Potential Contenders in the Eastern Conference Next Season

[WesleyExChiFan]

Bulls will be the best team in east next year. Miami can only get worse from here

Sent from my Nexus 4 using RealGM Forums mobile app

I appreciate the enthusiasm, but that's what people said about the Spurs for years. Chicago has plenty to prove still. Miami doesn't.

[jc23]

Contenders for what? For the championship? Only Miami. Teams that can make noise? Indiana, maybe a Washington. Maybe a Chicago if rose doesn't blow out his other acl and Noah is somehow magically healthy for the playoffs and they actually add a second scorer for once.

if all that happened i would take the Bulls as the favorites in the East, for reference i have picked miami every season since 2011 including this year.

[FirmBizBws]

Contenders for what? For the championship? Only Miami. Teams that can make noise? Indiana, maybe a Washington. Maybe a Chicago if rose doesn't blow out his other acl and Noah is somehow magically healthy for the playoffs and they actually add a second scorer for once.

if all that happened i would take the Bulls as the favorites in the East, for reference i have picked miami every season since 2011 including this year.

I wouldn't rank them as favorites, but they would certainly be the #2 team in the east on paper

[NBAfan3024]

Wizards aren't far off to content...

[vegajf51]

Thread like this make me wish thunder was in the east.... So hard to just get to the conference finals in the west.

[NCHeels2008]

if the pacers can get a ring chasing vet to take a discount and strengthen their bench, that could go a long way

[JVL]

Barring shocking West->East trades:

Contenders: Heat
Pretenders: Pacers
1st/2nd Round Exits: the rest.

[jmnvcavs]

If Melo goes to the Bulls I think they are the favorites.

Melo/Rose/Noah

Dirty

[il_knicks7]

i would laugh so hard to this thread if somehow Melo ends up in Miami lol

People keep bringing this up, but how is this even theoretically possible? With Haslem, Cole, Birdman and capholds (assuming they wave Chalmers), Miami has $15M committed. That would leave around $45M to go between Bosh, Lebron, Wade and Melo.

Can somebody please explain how these guys are going to split 45M?

[il_knicks7]

if the pacers can get a ring chasing vet to take a discount and strengthen their bench, that could go a long way

Who can the Pacers get which is better than Scola and Turner (they will lose both next season). The Pacers' best shot was this season. Now that Lance will be taking major capspace and with Hibbert/George on max contracts, Pacers will have a very big problem in improving their roster.

I can't see a ring chaser who could turn that around.

[WhatsaTDot]

Is this the thread where we pretend that a team in the East has a chance against the Heat?

Cool stuff.

No, its about who can potentially make the ECF and win at least 2-3 games.

Read the thread title.

Your interpretation of the thread title is interesting.

But I'm happy with whatever ponyland fantasies you might buy into.

[Gremz]

i would laugh so hard to this thread if somehow Melo ends up in Miami lol

People keep bringing this up, but how is this even theoretically possible? With Haslem, Cole, Birdman and capholds (assuming they wave Chalmers), Miami has $15M committed. That would leave around $45M to go between Bosh, Lebron, Wade and Melo.

Can somebody please explain how these guys are going to split 45M?

In thirds?

[DwnShft2Xcelr8]

We're not even done with the ECF and you guys wanna chat about next year?
Okay, I'll bite. I can see 3 teams becoming Eastern contenders:
1. Heat w/ LeBron
2. Cavaliers w/ LeBron
3. Bulls w/ Melo
All "w/" stipulations must be met.

[DwnShft2Xcelr8]

i would laugh so hard to this thread if somehow Melo ends up in Miami lol

People keep bringing this up, but how is this even theoretically possible? With Haslem, Cole, Birdman and capholds (assuming they wave Chalmers), Miami has $15M committed. That would leave around $45M to go between Bosh, Lebron, Wade and Melo.

Can somebody please explain how these guys are going to split 45M?

y

In thirds?

You want 4 guys to split $45M into 1/3?


Dat logic, tho.

[EuroPacer]

I love the fact that people are saying Bulls way before the season has started. Yes Bulls, the same Bulls that were going to challenge the Heat and Pacers this year, I haven't forgotten. Show me a healthy Rose INTO The Play-Offs and a legit scoring option next to him and I will take notice, until then, yawn.

I have far more hope for the Wizards. The Wizards could potentially transform into a genuine contender, they only need one or two pieces to fall right and they will be there. Wall and Beal are an awesome back-court duo with plenty of potential for further improvement. Gortat is an excellent offensive center and if they can keep Nene going, or even better, find a valid alternative for him than they have one of the best starting fives in the conference - plus Beal and Wall will be a year older and have now been to the second round of the PlayOffs.

[NetsWorld]

I know this will come a surprise to most that read this board regularly (as I am known as one of the biggest pessimists of my own team along with Prokorov and usually predicts the defeat and demise of the Nets), but if most everyone comes back for BK I think they will be the biggest threat to Miami in the playoffs along with Chicago. They played Miami much better than Indy did so far, rather easily. Other than game 1 (where they were coming off one day rest after an emotional game 7 in TO vs. Miami having a week off), they were tied or led late in every game and showed why they had won 6 in a row prior vs Miami. (4 close wins in the RS, 2 blowouts in the PS) Granted Miami had that extra gear and BK did not, you also have to keep in mind that this was a Brooklyn team:

-in their 1st year together
-with an injured PG
-missing their best player (Lopez)

I think they looked great in the playoffs (much better than I expected) and they were one of the best teams in 2014 in the East record wise.

