I think no this should be an interesting discussion as far as weighing our future prospects with the other teams in our conference. Should also give an idea of how people value the current group of guys. For the sake of simplicity assume you swap records too so that you get a draft pick that matches with how good the team is. Here's how I see it: OKC - yes for obvious reasons. Clippers - yes, contender now, plus two young superstars. Spurs - toughie, but I probably wouldn't. They're good now but I don't think they're contenders and age will eventually catch up to them. I don't know if they will ever contend again with their big 3. Golden State - a surprise as high as they are. This one is tough as well but I'd probably do it. They don't have a superstar but they have two all star caliber players and a top 5 when healthy center. Also have more flexibility to do deals because they have more quality players. However, if Bogut never fully recovers from his injuries I might change my answer. Memphis - probably not. The only player I like on that team is Marc Gasol. They aren't good enough to contend and the bulk of they're core don't have a chance to be elite IMO. Denver - no, the team concept is nice, but the Nuggets will be the definition of a team stuck in purgatory. Always good, never great, and they're core locked into huge contracts. I don't see the upside with their current group of guys. Rockets - another tough one. I like the flexibility of their roster, and I think Harden is a superstar. Put a gun to my head and I'd probably do it.
OKC -- no question Clippers -- no question Spurs -- Depends. Do we get Pop? Golden State -- no question Memphis -- tough call, but I probably would Denver -- no, but I like the amount of assets they have. Denver could still consolidate Rockets -- yes, Harden is a stud, Lin is finally starting to look like a player again now that he's healthy and they have depth.
For me it is OKC, Clippers, and Rockets. GS is REALLY close. I could go either way on that but will say no at this point. I would not switch with them.
U would have to be out of ur mind to want Houston roster! Harden yes... After that its not even close to a contender! They would have to add a stud power forward to have a prayer. Harden is great. Asik is a decent center Parsons looks like a decent player but no better then Wes. Lin?!? I said it in New York and will say it now... Garbage and I think I would take at least 20 PGs ahead of him and that is being generous. LA, Batum, Lillard, Wes over Harden, Lin, parsons, and Asik any day of week for me.
Me too. I drunk a lot of Lillard Kool Ade. He's the young stud PG Damon Stoudamire was supposed to be. And Batum is the caliber of talent I always hoped Outlaw would become. Matthews is Patterson with a brain and a jumper, and Aldridge is Sheed with impulse control. It takes a legit contender to pull me away from this squad. So many unfulfilled hopes finally getting realized. Now if Leonard could just be the realization of Oden. Is that asking so much?
PF is the easiest position in the league to fill. They have the hard positions filled which is why I personally picked them. I think Asik is a very good Center (The league not having many good Centers probably makes him look better then he is but that isn't his fault).
Exactly! The fun of having a team and following them through the bad years is growing with them, through the struggles, to become the a dominant team and crush all the other fools in the league. I would have it no other way. Swapping is for couples, not basketball.
No they don't have the hard positions filled actually. Ur gonna tell me that Lin and Asik are championship players?!? Lin is not that good. Tell me what PGs u would take Lin over? He's decent at best maybe more of great backup in my mind. Lillard is already twice the player. LA is arguably top 5 in nba and Batum has emerged as top ten SF easily all with upside still. Lin has no upside. He is what he is. I also think Asik is also limited at this point as to upside.
It's just a way to measure our future prospects compared to the other teams in our conference. It's not actually swapping rosters.
Id even say batum is arguably top 5 at sf. Lebron Durant Melo Gay, deng, granger..... Maybe,, but batum has really stepped it up this year and can do everything. Those guys are good but it would be tough to trade batum for them.
Exactly. This should be viewed as a "who has the brighter future" exercise. In other words, set aside your emotional attachments for a minute and be honest about who has the most talent or highest ceiling.
Um I'm attached to nobody on this roster Nik. I'm just saying that I'm taking LA,Batum,Liilard, and Wes any day of week over Houston's big 4. That is all. Aren't u the same guy who wants to tank for draft picks? That tells me all I need to know.
