damn.. well let me tells you which teams suck that will continue to suck... 1. wizards. 2. raptors. 3. CLIPPERS. 4. OCT 5. Bucks. 6. Pacers. 7. Kings. which leaves: Memphis, Wolves, Warriers
i dont think the thunder are darkhorses to win it all by any means. but i do think they will be improved and will have a winning record next season.\ TAKE THAT
I think Jonny Flynn will have the second best rookie season after Griffin and lead the Wolves, who trade away Rubio for some help elsewhere, to almost the playoffs.
wizards. with arenas finally back (hopefully) it looks like they are gonna go all out this year and make a run for it.
My darkhorse team(s): The Atlanta Hawks from the East and the Golden State Warriors from the West if they can get the Amare trade done, otherwise, the Clippers.
i think the thunder will be a good team within a couple years...now next years draft has many PFs and more Centers...if they pick a good PF, center...they will be a power house in the west. Durant is going to be a superstar, westbrook is athletic, harden is a very good scorer. they have some good young pieces. im looking forward to this team playing next year.
I say Sacramento. They've quietly been doing a nice job rebuilding that team over the past few seasons. K-Mart, Garcia, Hawes, Thompson, Salmons -> Nocioni... with the addition of Tyreke Evans, their lineup is starting to remind me of OKC's. Remember that the Jazz, Hornets, Mavs, and Rockets (no offense) currently look like they will come back weaker next season leaving the door open for some young teams to creep in. Behind the Kings would have to be the Clippers. I made a post mid-season saying that because of the contracts of their big men and convenient (read: suspicious) injuries to three of their starters at the same time, they looked like they were tanking to get either Griffin or Thabeet. Keep in mind this team was supposed to have Diddy, Gordon, Thornton, Kaman, and Brand which was very respectable on paper. Blake might not have the defense that Brand did but if he stays healthy he is a hell of a replacement. In the east I'll go with Toronto. The bottom of the conference is still pretty weak and Derozan has all the signs of a player who's game will explode in the big leagues.
Its looking like Utah may slip under the radar after an off-year. They have to make a cap move, and maybe a legit basketball move, but I just have that feeling that Sloan is gonna want to go out with a bang. And Williams was unhealthy all year, next season will be his best. He very well may be the NBA's best PG next year.
I actually like the Thunder pick. They will have problems with depth, but their starting five should be: PG: Westbrook (really came on strong the second half of the year, has the size, athleticism, just needs a more consistent jumper) SG: Harden (rookie, who knows what you're going to get, but I'd have to agree that he should be a great add for them) SF: Jeff Green (solid and should get more solid) PF: Durant (probably wrong position, but going for the athletic lineup, Durant's got mad game) C: Nenad Krstic (never plays to his size, but is legitimate 7 footer, and has offensive game). The team strikes me as having a ton of offensive capability. Then add Desmond Mason, BJ Mullens ever turns out to be anything, Earl Watson, Thabo and if Robert Swift could ever stay healthy, he's still only 23 and would at least be a serviceable backup. Weak bench, but... I don't think they're a .500 win team yet, though. But give it another year, upgrade the bench and/or add some real frontcourt big-man size, and then they could become playoff potential team. And if Harden turns out to have Brandon Roy type skill, or Westbrook just needed that first offseason to get a consistent jumper, etc. than they could get there sooner.
OKC - they will be signing Millsap now that Boozer is staying with the Jazz. OKC is also looking at Gortat and Okur for their Center needs. They also have Harden now and it will be Green and Westbrooks second year. Durant supposedly added around 10 pounds to himself this offseason so far. OKC could be dangerous next season.
