For The Next Decade.................. FOR THE NEXT DECADE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS, STARTING AFTER THE NBA FINALS WHAT TEAMS DO YOU INVISION HAVING THE BRIGHTEST FUTURE IN THE NBA. I AM GOING TO NAME ALL NBA FRANCHISES BELOW, PUTTING THEM IN ORDER FROM WORST TO BEST........ DOWN IN THE DUMPS.......... 29. UTAH JAZZ- With the Stockton to Malone era over, the Jazz will have to do something they have not had to do in 20 years and that is rebuild. They will have tons of salary cap space, and free agents are the only way this team will be able to be decent for the next years to come. This years draft will not really help because they have a mid 1st rounder. 28.Atlana Hawks- The Big Dog is starting to play like a puppy and Shareef is as soft as they come. This team has no fututre plans entering the playoffs, on a bright spot Demarr Jhonson seems to be heading in the right direction after his horrible accident in 2001. 27. LA Clippers- Lets just face it, this team couldnt win if it had T- Mac, Kobe, Duncan, and Shaq. The organization has been THE lauphing stock of the NBA. Ownership is bad, management is bad and all the players like to hit the bong. This team has no chance in the deep west for a while. 26.Toronto Raptors- (ohh do they wish so bad that they kept the skinny kid, whats his name McGraDY?) Yes they have the best dunk artist of all time and yes they do have a top pick in this years draft. SO WHAT. They are a canadian team and there best player misses every other game. I cant see this team really becoming a contender Because free agents dont want to live in Canada, and Vince is not a true leader. 25. Memphis Grizzlies- Showed signs of life this year and they have the best GM on the planet, but not gettin the top pick this year will haunt them for years to come. Being in the west and being in the deep central, this team is going to have to pull out a miracle to get out of the slums of the west. 24. NewYork Nicks- In the best city on the planet this team should be doing so much better. But with out Mcdyess for another year and Spree and Houston starting to coem down from there primes this team is looking if it will be mediocre for a while. Sorry Spike Lee, move to another city. 23. Washington WIzards- Kwame is starting to look like one of the biggest bust in NBA history. Now with MJ gone and fired this team is headed no where. Hey Doug Collins don't feel bad, you would have quit anyway! 1ST ROUND AND OUT AT BEST! 22. Miami Heat- Pat it is time to put up the whistle. Caron and a top pick are the bright side but with age Grant and Jones this team just looks as if a decent tem for the next years to come. That is unless Butler turns into Pierce and they Draft Bosh or Ford and one of them turns into an impact player. 21. Denver Nuggets- I am sure many of you are wondering how they got this high, well they do Have Nene and they will have Carmello and they do have tons of Cap space, so in a few years this tem could be a power house, but for rigt now they have to many what ifs.. to put them in the contenders list just yet but keep your eye on them. 20. GoldentState Warriors- They had a good season, but when Arenas leaves they will be starting all over. This team has alot of quality on this team with Richardson, Jamison, and Murphy, but losing Arenas will hurt them. Maybe Dunleavey will come alive but doubtful. This team will be decent but never be great. 19. Seatle Sonics- Rahard Lewis is over paid and Allen is not as good as Payton. This team has good players but being in the west they will always huver around 500. 18. Milwaukee Bucks- They have alot of talent, but no superstars when Payton leaves. They can score but they dont understand D. Many young players could develope (Mason, Thomas being the key) they will be another reagular team in the East. WILL BE A GOOD BUT NOT GREAT! 17. New Orleans Hornets- Firing Silas was very dumb. This team has a good nucleus and good young talent. Jamal Mahburn is a great veteran but he wont be here forever. Baron Davis has some much potential and thei team could be a factor in the East if Davis can stay healthy and thier Young big man Magloir keeps on progressing. 16. Minnesota TimberWolves- As long as KG is there they will be a force, but how much longer will he be there? Wally is the most overrated player in the NBA, but Troy Hudon looked great in the playoffs. This team will be good for the next years as long as KG stays put. 15. Boston Celtics- Paul Pierce is one of the best playrs in the game but Walker is falling quickly and the support around those two is very poor. This team needs to do make a trade and get rid of Walker. But just like Timberwolves, If Pierce is there they will be okay in the weak east. 14 Postland Trailblazers- They have alot of talent mixed with young and old players. They have a good Coach and cheeks, but they don't have a real go to guy. They will be in the playoffs for a long time but they wont make a run at a tittle with out a real superstar. IN THE EAST THEY CAN REACH THE FINALS! 