What team could the NBA do without?

[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.

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.

I'm much rather have multiple franchises in really good NBA cities like NY than franchises in fringe locations like Memphis.

'Sota's a tough one, they used to draw pretty well when they had a decent team, didn't they?  It's hard to blame fans too much for apathy when they're watching a completely uninspired product; wasn't too many years ago, remember, that Kobe was getting "MVP" chants here.

[RebusRankin]

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.

They all have followings but the Argos attendance is poor, so is the Jays and the Raptors. They support the Leafs amazingly (highest ticket prices, waiting lists, it dominates Toronto sports talk radio) but everything else is so so. Particularly once the newness is gone.

[PosImpos]

No team that has ever won a championship or that has been around for 20+ years should be contracted.

I would vote for the Grizz or the Bobcats (or both), as they are newish teams and have little to no history of success.  They're also in crappy locations for basketball.

The T-Wolves would be my next choice.  They're a horribly run team with very little talent on the roster.  The fans in Minneapolis also seem to have little to no interest in the team.  I was in Minneapolis earlier this year and there was literally no T-Wolves gear on sale, because nobody ever buys any.

[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.

I'm much rather have multiple franchises in really good NBA cities like NY than franchises in fringe locations like Memphis.

'Sota's a tough one, they used to draw pretty well when they had a decent team, didn't they?  It's hard to blame fans too much for apathy when they're watching a completely uninspired product; wasn't too many years ago, remember, that Kobe was getting "MVP" chants here.

I'd get rid of Minnesota because I think they are at a competitive disadvantage compared to the rest of the league when it comes to attracting free agents. That their options are limited more so than any other team when it comes to improving their talent level.

I have no issue with their fan support. They had good crowds there when KG's teams were winning 50 or so games a season.

[slamtheking]

Minnesota, Memphis, Charlotte and Toronto would be the 4 I'd eliminate.  Based on fan support and the lack of team history in the league.

[jdub1660]

In your opinion, what team could the NBA do without if they had to eliminate one team?

-Scout

4 teams - Thunder, Bobcats, Grizzlies, and Twolves
*The Cavs could easily replace one of these 4 teams

Here's why I pick 4...

I have talked bout this with many ppl before. There are too many NBA teams. 30 teams doesn't seem like alot, but so many teams causes a few problems.
1. Good/great players get stuck on a team for years and win nothing. They either stay with the team for a larger salary, or they call it quits and run to another team(demanding trades or taking their talents to South Beach HAHA)
2. in a smaller issue, fan support gets spread across other teams, where that money for tickets/jerseys could be going to a single teams profits rather than 3 or 4 others.

Imagine if 4 teams had their rosters blown up, and those players were then sent RANDOMLY to teams through the league. Maximum rosters could be extended to 16 or 17 players, then these other salaries could be absorbed.
Think about players like McGrady, Reggie Miller, Iverson,etc
they get stuck on sorry teams, and play for years on the same team hoping to win a ring, but never do. And just to add more greats to the list say Karl Malone, Stockton and Barkley.

Get rid of 4 teams, and make the league more interesting.

[ballin]

I would simply relocate the 2 worst teams and eliminate the Bobcats and Pacers.

1.) Hawks -> Seattle
2.) Grizzlies -> Vegas

[Onslaught]

I'd like to point out that Charlotte isn't a bad place for a basketball team. We're big into basketball in this area. And we LOVED our Hornets for many years with sell out crowds year after year. Put things went south fast with owner George Shinn and it really hurt many fans and left a bad taste in our mouths. The it looked like Larry Bird was going to be our new owner and the NBA picks someone we knew nothing about. Nothing against Bob Johnson, but he never showed any indication that he gave a rats rear about Charlotte area.
So you have NBA sales all across the country not doing that great, and two owners that didn't work out well at all. It's kind of a hard sell after all that. If they could change the name (Hornets would be nice) the ugly colors and start doing better then the area would show more support.

[Bahku]

None ... in fact, I would like to see it expanded by two or four more teams.

[Onslaught]

None ... in fact, I would like to see it expanded by two or four more teams.

That would be a bad thing. We already have too many teams. The the league is watered down.

[Eja117]

KG grew up in equally frigid Chicago, so I think that worked out, but I think tons of people don't want to go there. Ricky Rubio would be in the NBA right now if his rights had gone to LA or Orlando.

KG actually grew up in South Carolina, he only moved to Chicago for his senior year of high school.

Minny definitely is a tough sell to FAs.

TP for some interesting trivia info. I find that interesting, because I think that's where Jermaine O'Neal grew up. Or maybe he grew up in Chicago and only moved there his senior year? Maybe these guys know each other better than I thought

[LakersFan_33]

I wouldn't do the Clippers. They get a better turnout than a lot of teams - As another poster stated, Sterling MUST go. He's not really committed to winning, just making money. He has a history of trading good players for money. I also wouldn't mind them moving to San Diego. Better not to have to share the spotlight with the Lakers.

I would cut Memphis and Minnesota. Their attendance is terrible, but how can you blame them? They're not really basketball markets. You just have to be realistic.

[Kuberski33]

If I had to pick one team it would be Toronto because this year they have nothing on their roster that any sane person would pay money to see. 

But I think the NBA would be better off if it folded 4 to 6 teams. That's the amount of teams that have absolutely no hope of making the playoffs and no real prospects to contend for at least the next several seasons.

The league would become a great TV product because the talent level of the remaining teams would improve and it would lessen the impact of having one great player.

[snively]

If I had to pick one team it would be Toronto because this year they have nothing on their roster that any sane person would pay money to see. 

But I think the NBA would be better off if it folded 4 to 6 teams. That's the amount of teams that have absolutely no hope of making the playoffs and no real prospects to contend for at least the next several seasons.

The league would become a great TV product because the talent level of the remaining teams would improve and it would lessen the impact of having one great player.

Raps fans are rabid; that would be harsh.

I think the Clippers would be an ideal choice for consolidation.  I live in LA and their fans are very few and far between.  They could be gone and no one would notice.

Sacramento or Memphis would probably be my next pick. 

After taking two teams from the West out, they could send Milwaukee over to the Northwest Division and shift Portland over to the Pacific Division.

[snively]

Without even thinking I have to immediately go with the Clippers

agree, last year i went to the Celtics-clippers game in LA. i think there was just as many Celtics fans in the crowed as clippers fans. 

As an employee of a downtown LA nonprofit, Clipper tickets are about 5 times more likely to get donated than Laker tickets.  Huge disparity between the two franchises.