2009 Celticsblog Draft: Voting Analysis : Team of the Future

[nickagneta]

I'm not so convinced on the Denver Future Team coronation just yet as I think so much of that is contingent upon Oden turning himself into something. And I am not convinced that he is going to be anything but a slow, plodding big guy that can give you close to a double double while being in foul trouble a lot.

Maybe he turns into the second coming of Shaq but I don't see the raw athleticism that Shaq had while being very young. And without his development, there's a lot of okay young talent on Denver but nothing outstanding.

I really like Cleveland's young talent and think Miami and Indiana have promising Future Teams.

Though I have to say although that Boxer team is far from finished, their start towards a Future Team is AWESOME!!!!

[ChampKind]

I'm not so convinced on the Denver Future Team coronation just yet as I think so much of that is contingent upon Oden turning himself into something. And I am not convinced that he is going to be anything but a slow, plodding big guy that can give you close to a double double while being in foul trouble a lot.

Maybe he turns into the second coming of Shaq but I don't see the raw athleticism that Shaq had while being very young. And without his development, there's a lot of okay young talent on Denver but nothing outstanding.

I really like Cleveland's young talent and think Miami and Indiana have promising Future Teams.

Though I have to say although that Boxer team is far from finished, their start towards a Future Team is AWESOME!!!!

Thanks Nick.  I like my young veterans...guys 30 or under with 4 or more years of experience, along with some nice young pieces/enigmas.

[Roy Hobbs]

Denver has the team of the future lead imo.

What?? Madness!! The Bucks have it on lock man! That's crazy talk.

I'm not sold on Stuckey as your PG of the future, but your big man combo is certainly strong.

[Roy Hobbs]

I'm not so convinced on the Denver Future Team coronation just yet as I think so much of that is contingent upon Oden turning himself into something. And I am not convinced that he is going to be anything but a slow, plodding big guy that can give you close to a double double while being in foul trouble a lot.

Maybe he turns into the second coming of Shaq but I don't see the raw athleticism that Shaq had while being very young. And without his development, there's a lot of okay young talent on Denver but nothing outstanding.

I really like Cleveland's young talent and think Miami and Indiana have promising Future Teams.

Though I have to say although that Boxer team is far from finished, their start towards a Future Team is AWESOME!!!!

One reason I like Denver is that I like the mix of talent they put around their young guys.  If you think about future development, I like the Denver model (mostly since it seems modeled after the "Portland model" from last season).

Honestly, though, I haven't truly evaluated all of the future squads yet enough to say definitively who is #1. 

[bucknersrevenge]

I'm not so convinced on the Denver Future Team coronation just yet as I think so much of that is contingent upon Oden turning himself into something. And I am not convinced that he is going to be anything but a slow, plodding big guy that can give you close to a double double while being in foul trouble a lot.

Maybe he turns into the second coming of Shaq but I don't see the raw athleticism that Shaq had while being very young. And without his development, there's a lot of okay young talent on Denver but nothing outstanding.

I really like Cleveland's young talent and think Miami and Indiana have promising Future Teams.

Though I have to say although that Boxer team is far from finished, their start towards a Future Team is AWESOME!!!!

Wow. Cleveland, Miami, Indy, Denver...LOL It's like we're not even here. 3 of my 4 starters figured prominently for teams that were in the playoffs last year. Moon is an up and coming wing that has started before and was on a playoff team. We've balanced our youth with some solid veteran help off the bench. We shoot well, we shoot FTs well(save for Big Ben). Defense is probably still a work in progress but there is some serious talent on this team. I'm surprised at not even an honorable mention for a team that has maybe the best young player in the league(that enetered the NBA in the last 2-3 years).

[The Walker Wiggle]

I'm not so convinced on the Denver Future Team coronation.

Don't let Buffalo or Portland mislead you. There have been no coronations. I for one don't rate Denver at all. Off the top of my head, and in no particular order, I prefer Indiana, Las Vegas, Memphis, Milwaukee and Washington.

I do agree with Hobbs that some playoff bound teams with young cores muddy the waters. However, no team that I recall was ever forced to choose one camp over the other. So fence-straddlers (Cleveland, Phoenix, etc.) should have a lot to look forward to during voting.

[RebusRankin]

Never said I didn't like Milwaukee in the young team category or even Cleveland.

[StartOrien]

I'm not so convinced on the Denver Future Team coronation just yet as I think so much of that is contingent upon Oden turning himself into something. And I am not convinced that he is going to be anything but a slow, plodding big guy that can give you close to a double double while being in foul trouble a lot.

Maybe he turns into the second coming of Shaq but I don't see the raw athleticism that Shaq had while being very young. And without his development, there's a lot of okay young talent on Denver but nothing outstanding.

I really like Cleveland's young talent and think Miami and Indiana have promising Future Teams.

Though I have to say although that Boxer team is far from finished, their start towards a Future Team is AWESOME!!!!

Wow. Cleveland, Miami, Indy, Denver...LOL It's like we're not even here. 3 of my 4 starters figured prominently for teams that were in the playoffs last year. Moon is an up and coming wing that has started before and was on a playoff team. We've balanced our youth with some solid veteran help off the bench. We shoot well, we shoot FTs well(save for Big Ben). Defense is probably still a work in progress but there is some serious talent on this team. I'm surprised at not even an honorable mention for a team that has maybe the best young player in the league(that enetered the NBA in the last 2-3 years).

I don't mean to pick on you, because a bunch of people have already done it, but I think people need to realize that it's a lot harder to assess the 'up and coming teams' because there's more to look at, and I think it can be a bit more opinionated. Some people value some other younger players a lot differently.

Whereas I think 'best team' is a little more straight forward. These are teams that are built well, and we already know what their assets are able to do.

