No. Billups was the glue for that team. They're going to be fun to watch if Karl lets the reigns loose, like the warriors.
They lost their 2 best players. The players around whom their offense revolved. I think they also lost a lot of heart. Knowing your teammate around whom the team was built wants the hell out - look at Cleveland. They still have talent and they suck. Crap. People say that Portland is not at the top of the FA hot list, and that's true, but did the Blazers ever have to trade their two best players for spare parts? Clyde, yes, late in his career, he wanted to play with his buddy Hakeem and win a ring. Sheed the Blazers got some decent value for. But the Blazers were not close to contending either year.
Not a playoff team. They are in rebuild mode. They are essentially a better version of the Cavs. They need to completely retool their offfense and then look for a new go-to scorer.
Although they didn't get all that worse talent wise, they're gonna change their style of play completely. Losing the two best players on the team that directed so much of their offense, is gonna be quite a transition for the team. So, I do expect Memphis (or my dark horse, GSW) to take hold of that eighth spot.
There's no way, even with a somewhat talented roster, that a team can be reworked quickly enough to stay in a race as close as this one.
I think we need to wait until after the trade deadline to answer this quetion. Denver may not be done, Dallas, Houston, Utah, Memphis, Phoenix all could make trades that could throw the ballance of the WC off. Hell could freeze over and Portland might even make a trade?
Lets not get carried away here. Houston/Utah/Memphis/phoenix might all have things happen but us make a trade? Unrealistic!
I'm not so sure the Nuggets aren't going to remain in the hunt. Felton is having a great season - he may be an upgrade over Billips. Chandler has proved that he can play, and he's not a bad defender. They have too many SF's now, but they are trying to move Gallo. I wouldn't count them out just yet.
Denver I think did a great job. That franchise wasn't winning anything as currently constructed. They got a lot of talent, a lot of reasonable contracts and dumped a lot of cap space by trading Melo. They are going to have money, talent, cheap contracts and draft picks this offseason. If they can move Harrington, even better. Nene will be dealt, Karl will retire and the Thuggets can move on. They won't compete this year, but they're in much better shape than the Timberwolves or other teams trying to rebuild. It took us three years to dump all of our terrible salaries. They did it pretty much in one fell swoop.
I think it really depends on a few things. If they can get everyone on the same page quickly they can keep a decent win/loss record, but if its good enough to get into the playoffs will depend on how the Grizz do without Rudy Gay and if Phoenix can avoid going on a long win streak. I have no faith that the GSW will get in just because of how inconstant the team seems. Forgot to add "I can see them getting into the playoffs I just don't think its that likely"
Denver just lost 40% of their scoring and their two players who can and have scored at the end of close games. If they stay as is, they are considerably worse, IMO.
why in the world would they deal Nene? If he's an outspoken malcontent it's escaped my ears and eyes. Dude is just 28, currently holds a 21.2 PER, is a quality low post defender, and has another year after this left on his contract. Hell, I'd rather have added him to the Blazers then Melo or Billups. regarding the OP, I am not impressed with the state of their roster right now as what they got back seems like a big batch of meh. I expect them to fall out of the playoff race and do some more roster reshuffling in the offseason. STOMP
