Promising Teams of the Near Future

How? Unless they land a big fish in free agency, or unless Randle/Okafor whoever is one of those rare instant-impact rookies who leads to immediate team-changing success (highly, highly unlikely) - they're still a 20-30 win team.

 

Exactly. All of the teams mentioned are as likely the next Sacramento Kings or Clippers or Cavs before they added that key free agent piece to their core (eg. Clips getting CP3, Cavs getting Lebron back). They all had great lotto picks.

You have to hit HOME RUN lotto picks MULTIPLE YEARS in a row, ESPECIALLY IN THE WEST, to do that great. The Pelicans did it one year with Davis, and have filled average to above average role players around him... and they barely make the playoffs three years in because of the Thunder injuries.

That said, you'd rather be at the top of the lotto than the bottom... AND, LA is LA... they could perhaps get a key signing. If Love leaves for LA perhaps, and maybe they draft Russel, and he turns out to be a future clear top 5 PG in 3 years... well at least its a solid path.

 

OP, not sure if you've seen Towns play but he's a 100% C. He could end up being the best low post C the NBA has seen in a long time if he has the drive and will.

Lakers do not have a lot of raw talent. They have a bunch of proven trash on their roster besides Randle.

Though many hate his method of unabashed tanking, Sam Hinkie seems to get universal love for building the Sixers roster for the future. Quite frankly, I just don't see it but will keep an open mind.

The T-Wolves have a very promising future. The Lakers might if they sign two max-salary free agents. They'll be worth a look in 2016.

 

TWolves will be in good shape with Wiggins, the #1, Rubio, LaVine

Orlando looks like they have a bright future with Oladipo, Vucevic, Payton, Harris, Fournier, Gordan + this years lotto pick. Big group of really talented young guys.

Wizards with Wall, Beal and Porter would seem to have a bright future with them being 24 and 21, but the rest of the roster is really old.

Jazz look nice with , Hayward, Favors, Gobert, Burks

Then the Pelicans of course with Davis, Holiday, Evens etc

76'ers are too unproven so say they are promising but they have potential.

So

Wizards, Jazz, Pelicans, Magic should all be on the come up over the next 5 years.

 

Apparently, Towns camp does not want to go to Minnesota. Might deny a sit in with them. Towns wants LAKERS.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If Karl-Anthony Towns is determined to get to Lakers, it'll be interesting to see how agreeable his camp will be to meeting with Minnesota.</p>&mdash; Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/600832730440605696">May 20, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

Rubio didn't want to go to Minny either yet here we are

 

Wow lol poor Minny. Maybe a trade with the Lakers could work? The #1 for the #2, #27 and a future pick could work.

I can still see them taking him though and trying to convince him to stay though if they believe he is a superior talent to Okafor.

 

So no Thad Young

 

I hate it when players do this but I really can't blame Towns. With all due respect to Minneapolis, there ain't no comparison to LA for someone who is wealthy and hates intense winters.

 

I don't see that as the problem for LA's inclusion, since OP did caveat that they aren't looking at immediate success. But, I'm betting that the season-after-next, only this year's pick and Randle will still be on the roster. When Kobe retires, there will be a house-cleaning. They should do the house-cleaning this offseason (and, imo, Kobe should be the first one shown the door).

Minnesota looks to be in a pretty good spot with #1 and Wiggins and the other pieces they have. Unfortunately, I don't have any confidence that their ownership and front office are good enough to manage it, so I won't at all be surprised if they whiff.

I do think Hinkie will do great. In addition to having #3, Embiid, and Noel, they have owed to them 2016 first rounders from the Lakers (likely lotto), Heat, and Thunder, AND cap space. Once he decides to stop tanking and compete, he's going to have a lot of quivers in the arrow. I expect he will tank for 1 more season, looking at the big expansion of the salary cap for 2016-17 as the time to make his move to woo a couple of max guys to partner with Noel/Embiid/2015 Draftee/2016 Draftee. That is also the last year of Noel's rookie contract, so if he can get some veteran for max the year before with cap space, he can start using Bird Rights on his own free agents as they come off of rookie contracts. That even looks like overdoing it and certainly they won't want to spend that much money when the time comes, but not every one of these bets are going to pan out anyway -- rookies will bust, guys will get injured, free agent targets will go elsewhere. So it helps to have more options than you need.

 

Even though he sucks, don't forget about Anthony Bennett. He was the 1st pick in 2013.

 

That only works if the future pick is very good. The #27 is a trash pick, worth less than the #31 b/c of 2nd round contract rules. If I'm Minny I demand the #2 and two future unprotected first rounders.

Who cares if Towns plays diva? Danny Ferry, even after holding out, still yielded Ron Harper, 2 first rounders, and a second.

 

Even still, you're a 18-21 year old kid who gets a chance of a lifetime to play basketball for a living. You shouldn't gripe about Minny. Plus, Minny has KG. As old and useless as KG is now, he still has tons of experience to teach a big man.

If it was me, I would love that I'd be drafted first and also, be mentored by KG.

Ironically, what if LA does the trade, and then takes Okafor on draft day? That would be ultimate lulz.

I dislike how everyone is saying Minny is so lucky to have 2 #1 picks with a third upcoming. Minny's FO was stupid enough to pick Flynn and Rubio with b2b picks, but I don't think they would have been stupid enough to pick Bennett #1 overall.

 

Minny if players stay there and develop could be nice. Young talent alone:

Lavine
???
Wiggins
Towns (4/5 I like him as a stretch 4 myself)
Dieng

 

Minny - Towns
Lakers - Okafor
76ers - Mudiay

If Lakers can somehow get Russell Westbrook to go to LA w/ DeAndre Jordan. You have a contending team right away.

Lakers can try to get DeAndre Jordan and select Mudiay, if Mudiay or Clarkson can play the 2 position. Mudiay gets to learn from Kobe Bean Bryant on how to chuck up shots and be loved throughout his career.

 

Towns is a Center. They HAVE to somehow find a way to dump Pekovic.

Rubio
Lavine
Wiggins
Millsap / Monroe
Towns

Monroe seems to be a reasonable fit as Millsap wouldn't want to go to a team that is up and coming.

 

Jazz
Wolves
Celtics

Those are the 3 on the near term teams on the come-up

I like what Philly is doing but it'll be a few more years compared to the 3 above.

 

They're going to be in the same place this time next year as last year, barring some magical moves - I don't see that as a "much improved" team on the court next season, though certianly their outlook will be brighter after another tank/high pick year.