What team has the best future?

[baseline bum]

Kobe Bryant is a once in a generation player. You do not see Kobe Bryant's entering the league every 3-5 years. More like once every 10 years.

Actually, I think I may have underestimated that number a bit

Since the early 90s, the legit franchise players to come in have been:
1. O'Neal ('92)
2. Bryant ('96)
3. Duncan ('97)
4. James ('03)
5. Wade ('03)
6. Howard ('04)
7. Paul ('05)
- and possibly Durant -

Maybe Howard hasn't yet earned his place on that 7 player franchise list, but the others cannot be argued against. Everyone else is a mortal lock for being a first-ballot HOFer unless hit by a Mack Truck or something.

[DrHouse]

I would not put anyone on that list outside of Shaq and Duncan on Kobe's level.

[venitian navigator]

I say Oklahoma.
Presti is doing a of a job...
Not a lot of people noticed his last steal...grabbing Sefolosha for a low draft choice (our or denver's) in a weak draft.
Thabo, I think, fits perfectly with Westbrook in the back court.

However, I'm not sold on the "Chandler's trade" stuff...
I think that they found something really really bad regarding him...because it was a of a trade, 'cause he, like Thabo, was perfect for the needs of the team.
The pieces they had to trade were, imho, worth the risk in any case but a potential and probable "chronic -carreer ending" injury.
Trading Wilcox for Rose make sense just for the "cash considerations"...

[mogrovejo]

I agree venitian, Thabo is a lovely pick for the Thunder. I'd kill to have him on the C's.

This is always a crap-shot (remember the Baby Bulls), but I like what Minny and OKC are doing.

[mystargtr34]

Chandler
Green
Durant
Sefolosha
Westbrook

That would have been some team.

I still cant get over the fact that the previous GM, chose Robert Swift, Johan Petro then Mohammad Sene in THREE STRAIGHT drafts.

Its dumb enough choosing 3 straight project Centers on its own, but when none of them can even play worth a , then you know you need a change.

[manufor3]

3 years from now look to see a bobcats thunder finals...

[Ghazi]

Thunder and Blazers in the West

Sixers in East... it's really a shame Brand's fat ass contract isn't working out for them, that could really bog them down. Maybe next year.

[Brazil]

okc, blazers if oden healthy, cleveland if they keep lbj

[Killakobe81]

Actually, I think I may have underestimated that number a bit

Since the early 90s, the legit franchise players to come in have been:
1. O'Neal ('92)
2. Bryant ('96)
3. Duncan ('97)
4. James ('03)
5. Wade ('03)
6. Howard ('04)
7. Paul ('05)
- and possibly Durant -

Maybe Howard hasn't yet earned his place on that 7 player franchise list, but the others cannot be argued against. Everyone else is a mortal lock for being a first-ballot HOFer unless hit by a Mack Truck or something.

I would include Dwill and Dhoward ...

[Killakobe81]

As far as future OKC & Portland for short-term future ...Lakers

[Ghazi]

lol, Kobe and Gasol are done in 6 years.

[JamStone]

Actually, I think I may have underestimated that number a bit

Since the early 90s, the legit franchise players to come in have been:
1. O'Neal ('92)
2. Bryant ('96)
3. Duncan ('97)
4. James ('03)
5. Wade ('03)
6. Howard ('04)
7. Paul ('05)
- and possibly Durant -

Maybe Howard hasn't yet earned his place on that 7 player franchise list, but the others cannot be argued against. Everyone else is a mortal lock for being a first-ballot HOFer unless hit by a Mack Truck or something.

I don't think a player has to lead a team to a championship in order to be a "legit franchise player."

I would add Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, and Vince Carter to that list, even though they didn't win championships and two of them are no longer franchise type players. I think they were legit franchise players because they carried their franchises for years and years and made them relevant.

[21_Blessings]

lol, Kobe and Gasol are done in 6 years.

5 years from now isn't the future then? 35 years old Kobe + 26 year old Bynum = contender

Short term future: Lakers

Long term: 5-10 years from now - OKC

[Pelicans78]

I'm gonna with Detroit. I think Prince and Stuckey will be good for a long time and they're gonna have alot of good role players with Maxiell, Johnson, and Affalo. If they can make good use of that huge cap space, they could contend for a long time. Also, the Knicks will be in fantastic shape and should become heavyweights in 2010.

[Ghazi]

5 years from now isn't the future then? 35 years old Kobe + 26 year old Bynum = contender

Short term future: Lakers

Long term: 5-10 years from now - OKC

I meant, no way are teh Lakers contenders in 6 years, atleast IMO. who knows what the landscape of the NBA is by then.

I'd say the Lakers are contenders for 3 more years after this, and OKC/PORT/UTAH forms a "holy trinity" in the West after that.

[monosylab1k]

I meant, no way are teh Lakers contenders in 6 years, atleast IMO. who knows what the landscape of the NBA is by then.

In 6 years I'd be willing to bet that OJ Mayo and at least one other big name player are with the Lakers. I dunno why, but I think Mayo is a lock to be a Laker.

[stretch]

doesnt matter cuz lebron is about to win the next 12 les

[JamStone]

The future success of the Pistons and the Knicks depend largely on both of those teams being able to land a marquee player in the next couple seasons. There's no guarantee that it will happen for either. They "could" have good futures. However, right now, it's premature to think that either will.

[IronMexican]

I doubt it; Kobe Bryants don't grow on trees. You might see one new player at his level come into the league on average every 3-5 years.

Agreed. But the Lakers are always a superstar away from being contenders.

[Pelicans78]

I don't see how Utah will be great if Boozer is gone. Okur could leave as well. All they will have is Williams.

[IronMexican]

Millsap>Boozer

[Ghazi]

Miles/Brewer/Millsap/Deron are all under 25 and they have NYK's draft pick to work with next year, which they can probably package in a trade w/ Okur or AK47.

Boozer ing sucks.

[gaKNOW!blee]

I would not put anyone on that list outside of Shaq and Duncan on Kobe's level.

Kobe hasnt done as the franchise player. He's done a lot as the second option, the sidekick, but not as the franchise player.

[gaKNOW!blee]

Its Cleveland, Lebron is only 24.

[Ghazi]

Kobe hasnt done as the franchise player. He's done a lot as the second option, the sidekick, but not as the franchise player.

Duncan and Shaq wouldn't have done either with the 04-07 Laker squads.