In 4-5 Years...

[Rios15]

Which teams do you see competing in 4-5 years for a championship and what teams do you see competing for draft picks?

I can say the Celtics will be a lower seed as Pierce, Garnett and Allen age and are close to retirement. I can see the Thunder (even today) as a team that will compete year and year just like today's Lakers. Durant seems very loyal and committed to that team. What about the Heat? The Cavs? And even the Lakers... I think the Lakers will always figure out a way to compete.

 

[DJT]

Yeah, It'll be weird when most of the Celtics retire, and Tim Duncan, and Jason Kidd, and all those guys. I'd agree that Oklahoma would continue competing. I think the Jazz also will.

 

[Rios15]

It's going to be sad too because these are great NBA players we watched when younger. I remember when Steve Nash was winning MVPs and he was like the best point guard in the league, and when Peja and Chris Webber had the Kings as a top team in the league.

 

[DJT]

Yeah, for real.

The Bulls are also a young team.

 

[Mexi]

i just dont buy into the OKC hype

 

[Whisper]

You did last season.
"Didn't buy into Portland, but OKC man these guys are scary"

Something like that. But you were all over them after the Lakers/Thunder series.

 

[Mexi]

then i see them content starting Jeff Green at PF

i think im just sick of the hype
Durant is a stud and so is Westbrook
but idk, i dont see NBA champs with them

but as i type this, i just think of how insane those 2 will be in 5 years.

 

[.GR]

If everyone was so hyped about Portland 3 years ago theres no reason the Kings shouldn't be considered one of the up and coming teams. Great young talent with NO bad contracts, at all.

 

[cruzg24]

I see the Bulls being great 5 years from now. Derrick Rose is amazing and once you have a great PG in this league who is a facilitator and can be a floor general, it makes adding the other pieces that much easier. Players will want to come to Chicago because of Rose, but also because they already have the legacy that precedes them. I feel that after Deng's contract is up they will have great flexibility to add a better more fitting piece in that lineup.

 

[$tunna]

i just dont buy into the OKC hype

How do you not like the Thunder? KD is the future. Russy is a monster. Jeff Green is Pippen-esque for them. James Harden gets it in as the 6th man. Serge is a nice shot blocker. Whats not to like about their squad?

 

[The Young One]

Idk and Idc about the other stuff...

But in 4-5 years..Austin Rivers will be one of the top scorers in the league

Derrick Rose will continue to be a problem...

Memphis could potentially be a problem if some players step up

Jrue Holiday will become a all nba type of defender.

 

[DJT]

I guess the LA Clippers had all 5 starters under the age of 22 tonight....maybe they could be something in 4-5 years...

 

[Dorado]

I can see Cleveland getting lucky in the Draft and picking up another star. JJ Hickson is gonna make some noise this season so I can see Cleveland getting back on their feet after the whole Bron Bron incident.

 

[Mexi]

How do you not like the Thunder? KD is the future. Russy is a monster. Jeff Green is Pippen-esque for them. James Harden gets it in as the 6th man. Serge is a nice shot blocker. Whats not to like about their squad?

Jeff Green is a SF
i dont know why they traded (essentially drafted) him in the first place
they already had Durant. same position

doesnt work
he should not be a starting PF in the NBA. i like Jeff Green, but on this team, he needs to come off the bench
i like Ibaka, but he's an undersized softy PF. when i say softy, i mean he's too reckless on D, and all he wants to do is shoot jumpers. he's a good player, dont get me wrong. i dont mean softy like Bargnani

and Jhard. he hasnt done anything yet
he needs the ball. OKC wants him to be a spot up guy, so far it isnt working

i understand the love fest, i just dont know. just a gut feeling
they're good. they are going to be like the Jazz and Suns and Mavs the past few years. great regular season team, maybe they can sneak into the Finals one year, but idk

 

[CameronCrazy06]

The Lakers will still be so much better than the West it's not even funny.

 

[cruzg24]

The Lakers will still be so much better than the West it's not even funny.

I disagree, in 5 years Kobe wont be an all-star caliber player. It will only be Pau running the show and the Lakers will miss Kobe greatly. The Lakers wont be able to rip off some other team unless Jerry West becomes general manager of the timberwolves which i can see happening.

 

[Mooche]

I disagree, in 5 years Kobe wont be an all-star caliber player. It will only be Pau running the show and the Lakers will miss Kobe greatly. The Lakers wont be able to rip off some other team unless Jerry West becomes general manager of the timberwolves which i can see happening.

That's how I feel the Lakers will be in the future, as well.

OKC is generating a ton of hype, much of it deserved because KD is a franchise player. However, they will need to add a few more interior players that can do some serious damage before I see them winning it.

 

[DJT]

Jeff Green is a SF
i dont know why they traded (essentially drafted) him in the first place
they already had Durant. same position

doesnt work
he should not be a starting PF in the NBA. i like Jeff Green, but on this team, he needs to come off the bench
i like Ibaka, but he's an undersized softy PF. when i say softy, i mean he's too reckless on D, and all he wants to do is shoot jumpers. he's a good player, dont get me wrong. i dont mean softy like Bargnani

and Jhard. he hasnt done anything yet
he needs the ball. OKC wants him to be a spot up guy, so far it isnt working

i understand the love fest, i just dont know. just a gut feeling
they're good. they are going to be like the Jazz and Suns and Mavs the past few years. great regular season team, maybe they can sneak into the Finals one year, but idk

I agree, Green is not a PF. Neither is Hedo or Rashard Lewis though. But I think the Thunder will be able to find a good PF or C to help out a ton in 4-5 years.

I disagree, in 5 years Kobe wont be an all-star caliber player. It will only be Pau running the show and the Lakers will miss Kobe greatly. The Lakers wont be able to rip off some other team unless Jerry West becomes general manager of the timberwolves which i can see happening.

I agree with you. Kobe keeps getting older, sooner or later, he will start slowing down.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

I disagree, in 5 years Kobe wont be an all-star caliber player. It will only be Pau running the show and the Lakers will miss Kobe greatly. The Lakers wont be able to rip off some other team unless Jerry West becomes general manager of the timberwolves which i can see happening.

I was just making fun of Mexi...

 

[cruzg24]

I was just making fun of Mexi...

Oh, lol. I mean it just happens that way with every team. Especially when you consider how vital Kobe Bryant is to the Lakers and how the team revolves around him, its just bound to happen. And then you compound the fact that Kobe is arguably a top 10 player of all-time and its difficult recovering from that. Chris Webber and the Kings, Allen Iverson and the 76ers, Tracy Mcgrady and the Magic, Jason Kidd and the Nets. There a numerous situations where these players regressed and teams moved on.