what if 23 team nba

[cornbreadsmart]

i have a long running argument with a bball hater. he says the nba is terrible because nobody plays defense, and everyone is out for themselves. i say this is'nt true for one and that the nba talent level is better than it's ever been. i say that  expansion has hurt the league and has just been catching up over the last 5 years or so and if the league continues to NOT add teams it will blow away any comparison to the 80's. he says i'm crazy. i thought of this to kind of bolster my argument.
   i started watchin hoops in 1984. at that time there were 23 teams. i thought i would list the 23 teams in order(somewhat) of strength and then in this hypothetical situation the players from the remaining secven expansion teams would then be drafted back by the original 23. worst team picks first. i thought it would be a fun "what if?" to look at.

 here are the remaining teams form worst to 1st(somewhat):

 oklahoma city
 washington
 sacramento
 new york
 golden state
 new jersey
 milwaukee
 chicago
 indiana
 mavs
 clippers
 76ers
 pistns
 phoenix
 atlanta
 sa
 denver
 houston
 portland
 utah
 lal
 cleveland
 boston

 so the players that would be drafted would be from new orleans,orlando,miami,minnesota,charlotte,toronto, and memphis.

 so if gms were picking tomorrow who would they take and how would the league look?
 if i was gm of oklahoma city i would choose dwight howard. anyone wanna go next?

[Kwhit10]

It'd be tough for Washington, since they have Arenas at the Point, but if they took CP3 they could move him to shooting gaurd.  I don't know whether they would take Wade with Arenas since both are more scoring guards who handle point from time to time.

[Max Power]

Sacramento would choose Chish Bosh for sure, Dayne Wade is other option but they have a shooting guard like Kevin Martin.

[Roy Hobbs]

New York would be ecstatic to take Wade at #4, even if he isn't a great shooter for D'Antoni's offense.  Talent trumps.

[Roy Hobbs]

So far:

oklahoma city - Dwight Howard
 washington - Chris Paul
 sacramento - Chris Bosh
 new york - Dwyane Wade
 golden state
 new jersey
 milwaukee
 chicago
 indiana
 mavs
 clippers
 76ers
 pistns
 phoenix
 atlanta
 sa
 denver
 houston
 portland
 utah
 lal
 cleveland
 boston

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

Golden State would love to get a player like Marion right?

[KCattheStripe]

David West would be a nice compliment to Biedrins in Golden State. I could see them gamble on Beasley as well.

[Big Ticket]

OKC - Howard
Washington - Paul
Sacramento - Jefferson (a need over talent pick)
New York - Wade
Golden State - Bosh
New Jersey - Beasley
Milwaukee - David West
Chicago - .... devastated that 4-5 low post scorers already went, they take Mayo
Indiana - Love
Mavs - Rudy Gay
Clippers -  gets tough at this point...
76ers - hope Calderon is there

[action781]

I don't know about NJ taking Beasley.  Wouldn't they prefer Rashard Lewis?  David West?  Tyson Chandler?

[KCattheStripe]

Mine:

oklahoma city: Dwight Howard ( Need inside scoring like woah and Dwight Howard is WOAH.)
 washington: Dwayne Wade ( Best player. PG is less of a problem if he's your 2)
 sacramento: Chris Paul (Best Player Available)
 new york: Chris Bosh ( Big man who can run. Will fit nicely with Mike D)
 golden state: David West ( Nice compliment to Biedrins)
 new jersey: Rashard Lewis ( Dearth of young post players but a whole at the 3)
 milwaukee: Jose Calderon ( Gives them very good players at 4/5 of starting lineup)
 chicago: Al Jefferson ( Low Post threat they need)
 indiana: Tyson Chandler ( Good, athletic young big)
 mavs: Mike Beasley ( Skill set fits nicely, takes Josh Howards SF spot)

[action781]

I also agree with Roy that Sacramento would almost undoubtedly take Bosh.  I think the top 4 are actually tough to argue:

OKC - Howard
Washington - Paul (or Wade)
Sacramento - Bosh
New York - Wade (or CP3)

Then I think GS takes Marion, Rashard Lewis, or Peja to fit Nellie's style of play. 
NJ obviously needs size and then IMO takes who's left of Lewis, West (most likely), or Chandler.

Lets figure out the next tier of players worth considering.  I've got: Big Al, Beasley, Calderon, Gerald Wallace, J Oneal, Okafor, Mayo, and the above mentioned players.  Then there's a dropoff to Mike Miller, Turkoglu, Gay, and Love.

[Big Ticket]

I don't know about NJ taking Beasley.  Wouldn't they prefer Rashard Lewis?  David West?  Tyson Chandler?

I think Beasley is still considered to have a pretty high ceiling.

I guess one thing that needs to be clarified.... I based my picks on the idea that the players would be retaining there current contract status.  I think that would rightfully shy a lot of people away from Rashard Lewis (way overpaid), Bosh (would he stay in Sac after next season? I don't think so), and helps Jefferson (great contract) and Beasley (on rookie deal for a few more years and players rarely leave after their rookie deal is over).

[QuinielaBox]

I would add the two Florida teams and Toronto.

I would contract the Clippers and the Oklahoma Thunder and create 4 divisions with six or seven teams each:

So in the Eastern Conference:

NorthEast - Boston, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Toronto, Washington
Southeast - Miami, Orlando, New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Atlanta
Midwest - Indiana, Cleveland, Detriot, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minnesota
West - Portland, Utah, Phoenix, Denver, Los Angelos, Golden State, Sacremento 

If I had to cross off two more teams, it might be Miami and Sacremento to make the divisions even. The draft dispersal might look like:

1. Dewayne Wade
2. Micheal Beasley
3. Kevin Durant
4. Rudy Gay
5. Micheal Conley
6. Chris Kaman
7. Jeff Green
8. thru 20. the Starting Veterans like Marion, Baron Davis, Chris Wilcox

When it comes to Boston's turn, I suppose they can make Antione Walker an overpaid mascot or a waterboy.   

[bMunch]

Here's another what if scenario, courtesy of Slate:

In other words, basketball-land has become a real-life Marvel Comics "What If" book. What-Iffing isn't just a comic-book enterprise. The popular simulation site Whatifsports.com—create fake teams made up of your all-time favorite players!—has been enthralling sports nerds, myself included, for nearly a decade. But what's the point of a site like What If Sports now that imaginary basketball has been made real? After all, Simmons' beloved Boston Celtics are the most What If team ever constructed. The Celts, however awesome on the court, exist because of a series of implausible acquisitions that instantly transformed a terrible team into an amazing one: "What If the Timberwolves Dumped Kevin Garnett for Cents on the Dollar?" And "What If the Sonics Decided To Give Ray Allen to the Same Team That Got Garnett?"