13-Philadelphia 76ers- Iverson is great and the team around him is decent, but he needs a wing man and Van Horn and Snow are not going to cut it. They will be deep into the playoffs for the next few years, unless they can get another scorer, this team will be passed up by more younger deeper teams in the west. 12.Orlando Magic- Tracy Mcgardy is one of the 5 best players in the game. He is only going to get better and he will have a few MVP tittles by the time he is done. Drew Gooden looked like a great rookie, if they could all talk Grant Hill into retirring so that they can have cap space and grab another solid player they will be tought to beat. This team needs to get deeps, but McGrady will get them deep into the playoffs starting next year/ 11. Indiana Pacers- The new Bad Boys! They have alot of talent geared around Oneal and Artest. Both will be All Stars for years. This team will be very good in the future if they can keep there team tact. There has been rumors that Oneal will leave at this summer and head south, and if he does then you can know this team up in the 20's. CHAMPIONSHIP ANYONE? 10. New Jersey Nets- With Kidd, Martin, and Jefferson they can only go up. But Kidd may leave and that will tarnigh everything. This team could win this year if they play great in the Finals they can beat the Spurs. They have the possibility to grab a ring in the next 10 years. 9.Phoenix Suns- Stephon, "The Matrix", Penny, and Amare this team will be great in a few years. This team is a year or two away from exploding on the scene as one of the NBA'S best. Amare is great and will end up being one of the best players in the game to along with his teamates Marion and Marbury. Watch Out for this team they are loaded with talent and could easily have a ring when it is all set and done. 8. Cleveland Cavs- Many might be scratching your head on this one, but trust me they are gonna be good baby! The best back court in the game will belong to the Cavs with Lebron and Wagner. You throw in Miles and Ricky Davis and this team has plenty of scoring. If Lebron is half as good as I think he will be this team will be tittle contenders for many years. 7. Chicago Bulls- Man do they have talent. Curry, Chandler will both be huge forces in a couple of years. Jay, and Crawford wil be representing the gaurds. This team is deep and is full of youth. They will have the talent to be in the NBA finals every year! 6. Sacremento Kings- This team has hit its peak and has next year and the year after that to grab its tittle. If it were not for injuries, they would have won last year and probably this year. They are as deep as it gets. Webber is getting to the point of his carreer where he needs to hurry up and grab his ring while he can. A great team! THE ELITE!! 5. Detroit Pistons- So they get swept in the conference finals and they are smiling right now why? Because they just aquired the best coach in the game and they have the number 2 pik in the draft. With Hamilton and Billups and Atkins in the Backcourt this team is set for the next 10 years. With Pirnce, Wallace and Darko up front this team is deadly. I belive with Browns mind he will have the best team in the east for a long time! 4. Dallas Mavericks- Dirk, Nash, Finley maybe Malone will be great Next year as well. Tey fell short this year but they ahve all the right peoices. Dirk is the next Larry Bird and Nash is one of the few pure point gaurds left. They can out score anyone! They are very young and will have a few rings when it is all set and done. 3. LA Lakers- You guys laugh all you want at Kobe for crying on national tv 2 weeks ago. Right now he is in the gym and so is the rest of them. They will coem back hungry next year and open everyones eyes. Kobe will be here forever, and I still see a few more rings on his finger to. 2. Houton Rockets- Ming and Francis will carry this team to a whole new level starting next year. They have plenty of great role players and Boki will be a force to be rekoned with as well. There bench is deep and there starting lineup is filled with solid players and Ming and Francis will both be dominating players for a while. No doubt in my mind that this team will win back to back very soon. So much talent and theyare very very young. This could be very very scary!!!! 1. San Antonio Spurs- The have the best player on the planet and they have so many great young talent as well. Parker and Ginobli will both be All Stars in the future. With Brown and Jackson on there as well this team is going to win this year. Spurs have a bright future.......Oh and if they sign Jermain Oneal or Jaon Kidd this offseason forget everything I said before about other theams winning tittles. This team will dominate for years to come. It wil be the new dynasty!!!! Thanks for reading tell me what you think and what is your top 10? __________________ " DONT NEVER UNDERETIMATE THE HEART OF A CHAMPION!" Rudy T (1995)
the Suns, Cavs, and Bulls are all a couple of notches too high. the Rockets too.. and the Fakers... and the Spurs..
