Who do you project to be top candidates next season's bottom 5?

_s_t_u_r_t_ · Post #1 » by **_s_t_u_r_t_** » Wed Apr 17, 2019 5:51 am

Evaluating who I'd be willing to trade our #1 pick to, presuming we don't get Zion.

Wary of any team that could reasonably end up with Durant or Leonard, so crossing NYK, LAL and LAC off the list. Probably want to avoid whichever team that ends up with Zion.

My initial list is:

- Pelicans
- Grizzlies
- Twolves
- Hornets
- Heat
- Wizards
- And Cavs, Suns, and Bulls if none of them end up with Zion

So, that's 9 teams I'd be talking to on draft night if we have #2 or lower with our pick.

King Ken · Post #2 » by **King Ken** » Wed Apr 17, 2019 7:09 am

That's tough to say since Free Agency should have massive impact on the middling teams this summer.

Out of lottery teams:

I see the Hawks, Lakers, Kings, and maybe the Bulls in the playoffs next year. I think the Mavs got so much worse that even with KP, they still need more but like I said, FA will be massive this summer for teams.

Of the teams dropping, I see Pistons and Pacers w/o Vic dropping. Nets and Magic will still be fighting but I am higher on them to continue their trajectory. The West is a fight but I see the Lakers and Kings getting in. Someone will drop, Idk who yet? If LeBron and Ball is healthy, they will make the playoffs. They would have this year.

Of course if the Knicks get Kyrie and Durant, you gotta add them. That also makes us which I think is a lock right now for 2020, a team that could be on the bubble. Right now for 2020, I have the East having 7 playoff level teams. Right now, it's 6 with the Pacers (w/o Vic and Pistons not). The Pacers with Vic is a lock.

I just think we are going too good not be a playoff team in 2020. We are only going to be better at our style of play and Trae will be much better.

What I see is the low lottery teams like Charlotte and Memphis could be the worst next year. I see Minny as a team that stuck. They need a Donovan Mitchell like draft pick that can pull them from the abyss. I see Miami as stuck too but have the depth to make me think that they will be around the same range. Fighting for .500 but likely not getting in.

graymule · Post #3 » by **graymule** » Wed Apr 17, 2019 12:18 pm

Too soon to tell. Three things will determine. 1-Free agency. 2-The draft. 3-Health.

Hawks are close. When we know the outcome of the above three, we will know. Example: What would we look like
if Trae or Collins had an injury keeping them out two or three months? This could happen to any team. A major
star goes down and, with him, the team's season.

graymule · Post #4 » by **graymule** » Wed Apr 17, 2019 12:24 pm

Will the Hawks grab a helper in free agency? What will this summer's draft bring us? This summer, Hawks already have
their head coach and staff on board and have worked with our players for a season. This is great for Atlanta, Not all
NBA teams have this going for them. Look at how many teams are changing things this summer.

And, we are not there. Not yet. But, we're gaining on it. Ready to take that next step - - Out of the lottery!

_s_t_u_r_t_ · Post #5 » by **_s_t_u_r_t_** » Wed Apr 17, 2019 1:51 pm

But I don't think it's too soon enough to tell for Schlenk and his staff. That they gauged DAL as probably scoring a #6-#10 pick this season when they made the Doncic deal tells me that they do some of that kind of evaluation ahead of the draft... and in that case, of course, their evaluation was spot-on.

Post #6 » by **ATL Boy** » Wed Apr 17, 2019 4:12 pm

Ask me after the draft, but I'll go ahead and say the Suns will find themselves in the bottom 5 if they miss out on a top 2 pick. That's a team that accumulates all of the talent you could ask for, gets a top 5 pick year in and year out, and still somehow manages to suck every season.

Wizards is definitely another contender with Wall out. Hornets if Kemba leaves, for sure. Our division is pretty trash outside maybe Orlando.

kg01 · Post #7 » by **kg01** » Wed Apr 17, 2019 4:29 pm

ATL Boy wrote:Ask me after the draft, but I'll go ahead and say the Suns will find themselves in the bottom 5 if they miss out on a top 2 pick. That's a team that accumulates all of the talent you could ask for, gets a top 5 pick year in and year out, and still somehow manages to suck every season.

Wizards is definitely another contender with Wall out. Hornets if Kemba leaves, for sure. Our division is pretty trash outside maybe Orlando.

PHX
CHA
MEM
MIN
CLE

I think you can chisel PHX into a bottom-5 spot, draft or no.

I think Kemba is leaving so go ahead and reserve a spot for CHA. I think, without Wall, WAS replaces CHA as that team eeking into/out of playoff contention until late.

For me, that leaves MEM, CLE and MIN with MIN being the only one with a slim chance to ascend(sic) to like 6-8.