What franchise is in the worst position moving forward?

[Wargreymon]

I voted Bulls because they are the ultimate hedge team. Not bad enough to get a good lottery pick but also not good enough to do any meaningful damage in the playoffs/play in. Also their trade chips in Vucevic and Lavine may not fetch a return large enough to speed up a rebuild. Guess it all depends what they can salvage for those 2.

[meekrab]

- I understand Zion’s contract to have some team friendly clauses. Plus some sucker will take the risk on his talent if they just want to rid themselves of him

It's 'team friendly' in the sense that they have an option each summer to waive him while only part of his next season salary is guaranteed, but he goes into every training camp with that year 100% guaranteed. To me there's zero chance of those options ever being exercised so it's effectively a standard contract with some fat shaming language built in.

[One_and_Done]

The East (as currently constructed), is easier to go from also-ran to competitive. The West has a way of keeping a franchise in the basement for years if they're not careful. I wouldn't want to be Utah or Sacramento or New Orleans (at least until they make a decision on Ingram/Zion) moving forward. Portland, at least, has all of their picks and some young players to build around.

Phoenix, Minnesota and Sacramento all did 10 years or more of missing the playoffs this century.

I’d say all 3 are better than Chicago.

Utah
- has the picks from the Don/Rudy trades.
- A bit younger, better reputation best player.
- More young pieces, tbd if they amount to anything
- Are in legit strong lottery position for this draft

Sacramento
- Kinda Bulls West, but the simple fact that both Sabonis and Fox are younger and better than Lavine - that puts them in better position to restart and reload with draft picks

Pelicans
- Have several nice pieces the Bulls don’t. Teams would love to have Jones (esp on his older deal) and TM III (can get back a lot of plus assets out of these guys if they want).
- The FO can draft. Missi has been solid mid round pick so far. The two above. Daniels while gone is blossoming as a very solid #8 pick.
- I understand Zion’s contract to have some team friendly clauses. Plus some sucker will take the risk on his talent if they just want to rid themselves of him
- Are in legit strong lottery position for this draft

But yes, the West has been so damn tough for what feels like forever. I feel like the things mentioned above give those teams greater hope than Chicago conferences aside.

I mean, at least Utah has Lauri and a bunch of incoming assets.

[Hans1984]

Kings.

[scrabbarista]

5-10 years is an eternity in the NBA, and you should probably be looking at ownership as much as anything for that range.

As I said in the opposite thread: last (calendar) year was 2023, and the Rockets had "22-60" next to their name in the standings. Now they are on a 57-win pace as one of the youngest rotations and most asset-rich franchises in the league. That happened in about 20 months. So, yeah. 5-10 years is an eternity.

[Onlytimewilltel]

timberwolves
because history says so

Hurts, we just traded an all NBA player because Taylor decided he sold the team too cheaply, and then realized he's also too cheap to pay the tax bill to retain good players

Taylor is a gift that keeps on giving

[shrink]

timberwolves
because history says so

Hurts, we just traded an all NBA player because Taylor decided he sold the team too cheaply, and then realized he's also too cheap to pay the tax bill to retain good players

It must be confusing to call an owner cheap, while at the same time he agrees to take his team to the second highest payroll in the NBA, nearly $300 mil in salary and tax.

I guess we all have our boogeymen. Thank you, Obama.

[Hellcrooner]

The Laker should not be an option in this poll at least not until they screw Up future pics in a shortsighted stupid trade which will of course happen

[One_and_Done]

The Laker should not be an option in this poll at least not until they screw Up future pics in a shortsighted stupid trade which will of course happen

Looking at ownership and their owed picks, I think they have to be an option.

[xb3at band1tx]

The Laker should not be an option in this poll at least not until they screw Up future pics in a shortsighted stupid trade which will of course happen

Looking at ownership and their owed picks, I think they have to be an option.

No way when the Kings, Bulls, and Hornets are on the table. Also what picks do the Lakers owe?! 1 2025 FRP is pretty much the final Pelicans pick that they owe I believe.

Lakers and Clippers will always have a shot at the big names due to their location (and in particular the Lakers branding)

I do agree ownership isn't great though, but still better than the likes of Vivek and Jerry Reinsdorf. LA is self-aware enough of the advantages they have.

[Wingy]

I mean, at least Utah has Lauri and a bunch of incoming assets.

Yup, I highlighted those points. They are better off than Chicago.

[Wingy]

Kings.

How are they worse off than the Bulls?

Sabonis AND Fox are both better, both healthier, and are both younger than Lavine - the Bulls best player. Bulls have been trying to move Lavine for ages to no avail. They can’t even move their best player.