Dr. Basketball: AWESOME post. That was a lotta fun to read. We'd probably differ on a few picks (I'd have the Pacers, Bulls, Grizz and Mavs ranked a bit higher), but your post raises a lotta interesting ideas. Nice job.
I think it's a great post. The only thing I will say is that 10 years might be too long. For instance I do agree that the Jazz will be rebuilding, but by the end of 10 years they may have rebuilt and be back up at the top... or not. But great outlook on all teams.
Agreed, a great thread. My list of top teams: (2003 - 2004) to (2005- 2006) 1. Spurs (Duncan, Duncan, Duncan) 2. Kings (Webber and Company) 3. Lakers (Shaq and Kobe) 4. Portland (Can buy their way to this position) 5. Phoenix (Starburry and Amare) 6. Dallas (Dirk, Nash, Finley) 7. Houston (Yao and Steve) 8. Nets (Kidd, Kidd, Kidd and Martin?) 9. Knicks (If McDyess isn't injured) 10. Detroit (loads of talent but no true superstar) (2006 - 2007) to (2008 - 2009) 1. Spurs (Duncan, Duncan, Duncan) 2. Kings (Webber and Company) 3. Houston (Yao and Steve) 4. Orlando (McGrady and another superstar) 5. Portland (Dollars and Cents) 6. Phoenix (Amare, Amare, Amare) 7. Dallas (Dirk, plus Cubans wallet) 8. Nets (Kidd, Kidd, Kidd, Martin? Jefferson?) 9. ??? 9. ??? 10. ???
Jason Kidd and J O'Neal are over rated. Kidd shines in the east because there is no competition. He is the best PG for fast breaks but that won't win you a ring. Watch the Nets to be swept by the Spurs in the final. The best Kidd can do is steal one game from Duncan. If J O'Neal comes to west, watch his value decline after he got outplayed 4 times a season against Duncan, Garnet, Dirk, Webber, Wallace, Brand, Amare, etc.
I've been saying O'Neal is overrated for a long time. Listen, he couldn't even break the rotation in Portland. O'neal had impressive numbers in the playoffs this year but look who they were playing...the Celtics who were swept by the Nets but more importantly, their powerforward, Walker, is a 3 point specialist. Any team who gives O'neal the max is "CRAZY". Kidd might not be MVP worthy but he is the best point guard in the league. I do not believe he is overrated.
Boki will "be a force to be reckoned with..." What do you know that the rest of us don't? I hope you're right.
Nice post. You have the Cavs way too high, though. Oh, and by the way - it's "when it is all said and done!". I recommend reviewing your posts for grammar and spelling. Poor writing tends to make your comments less convincing.
Before the Suns can be in ANY top 10, they need a half decent center and some good sixth man off the bench. Joe Johnson is good but I don't know if he can handle that role. If they get these two things they could be a 50 win team as early as next year, and will contend for championships for many years to come. Oh and Stoudemire needs to work on his outside jump shot.
It's hard to say what will happen next season, let alone for the next ten years. In order for the Spurs to remain a serious contender they will have to have a successful offseason. This will be their best chance to add a major piece for at least the next 5 to 7 seasons.
There is a reason Rox beat Phoenix 3 out of 4, and lost the other one bye one point because Cat did not make the 2 FTs. Phoenix can not MATACH UP with Rox on the center position!
