What team could the NBA do without?

[birdwatcher]

Atlanta. No matter what this team does, playoffs or not this team has had serious financial troubles for many years now. Georgia cares more about college football than NBA, and I may be wrong but I believe their Hockey team has a better attendance than the hawks

[2short]

Memphis
and i throw my hat into one of my favorite franchises that isn't the Boston Celtics...bring back the Seattle Supersonics!

[fairweatherfan]

Great question. If I were made supreme emperor of the NBA (watch out Stern!), here's some of my ideas. Also, in the spirit of election season, if y'all could work on voting me into being Supreme NBA Emperor, I'd appreciate the support.

I would never vote for any wanna-be Supreme Emperor that asked to be voted in in the first place.  Emperors don't ask, they take.  How do you think Stern got there? 

I like the idea about relegation, but it's one of those things that will never happen here because of the money involved.  And I think a few players would just flee a "First Division" team for Europe.  But it's a great thought experiment. 

Clippers to Seattle I could definitely get behind, but I think we'll have to wait for Sterling to die first, cause he's not going anywhere.  Maybe just move Memphis there, it's not that far from Vancouver where they started in the first place.

[Redz]

Get rid of the T-Wolves and force the Lakers to go back to Minnesota. 

Seriously though, get rid of Minnesota.  Charlotte maybe. Heck Detroit is getting pretty depressing too.

[Witch-King]

No way do you get rid of the Clippers. 


They sell tickets.  They share a building with the Lakers.  They make good money to support a team. 


Just rename them and bring in a new ownership and management.  Someone willing to spend money smart. 



I would dump the teams with small attendance and small TV revenue. 


This way, not only is the team talent level stronger, the team financial strength is higher across the board.

I would pick the Clippers just because they don't have a tradition of winning or even advancing far in the playoffs; there were maybe two seasons during the last decade where they had a better regular-season record than the Lakers and they never seem to have any luck as far as either drafting, acquiring or cultivating lasting talent is concerned:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/360244-the-los-angeles-clippers-all-time-could-have-been-starting-five

I mean, if the Clippers are always under threat of becoming a lottery-team then what would be the point of a big-name star from the West wanting to play there? Even given the fact that they'd be playing basketball in Los Angeles, I just can't imagine any all-star level talent from the West seriously wanting to be traded to the Clippers.

Now that doesn't mean that I feel that the NBA should 'do without' the Clippers, however it is worth mentioning.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=los+angeles+beauty+salon&fb=1&gl=us&hq=beauty+salon&hnear=Los+Angeles,+CA&ei=PsPRTJXTKMX6lwfTmtXyDA&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CAQQtgMwAA

^(That's always something to think about before one starts dissing the 'Clippers'  )

[WeMadeIt17]

Has to be Toronto.

[the_Bird]

Also, open to the idea of removing the Nets from the league. By and large, I like all the other Eastern Conference teams.

Removing the Nyets?  With the imminent move to Brooklyn, AND the Russian Mark Cuban in charge?  The Nyets are pretty much dead until they move, but NY is PLENTY big to support both the Knicks and the Nyets.

[Who]

Also, open to the idea of removing the Nets from the league. By and large, I like all the other Eastern Conference teams.

Removing the Nyets?  With the imminent move to Brooklyn, AND the Russian Mark Cuban in charge?  The Nyets are pretty much dead until they move, but NY is PLENTY big to support both the Knicks and the Nyets.

I'd rather not have two teams in NY ... but it'll work out fine. Economic and sporting wise. I'd just rather leave NYC to the Knicks.

The Nets aren't a problematic franchise.

[housecall]

The team the NBA could do without in my opinion is the one  has made the least amount of progress over a certain period of time(last5yrs.)by getting better as a franchise is the GSW.They have gotten some good draft picks in the last 5yrs.but never build around them.

They are the Pittsburg Pirates of basketball.

[JSD]

Lakers.

You beat me to it +1

[jarufu]

Move Clips back to San Diego and rename .. The "San Diego Anchormen"
Move someone to Seattle coz the Sonics just should be in the NBA
If not Sacramento, then someone has to be moved to Vegas coz the "Las Vegas Kings" just sounds right.  Also, having a team in Vegas would generate countless non-game antics
As ridiculous as it already is .. Toronto has to stay or there's no way it can be the "World Championship"!
New Orleans Jazz, but I have a soft spot for the Utah Jazz
In response to topic .. Bucks, Nets, Grizzlies, Wizards - I guess

(Move Lakers to the middle of a lake .. in the middle of the night .. while they're all asleep ..)

[Scribbles]

I say the Bucks, I think they are on the up swing and I really like Jennings, but there isn't really a lot of support for the team. Put it this way, does any of you know, or have ever met a Bucks fan? That team could vanish and most NBA fans wouldn't even notice.

Living in Wisconsin, I'd say you're right and wrong.  They're fair weathered fans and won't attend games when they're awful but when they had Glen Robinson, Sam Cassell, and Ray Allen they packed the Bradley Center.  Even last year when they got hot and made the playoffs they put fans in the seats.  But football and the Packers rule Wisconsin like the Sox rule Massachusetts. 

[RebusRankin]

Toronto is a terrible sports city. They support the Leafs like devoted Culties but that's it.

[JBcat]

If the Lakers can't go how about the Miami Heat?  lol 

[barefacedmonk]

Toronto is a terrible sports city. They support the Leafs like devoted Culties but that's it.

Actually they like all their sports teams...not as much as the Leafs ofcourse...but Jays, Raptors and Argonauts all have their own fan following.