NBA Free Agency: 5 ways the Leonard-DeRozan trade will change the dynamics of the 2018-19 season

#5 Both Conferences got a whole lot more interesting to watch

This trade has assembled all the ingredients for another great NBA season together. Well, we still have the Golden State Warriors as overwhelming championship favorites, but given the certainty of that, the excitement and uncertainty on who they will beat on their path were what was going to interest onlookers anyway.

We've already talked about how the Western Conference has gotten tougher to go through, but we'd be amiss if we didn't take you through the details. The Pelicans got to a 6th seeded finish last year without Boogie Cousins to end the season, while they swept the Blazers in the first round. The Blazers themselves have two absolute studs at the guard positions, while the likes of the Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets have multiple, proven difference-makers on their squads. It will be another bloodbath to even make the playoffs this time around - with the added spice of an imminent regicide in the playoffs.

The Eastern Conference got better as well. The Raptors got swept last year against the Cavs, and were unable to add any substantial talent thus far. A fully-fit Kawhi Leonard is the best player in the Eastern Conference easily, and this gives them a sizeable edge over the rest of the Conference.

But they still have to navigate the improved Indiana Pacers, who have added shooting and depth to their wing rotation in the form of Tyreke Evans and Doug McDermott. The Bucks have made a couple of good moves in free agency as well, as have the Wizards. Getting through any of these teams in the first round may prove to be just as difficult as any challenge they have faced in 5 years of postseason showings.