtic, and seeing him in anything other than green and white will be downright strange.

1. Dwight Howard Spurns Los Angeles Lakers, Signs with Houston Rockets (July 5)

No move altered the landscape of the Western Conference as much as Dwight Howard signing with the Houston Rockets. The 2013 offseason will be remembered for the five-team competition to lure him.

His decision to join James Harden and Co. stung the Los Angeles Lakers and instantly made the Rockets one of the most talented teams in the entire league. It severely damaged L.A.'s title hopes and simultaneously buoyed Houston's odds.

We're all tired of the drama Howard put us through for the last two years, but we can't deny that he's the most formidable center in the league when healthy. That's what keeps him relevant.

If Kevin McHale can expand his post moves and add some fluidity to his game, Howard could potentially become more dominant than ever before. But much of his success (and that of the Rockets) hinges on his ability to collaborate with his comrades on both sides of the ball.

Follow Dan O'Brien: @DanielO_BR