Atlanta Hawks: Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Al Horford, Joe Johnson New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul, Tyson Chandler, David West Golden State Warriors: Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright. Toronto Raptors: Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargiani, Jose Calderon, TJ Ford (Hopefully) Portland TrailBlazers: Greg Oden, Lamarcus Alrdige, Brandon Roy Look at these core players, which team do you think is closest to contention and has the best future?
Between Hawks, Hornets, and Blazers. Horribly difficult decision, because you can either way with those 3. I'd give it to the Blazers, because they have a pretty strong, young defensive team. Inside and perimeter defense is solid. And they've got great leadership in Roy. They've got plenty of players who can score. That team seems so good to watch.
I'd say its between Hawks and Portland. Hawks have more talent, mainly at the swingmen positions. However Portland has more talented bigs.
Portland is obviously the best young team right now with the way they're playing w/o Oden but no love for Utah? They're the 5th youngest team in the NBA and they've already been deep in the playoffs. Boozer is only 26, Millsap 23, AK 26, Brewer 22, Deron 23, then C.J. Miles and Fesenko are both 20. The only older players on the team are Memo, Harpring, Giri, and Jargon, with Giri and Jargon gone within the next year, and Memo gone in 3 years, if not sooner. So this team will probably get younger as they add more rookies over the years.
Gotta go with Portland. i think they have more upside than the hawks and Jazz. Lakers are a young team to.
Assuming Greg Oden comes back strong and is able to establish himself as the player we all know he can be, I think Portland has the most upside by a wide margin. You've got potentially one of the top interior forces of all-time if he pans out in Greg Oden, an all-star caliber "Mr. Do-It-All" in Brandon Roy, a versatile 4-man next to Oden with a ton of upside in LaMarcus Aldridge, some excellent young role players (Outlaw, Webster, Blake, Jack, etc.), a great disciplinary coach in Nate McMillan, financial flexibility, and another expected lottery pick in 2008 (extremely deep draft). As long as everybody stays healthy, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with for the next decade.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Dec 24 2007, 06:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Assuming Greg Oden comes back strong and is able to establish himself as the player we all know he can be, I think Portland has the most upside by a wide margin. You've got potentially one of the top interior forces of all-time if he pans out in Greg Oden, an all-star caliber "Mr. Do-It-All" in Brandon Roy, a versatile 4-man next to Oden with a ton of upside in LaMarcus Aldridge, some excellent young role players (Outlaw, Webster, Blake, Jack, etc.), a great disciplinary coach in Nate McMillan, financial flexibility, and another expected lottery pick in 2008 (extremely deep draft). As long as everybody stays healthy, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with for the next decade.</div> Have you looked at the standings lately? They're on pace to get a high-teens pick if not 20's. Utah is the team that looks like they're lottery bound right now......
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J_Ray @ Dec 24 2007, 07:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Dec 24 2007, 06:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Assuming Greg Oden comes back strong and is able to establish himself as the player we all know he can be, I think Portland has the most upside by a wide margin. You've got potentially one of the top interior forces of all-time if he pans out in Greg Oden, an all-star caliber "Mr. Do-It-All" in Brandon Roy, a versatile 4-man next to Oden with a ton of upside in LaMarcus Aldridge, some excellent young role players (Outlaw, Webster, Blake, Jack, etc.), a great disciplinary coach in Nate McMillan, financial flexibility, and another expected lottery pick in 2008 (extremely deep draft). As long as everybody stays healthy, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with for the next decade.</div> Have you looked at the standings lately? They're on pace to get a high-teens pick if not 20's. Utah is the team that looks like they're lottery bound right now...... </div> I am fully aware that they are on a 10-game winning streak and are in the playoff hunt right now, but I don't expect this to continue. I still don't think they are going to make the playoffs this year. Utah will be fine.
Portland has my vote. They also have Rudy Fernandez coming over next season and Petteri Koponen is going to develop into a good PG. Speaking of Portland's draft position, imagine Kevin Love backing up Oden and LMA
I think Rudy will turn into a good player off the bench for the Blazers in the near future. Speaking of Kevin Love backing up Oden, what about Brook Lopez behind Oden... Talk about size and defense.
I go with Portland as well. Pritchard's done an incredible job stockpiling talent the last couple seasons. Toronto's really not that young. Their core is, but their average age is around 27.