I think it might be best to wait until people get a lot of time to digest rosters before getting bent out of shape.

[KCattheStripe]

How're we not in the mix for the team of the future race?

[bucknersrevenge]

Denver has the team of the future lead imo.

What?? Madness!! The Bucks have it on lock man! That's crazy talk.

I'm not sold on Stuckey as your PG of the future, but your big man combo is certainly strong.

Fair enough. But Stuckey definitely asserted himself for Detroit when AI went down. You have to admit that Pistons team was a nightmare after Billups left. Stuckey was the only consistent and even after Rip came back Curry still couldn't keep Stuckey off the floor. By the end of the season He was putting up numbers and putting his own stamp on that team. This year he breaks out.

[bucknersrevenge]

I'm not so convinced on the Denver Future Team coronation just yet as I think so much of that is contingent upon Oden turning himself into something. And I am not convinced that he is going to be anything but a slow, plodding big guy that can give you close to a double double while being in foul trouble a lot.

Maybe he turns into the second coming of Shaq but I don't see the raw athleticism that Shaq had while being very young. And without his development, there's a lot of okay young talent on Denver but nothing outstanding.

I really like Cleveland's young talent and think Miami and Indiana have promising Future Teams.

Though I have to say although that Boxer team is far from finished, their start towards a Future Team is AWESOME!!!!

One reason I like Denver is that I like the mix of talent they put around their young guys.  If you think about future development, I like the Denver model (mostly since it seems modeled after the "Portland model" from last season).

Honestly, though, I haven't truly evaluated all of the future squads yet enough to say definitively who is #1. 

I like Denver too and with all due respect to wdleehi who put together a competent roster I'm not sure there's one guy on that team I'd take over my top TWO guys: Durant and Millsap. Oden could potentially be something but 2 years later we still don't know anything about that kid. Millsap carried Utah on his back last year and Durant was maybe the most exciting young player in the league. And I haven't even gotten to JR Smith who's scoring numbers on a per minute basis are retarded.

[Roy Hobbs]

PG Conley    Foye     Collins
SG Pietrus   Azubuike
SF Green     Wright
PF Haslem    Love       Scali
C  Oden      Boone


INJ/Future trade bait for big time scorer: Ming

Okay, here's the team we're debating.  Obviously, the biggest factor in determining how good they'll be is the development of Greg Oden.  That's a given.

I think, basement, Oden turns into Kendrick Perkins with more athleticism.  That's a good player.

From there, you've got Conley, who has good chemistry with Oden.  Conley was excellent in the second half of last season.

Green and Foye are good young wings.  Love is already a dominant rebounder and amazing passer.

Pietrus, Azuibuke, and Haslem are all young veterans who are doing great things with their teams.  Josh Boone and Mardy Collins are good role players.  Brandan Wright has a ton of upside, although time will tell with his development.

Then, of course, there's Yao.  If he becomes healthy, the team either has a dominant center, or a huge trading chip.

I really like the team, and it's roster construction.  It has post players, shooters, defenders, slashers, etc.  Maybe I shouldn't say it's "the best" without examining every other team, but I think Denver is a strong, strong contender.

[Roy Hobbs]

I like Milsap, but I don't think he's moved into elite status yet.  We'll see, though, how he responds this year.

[bucknersrevenge]

I'm not so convinced on the Denver Future Team coronation just yet as I think so much of that is contingent upon Oden turning himself into something. And I am not convinced that he is going to be anything but a slow, plodding big guy that can give you close to a double double while being in foul trouble a lot.

Maybe he turns into the second coming of Shaq but I don't see the raw athleticism that Shaq had while being very young. And without his development, there's a lot of okay young talent on Denver but nothing outstanding.

I really like Cleveland's young talent and think Miami and Indiana have promising Future Teams.

Though I have to say although that Boxer team is far from finished, their start towards a Future Team is AWESOME!!!!

Wow. Cleveland, Miami, Indy, Denver...LOL It's like we're not even here. 3 of my 4 starters figured prominently for teams that were in the playoffs last year. Moon is an up and coming wing that has started before and was on a playoff team. We've balanced our youth with some solid veteran help off the bench. We shoot well, we shoot FTs well(save for Big Ben). Defense is probably still a work in progress but there is some serious talent on this team. I'm surprised at not even an honorable mention for a team that has maybe the best young player in the league(that enetered the NBA in the last 2-3 years).

I don't mean to pick on you, because a bunch of people have already done it, but I think people need to realize that it's a lot harder to assess the 'up and coming teams' because there's more to look at, and I think it can be a bit more opinionated. Some people value some other younger players a lot differently.

Whereas I think 'best team' is a little more straight forward. These are teams that are built well, and we already know what their assets are able to do.

I think it might be best to wait until people get a lot of time to digest rosters before getting bent out of shape.

You certainly make a valid point SO and I don't think people have been picking on me. In fact, save for Jsaad a few days ago My team has been pretty absent from all conversations. Truth be told I don't necessarily even mind that. It is certainly hard to project young talent. That said a number of my players have already performed admirably on teams that made it to the playoffs and that doesn't even include Kevin Durant. And since young teams need an elite level player to build around Durant as a young player is pretty good.

[bucknersrevenge]

I like Milsap, but I don't think he's moved into elite status yet.  We'll see, though, how he responds this year.

Agreed, Millsap is certainly not elite. But he did carry Utah on his back last year when they lost Booz and despite all the hype and pressure put on Oden when he came into the league, do we really know any more about this kid than we did when he was at OSU? I put it at 50/50 he reaches even half the expectations placed on him when he came out. Right now based on what we know, I'd take Millsap over Oden until further notice, elite status or not.