If the Kings decide to burn it down, those two will command solid pick assets and/or some decent to really good young prospects.

They’ve yet to tie up long-term money in Keegan Murray. Meanwhile the Bulls have already committed long term to their version of Murray in Sleepy Pat Williams. Why did they do that? Most of the Bulls board won’t be able to tell you, and wish they didn’t.

Pick situation is the same.

The Kings to me are clearly better off.

[Wingy]

People are voting for the Suns, but I’d make the argument that they’re better off than the Bulls.

I’d bet the Suns could liquidate KD and Booker - and end up with more positive draft capital/assets than the Bulls.

I get they don’t control their own pick destiny, but they have the advantage over Chicago of a warm climate city over cold as well. Plus tax rate of AZ is about half of IL. All adding up to a more attractive destination.

[SkyBill40]

People are voting for the Suns, but I’d make the argument that they’re better off than the Bulls.

I’d bet the Suns could liquidate KD and Booker - and end up with more positive draft capital/assets than the Bulls.

I get they don’t control their own pick destiny, but they have the advantage over Chicago of a warm climate city over cold as well. Plus tax rate of AZ is about half of IL. All adding up to a more attractive destination.

The Suns aren't trading Booker or Durant unless either of them asks for it. And the "attractive destination" point is utterly moot so long as they're over the second apron. You're not getting top level talent on league minimums.

Sent from my SM-F936U using RealGM mobile app

[The Master]

I don't think Bulls are the answer here.

Yeah, they're stacked in mediocrity and for whatever reason are hesitant to tank, but they also have control over their long term draft picks, so they can become 'regular' bad team very quickly. Awfully run organization, but the path to rebuild is clear here.

On the other hand, Clippers and Suns have the 2nd and 3rd oldest rosters in the NBA - 1st round playoff teams at best (unless you believe that Kawhi will be healthy for the first time in 5 years in the postseason) - no control over draft picks until 2030/2031.

If I am a young GM, I'd definitely choose to run Bulls than Clippers or Suns. So it's either Clippers or Suns long term.

[Godymas]

Imagine a team that pays $133.1 million for these 5 players

Domas Sabonis, DeAaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk

where is the defense coming from?????? And you’re telling me Fox wants a supermax!?!?

The Suns are also clearly bad too.

I have no idea why Chicago is on top of the poll poll unless they don’t have their picks. They only have 1 bad contract and he’s easy to trade after this year.

[LoveMyRaps]

My Raps are in a pretty good position.

We've made the post-season 10 out of the last 12 years.

With Masai at the helm, we'll be back in playoff contention soon enough. Our rebuild won't last long.

We already have a solid young core of Scottie, RJ, IQ, Dick, Walter, & Ochai.

We own all of our picks, have cap flexibility, and will be drafting in the top 5 in the upcoming draft which is considered to be one of the strongest in years.


If I had to pick from the list of options, I'd pick the Suns. No picks, aging KD (will be an expiring next year), one of the worst contracts in the league (Beal), and no youth.

[ShootersShoot]

Imagine a team that pays $133.1 million for these 5 players

Domas Sabonis, DeAaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk

where is the defense coming from?????? And you’re telling me Fox wants a supermax!?!?

The Suns are also clearly bad too.

I have no idea why Chicago is on top of the poll poll unless they don’t have their picks. They only have 1 bad contract and he’s easy to trade after this year.

You have a point..the kings have to decide what to do with the core. Have a fire sale to try and trade so many guys just to start the rebuild while every other team low balls them..or do they continue on with the same mediocre group?

Bulls just need to find a taker for lavine and unload vuc's expiring next year and its off to tanksville.

I guess the counterpoint would be that the kings have better assets currently and should have an advantage over the bulls if they were to decide on a rebuild. Bulls just have absolutely nothing going on for them right now. They arent tanking/rebuilding. They do not have desirable assets outside of maybe the expiring contracts next year of vuc, ayo or white. And even then those likely wont yield a great return.

[LAvision]

Clippers, they dont have a 1st rp for like a decade.

[Hans1984]

Kings.

How are they worse off than the Bulls?

Sabonis AND Fox are both better, both healthier, and are both younger than Lavine - the Bulls best player. Bulls have been trying to move Lavine for ages to no avail. They can’t even move their best player.

If the Kings decide to burn it down, those two will command solid pick assets and/or some decent to really good young prospects.

They’ve yet to tie up long-term money in Keegan Murray. Meanwhile the Bulls have already committed long term to their version of Murray in Sleepy Pat Williams. Why did they do that? Most of the Bulls board won’t be able to tell you, and wish they didn’t.

Pick situation is the same.

The Kings to me are clearly better off.

Well they are better off now.