Free Agent Fan Needs Help Picking Team

[kmsmith5]

I need your help in deciding on a favorite NBA team. I have been a huge basketball fan all of my life. I have never had a hometown team growing up in Buffalo, NY. I used to root against the Bulls when I was a kid because they were so dominant. I like underdogs because I am a Bills and Sabres fan. I don’t want to be bandwagon so I am disqualifying all teams that have won a championship in my lifetime. I have narrowed it down to Minnesota, LA Clippers, Golden State, New Jersey, Dallas, OKC, and Toronto, These are the criteria I am considering when deciding on a team I will follow for the rest of my life

1. Location: I want to be able to watch the team that I choose. Toronto is a short drive into Canada so the Raptors get points there. However, I can watch all Nets and Knicks games on YES and MSG respectively, and I plan on moving to NYC in about a year. I also plan on moving to LA eventually (5+ years from now) but of course that could change. So the Clippers are in the mix and get extra points for being the former Buffalo Braves.

2. Future Outlook: As long as I have the power to choose I might as well pick a team headed in the right direction. Again, I would prefer to not be bandwagon, so a young team with a lot of potential is preferred over an older current contender. The Clippers get points for their core of Griffin/Gorgon and Minnesota’s 2012 unprotected draft pick. I’m also a Syracuse fan so if the Nets get Carmelo without giving up too much they will get major points.

3. Owner/GM: This is part of the future outlook, but a team like the Clippers loses points here for obvious reasons. Good owners get more points than a good GM because they are more permanent.

A few notes on each potential team:
Minnesota
Pros: Kevin Love (huge fan of him since HS), Jonny Flynn and Wes Johnson (‘Cuse fan even though they may be busts) Rubio(maybe?)

Cons: Don’t like most moves their GM has made and their location doesn’t get them any points. Don’t have their 2012 draft pick (Clippers unprotected) and it should be a very deep draft considering the potential lockout.

LA Clippers
Pros: Griffin, Gordon, Davis’ very recent resurgence, the aforementioned Min. 2012 unprotected pick. Location. Former Buffalo Braves

Cons: It’s the Clippers, Donald Sterling. Bills, Sabres, Clippers combination might kill me in the long run.

Oklahoma City
Pros: Durant (been a huge fan since college), already a contender, Good GM.

Cons: Location, Don’t like team nickname, colors, or that they left Seattle the way they did.

Golden State
Pros: Stephen Curry, location gets some points; I like the team nickname, great fans

Cons: new unproven ownership/GM

Nets
Pros: With or Without Carmelo I like the roster going forward (if they don’t give up too much for him), Owner (even though he’s unproven), Location, move to Brooklyn would be a plus, TV availability (YES network)

Cons: Carmelo deal could handcuff building of team. Billy King. New Owner might not be as good as he seems. Lopez’s slump might be permanent.

Dallas
Pros: Already a contender, Cuban will keep them competitive; Dirk probably has a few good years left in him considering his style of play

Cons: Location, since I don’t see myself living near Dallas anytime soon.

Toronto
Pros: Location (nearby currently), They’re fairly new so I haven’t missed as much of their history. Great fans

Cons: Location (they’re Canadian and hard to catch on TV), Ownership is cheap, GM Colangelo has made some bad moves in Toronto since helping build Suns.

Thank you for any input. I don't expect fans of these teams to care about adding one more loyal fan, but I thought it could be an interesting discussion while helping to make my decision.

[hotshotschamp]

If you are into self torture pick the wolves...works for me

[Wingman]

We can't get free agent players, and we offer them millions of dollars. I would be shocked if we landed this guy.

[twolves4]

i think the first thing you need to ask yourself is "do i hate myself?"..if this is the case, you will become a wolves or clippers fan

i really hate myself, and thats why i love the wolves and vikings

[C.lupus]

We can't get free agent players, and we offer them millions of dollars. I would be shocked if we landed this guy.

It would be quite the coup if we did land him, though. I think we should go all out and spend our cap on this guy.

[IAWolf]

I'd say this is probably our biggest selling point. That is, that close to 100% of us wolves fans are DIE HARD Wolves fans. I'd say most of us in here hate the fact that we are Wolves fans, and would change if we could but we can't. A lot of people left when Garnett got traded and some have dropped out through the horridness that has been the past few seasons. But, the people who are left here will not give up on the Wolves no matter what, if we could have switched teams or stopped watching the NBA all together by now we would have. There are no fakes in here. You can choose to join our "wolf pack" (if you will), but weather or not you are a Wolves fan for life will likely not be a choice.
Good Luck, kmsmith.

[CoffeeJanitor]

I would look for another franchise to be honest. Our owner is an idiot.

[B Calrissian]

If you are only considering the Wolves because of players on their team I'd pick a different team. Players come and go.

Nets look like your best choice.

[teven_1]

If you are only considering the Wolves because of players on their team I'd pick a different team. Players come and go.

Nets look like your best choice.

Not necessarily. If you chose a team because you like the core that's ok (honestly if you aren't from a state with an NBA team what choice do you have?) as long as you stick with them from then on in times good and times bad.

(I became a Wolves fan back in 04 cuz I liked the team, I've stuck with them since even though the entire roster is different.)

I'd pick the Bulls...

[teven_1]

If you are only considering the Wolves because of players on their team I'd pick a different team. Players come and go.

Nets look like your best choice.

Not necessarily. If you chose a team because you like the core that's ok (honestly if you aren't from a state with an NBA team what choice do you have?) as long as you stick with them from then on in times good and times bad.

(I became a Wolves fan back in 04 cuz I liked the team, I've stuck with them since even though the entire roster is different.)

I'd pick the Bulls...

EDIT: DO NOT PICK TORONTO! I don't see them ever making the playoffs again. EVER
Edit: Picking a team like the Lakers wont be much fun you have to join a team near the bottom and grow with them ideally. A team like the Wolves could work as well

[Devilzsidewalk]

pick the Hornets

[jade_hippo]

I've been watching the Wolves since... 92? there was only a brief period where my body revolted back in 95ish, but I got myself a really strong prescription lenses and that appears to have solved the problem. The Kevlar wrist guards are a must if you want to follow this team (or the Vikings) long term.

[mandurugo]

If you are only considering the Wolves because of players on their team I'd pick a different team. Players come and go.

Nets look like your best choice.

This is my opinion as well. Probably all three of your (OP's) preferred wolves will be traded before too long.

[fmi-agent]

I'd suggest you see how you like the announcers for the broadcasts you have access to. I might not have become a Timberwolves fan were it not for Kevin Harlan's over-the-top, frequently tongue-in-cheek enthusiasm when he called their games in the bad old days of the early 90s.