Sub .500 Teams

[Celtic#9]

Thanks to the front page for the idea  Ok so with the lockout ruining the summer I have a topic for discussion about the Non-playoff teams. "Which sub .500 will be a contender in the next few years?" Think like the Thunder and how they were a few years back. And maybe even the Memphis Grizzlies turn around if they do well next year.

Here are teams to consider:
Toronto Raptors
Detroit Pistons
Minnesota T-Wolves
Charlotte Bobcats
Indiana Pacers
Utah Jazz
Cleveland Cavs
Washington Wizards
LA Clippers
Golden State Warriors
Phoenix Suns
Sacramento Kings
Newe Jersey Nets
Milwaukee Bucks


#1: For me it's the the Cippers. Very young and athletic big men to pair with the veteran Kaman. Good guards and a good trade for Mo Williams except for they could have Irving now but who wouldn't have pulled the trigger. They are missing a 3 but still looking good.

Williams/Bledsoe
Gordon/Aminu
Gome/Aminu/Moon
Griffin/KamanThompson
Jordan/Kaman

Add a vetersn SF(Tayshaun Prince?) and they look good to me.


#2: New Jersey Nets
#3: Milwaukee Bucks

[Fan from VT]

Contender or Playoffs?

For playoffs, in the next 3 years i could see each of the following making the playoffs at least once:

LAC for reasons mentioned.

Indiana: Collison-Hill-Granger-Hansborough-Hibbert-lots of capspace. they could sneak in.

Bucks: they were there recently; full healthy season from bogut and/or a nice 3rd year bump from jennings, their back in.

Nets: Deron, Lopez, and if they get lucky with a big FA, they'd  be in.

Golden State: New owners, maybe they'll play their cards right and/or hire a coach that can teach defense.

Wizards: Wall is very very good, McGee has legit talent, plus solid draft, they could sneak in soon.

But for contender, I'd have to go with Utah.
They are the team on this list that is generally regarded as well run, and a strong front office is what gives you the best odds of truly contending. They have legit players at every position now that they snagged Burks for SG and still have Bell. They have legit size in Kanter, Millsap, Favors, Okur, Jefferson, for depth or trade bait. They have picks from the Williams deal. They won 39 games last year, a tumultuous season. If they don't re-sign Kirilenko, they'd go into next offseason with Jefferson, Millsap, Favors, Kanter, Burks, Harris, Bell, Hayward under contract at 48 million, so depending on the CBA they could add an impact FA at that time.

[PosImpos]

I believe the Nets will make it happen.  They'll hold onto Deron and with him and the new arena (plus loads of cash) they'll recruit some good guys to play for 'em.  I'm pulling for the Nets to at least be better than the Knicks in the coming years.  

Gotta have some Atlantic division team to cheer for while the Celtics are in the "irrelevant middle-of-the-road rebuilding" phase.


I think the Bucks have a good chance of being relevant for a few years if the league institutes a hard cap.  They are well managed, and have a good core -- they just can't afford to spend a lot of money.  If Jennings and Bogut can continue developing and stay healthy, and they get solid scoring role players around them (not just non-shooters who can defend like last year), they can consistently win 50 games and perhaps go deep into the playoffs.  In the 2010 playoffs I think they would have been a serious challenger if Bogut hadn't gone down.

[Eja117]

I definitely think a lot of these teams can be good and the results of the lockout will matter. Will we get revenue sharing? 

[action781]

I'd really like to see the Kings put that talent together and start getting some wins out of it.  Demarcus cousins definitely has that intensity and fire of a winner in him, he just needs to be shown how to channel it in the right way.

[Celtic#9]

I think the Kings are 1 all star and another starter away if Jimmer turns out well. They need a vet on the floor. Honestly, I think if they can get someone like Prince and someone like David West from FA they can be in the playoffs this year and maybe even contenders next year.

[Celtic#9]

Contender or Playoffs?

 

I was talking contenders, maybe a 50 win team.