There are quite a lot of factors. 1. Do we get another top 5 pick? 2. Do we draft wembaya? 3. Did any major injury occur to the top dog teams? 4. Suns, gsw, mavs, grizzlies, Timberwolves, clippers, pelicans, nuggets will probably b the top 8 I think play in is quite possible.
If we're not in the play-in tournament in 2024 we'd have a pretty big problem considering OKC has control over our lightly protected picks in 24/25/26 Because Tilman is our owner I expect cosmic disaster, so probably not
We graduate to the mini group of teams that are not a lock for bottom 3 record but a team that doesn’t make the play-in in 22/23. Though I still think there is a chance we nearly bottom out 1 more time, who knows. The 23/24 season I would be shocked if we were a top 6 playoff lock but there’s a chance at a 9 or 10 seed play-in spot. Though again I could see us just barely missing.
Well not from 2 straight to making it. Next season is in the middle of that. I surmise about 6-8th worst record next season. Then about the 7-8th seed the following season.
May as well get some experience in the playoffs if you aren't going to be bad enough to get a top pick in the draft.
Hard to say. Let me just run an average scenario for the next two years, not great, not awful. Draft Banchero at 3, Dieng at 17, Draft Anthony Black at 5 next year, and KPJ / Tate walks in free agency Black / Christopher Green / Mathews Dieng / KMJ Banchero / Garuba Sengun / Quick look at free agency. Cap space spent on overpaying Myles Turner and Fred Van Fleet (obviously this can go any which way) FVV / Black Green / Mathews Dieng / KMJ Banchero / Garuba Turner / Sengun Is that going to take us to a championship? Or even playoffs? I really don't know.
With Wall, Gordon, and Wood coming off the books we should be able to do well enough in free agency/sign and trade to put a playoff caliber team on the court in 23/24.
I attended a season ticket holder meeting toward the end of this season where Stone did a Q&A, someone asked him when the current plan to be a playoff team will be, and he basically said "The goal is to be a playoff team in 2023-2024 because OKC owns our pick."
In 22-23, I don't think we'll have a better record than: Phoenix Grizz Warriors Mavs Nuggets Wolves Pelicans Clippers So that's 8. It's hard to say where Jazz, Spurs, Lakers, Kings, Blazers, or Thunder will be. Same for the Rockets. I don't see us being a playoff team. Maybe we'll make the play-in, but I doubt it.
I think if you look at all the best teams they had a lot of years of top draft picks leading to the type of roster construction necessary to contend for multiple years. I think if we're in the playoffs by then it's either because Jalen Green or one of the guys from this draft is a top ~15 player. Or, we've grown tired of losing and are given the mandate to overpay a couple good role players in free agency and enter the mediocrity treadmill. I hope it isn't the latter. I'd rather keep losing and build a winning team organically through drafting great young players and eventually a superstar. Jalen Green plus this generations version of Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon ain't it.
I'm tired of being the worst team in the league. Let's get Banchero and start adding some REAL FA pieces to get back in the playoff picture.
