Who's picking top 5 next year?

[clyde21]

i think Wiz+Charlotte will both be worse than the Magic, along with Detroit and Indy possibly

add in the bad teams in the WC and don't think Orlando will be top 5 again.

[babyjax13]

West:
1. Golden State
2. Minnesota
3. Phoenix
4. Memphis
5. LA Clippers
6. Denver
7. New Orleans
8. LA Lakers
9. Dallas
10. Portland
***
11. Utah
12. Sacramento
13. Oklahoma City
14. Houston
15. San Antonio

That's how I see the West - ASSUMING Durant goes to Phoenix.

[Dadouv47]

West:
1. Golden State
2. Minnesota
3. Phoenix
4. Memphis
5. LA Clippers
6. Denver
7. New Orleans
8. LA Lakers
9. Dallas
10. Portland
***
11. Utah
12. Sacramento
13. Oklahoma City
14. Houston
15. San Antonio

That's how I see the West - ASSUMING Durant goes to Phoenix.

I think Utah will be worse than OKC...maybe even Houston depending on what happens in next days/weeks.

[Big J]

West:
1. Golden State
2. Minnesota
3. Phoenix
4. Memphis
5. LA Clippers
6. Denver
7. New Orleans
8. LA Lakers
9. Dallas
10. Portland
***
11. Utah
12. Sacramento
13. Oklahoma City
14. Houston
15. San Antonio

That's how I see the West - ASSUMING Durant goes to Phoenix.

I think Utah will be worse than OKC...maybe even Houston depending on what happens in next days/weeks.

Depends on if they trade Mitchell or not.

[babyjax13]

West:
1. Golden State
2. Minnesota
3. Phoenix
4. Memphis
5. LA Clippers
6. Denver
7. New Orleans
8. LA Lakers
9. Dallas
10. Portland
***
11. Utah
12. Sacramento
13. Oklahoma City
14. Houston
15. San Antonio

That's how I see the West - ASSUMING Durant goes to Phoenix.

I think Utah will be worse than OKC...maybe even Houston depending on what happens in next days/weeks.

Exactly. I'm assuming they don't here. And if they get looped into the Durant trade and send Bogdanovic + 2 1sts for Ayton I'd move them up to being a bubble team. But if we do bottom out, we are going to be by far the least talented team not just in the West, but in the league. Putting us above Sacramento might be a bit too optimistic, but I always assume the Kings will underperform and a well-coached team (assuming that we are, sounds like Hardy is going to be great and we are keeping Quin's staff) will overperform.
Depends on if they trade Mitchell or not.

[WargamesX]

San Antonio, OKC, and the Rockets are the only teams that feel like they are definitely tanking. Detroit should be bad because they are young but you never know. Maybe Orlando is 5th though I could see a situation where the Wizards fall back to bottom fifth too, same for the Hornets.

[BostonCouchGM]

besides the Jazz (assuming they trade Mitchell) I don't think we'll have a situation like in the past with single or even low double digit win teams leading the tanking charge. Each of the other teams is loaded with young talent. I'm hoping they "tank" the right way by giving young guys minutes, actually playing productive vets but losing close games because the kids just aren't ready.

My vote for picking top 5:

Jazz
Pistons
Spurs
Thunder
Magic

[buzzkilloton]

In no order all these teams will be in the mix:

Pistons
Spurs
Magic
Rockets
Thunder
Pacers

Maybe the Nets and Jazz in the mix if they trade everyone for picks and poop. Of course there could be a surprise from one oft hese teams and a injurys to a stronger team that gets them in the mix.

I still think the Hornets even without Bridges have enough talent to stay out of the bottom teams. Wiz on paper arent that great but then they won 35 games last season with Beals bad hip to start the seaosn and him missing half the games total.

[jrj202]

Pacers, Spurs, Thunder, Rockets, Pistons/Magic

[TxCane4111]

Well either the tickets will be a top 5 pick on their own or Brooklyn will have a top 5 pick in which houston has the right to swap with Brooklyn if they choose & also have the bucks FRP although that will be a late pick.

[tmorgan]

I thought we were. Not quite as sure now. Good with it either way.

[Catchall]

I think the Jazz have the potential to duck Orlando and maybe even Detroit to ensure that they're bottom-5.

[BostonCouchGM]

It would not surprise me if the Jazz get the #1 pick and Ainge trades out of it with (Wembanyam being the consensus #1) for a slew of draft picks and young players. As talented as Wembanyama is he's a massive risk given his frame and injury history. It's a guard and wings league and if Ainge is confident he can still get an elite talent by trading back, take much less risk, and get a boatload of picks, he might do it.

[buzzkilloton]

It would not surprise me if the Jazz get the #1 pick and Ainge trades out of it with (Wembanyam being the consensus #1) for a slew of draft picks and young players. As talented as Wembanyama is he's a massive risk given his frame and injury history. It's a guard and wings league and if Ainge is confident he can still get an elite talent by trading back, take much less risk, and get a boatload of picks, he might do it.

I would hope the GMs of the rebuilding teams behind him would know better then to make a deal with the devil.

[nicnac215]

Spurs
Rockets
Wizards
Knicks
Jazz

[zimpy27]

Jazz, Detroit, Houston, OKC, Spurs