Give them:
- 1 more year together
- Kidd another year under his belt
- D.Will with cleaned out ankles (spurs removed)
- Lopez back

And I think they will be a contender
(not for a top seed as they will rest players as much as possible, but in the playoffs)

But again this is contingent upon
- Most the team coming back (the biggest wild card)
- D.Will playing better post surgery (he just had it done and should be ready for training camp. He's never had ankle surgery before, nor did they mess with any ligaments or joints)
- Lopez being healthy (he's come back better from injury each time prior and they've restructured his foot to lessen the chances of another break)

Best case:

D.Williams / Vet PG / Teague
Livingston / Thornton / Anderson
Johnson / Kirilenko
Pierce / Teletovic / Blatche
Lopez / Plumlee / Garnett

As for who comes back:

Livingston - Though he loves BK, Kidd and the fact he had his best year here, he might get more lucrative offers. 50/50 right now IMO. Hopefully the tax payer MLE is enough.

A.Anderson - still a minimum level player IMO, so familiarity should keep him. He is valuable as a defender

Kirilenko - his rash of injuries and horrendous year shooting probably didn't help his case for more money. With the Russian connection I hope he stays.

Pierce - Nets can offer him the most money, he wanted to come here when he knew Boston was rebuilding, his agent is Jeff Schwartz (Kidd, D.Will, Teletovic, PP, Livingston) and I'm not sure how attractive LAC is looking right now. A Nets insider claims the FO thinks it is likely it stays

KG - that same insider says it's a certainty KG is back. He is still a good defender, had one of the best defensive rebounding %s in the NBA and offers leadership and intangibles. He's also owed $12m. Just don't expect major minutes or any offense from him.

Blatche - Not sure the Nets want him back as he's had some conditioning issues and they have a potential stock pile of Centers. I hope he's back and he is durable and Lopez and KG are not. He could also be a nice assets in trade.

I also expect King to shop his expiring contracts (Thornton and Teague mainly but maybe Teletovic) along with their Euros (Bogdanovic, Karaman, Bavcic) and cash ($2m up until June 30th, $3.2m after) for additional help. This team was always thought to have a two year window (this season and next) so I expect their "all in" mantra to continue up until 2016 when their books are wiped clean other than D.Will and Plumlee on a rookie deal.

Also, keep in mind, while the POs are all about match-up, since we don't know those match-ups, I'm trying to compare the East to one team.. Miami. So far the Nets have looked much better than Charlotte or Indy vs. Miami in both the PO and RS and better than any other Eastern team in the RS.

I agree, next year, if the Nets can remain healthy for the majority of the year, I fully expect continuity from this team and a potential real run. Indy's flaw against Miami in the ECF is evident they are NOT an offensive powerhouse, they are average at best offensively. The Nets produced offense against Miami but could not execute in the fourth quarter which eventually led to their exit. This is the same team which came back from a 10-21 record and won 44 games; During their 33-15 run (I believe), that was a record on pace to a 50 plus win season. Everyone will be older, but continuity and communication will be there. Chemistry WILL NOT be an issue for this team considering they formed an identity and know where to be on offense and defense.

[Troubadour]

i would laugh so hard to this thread if somehow Melo ends up in Miami lol

People keep bringing this up, but how is this even theoretically possible? With Haslem, Cole, Birdman and capholds (assuming they wave Chalmers), Miami has $15M committed. That would leave around $45M to go between Bosh, Lebron, Wade and Melo.

Can somebody please explain how these guys are going to split 45M?

$45M divided by 4 = $11.25M

that's how

[il_knicks7]

i would laugh so hard to this thread if somehow Melo ends up in Miami lol

People keep bringing this up, but how is this even theoretically possible? With Haslem, Cole, Birdman and capholds (assuming they wave Chalmers), Miami has $15M committed. That would leave around $45M to go between Bosh, Lebron, Wade and Melo.

Can somebody please explain how these guys are going to split 45M?

$45M divided by 4 = $11.25M

that's how

Lebron/Melo will each give up $10M PER? Do you believe that? Wade is going to five up that much money at the end of his career? Doesn't he have another kid now? Bosh is going to give up that much?

I'm sorry, but I'm not seeing it as even a remote possibility. You can replace Bosh or Wade with Melo, but I can't see how it's even technically possible to get these 4 guys together.

[Troubadour]

People keep bringing this up, but how is this even theoretically possible? With Haslem, Cole, Birdman and capholds (assuming they wave Chalmers), Miami has $15M committed. That would leave around $45M to go between Bosh, Lebron, Wade and Melo.

Can somebody please explain how these guys are going to split 45M?

$45M divided by 4 = $11.25M

that's how

Lebron/Melo will each give up $10M PER? Do you believe that? Wade is going to five up that much money at the end of his career? Doesn't he have another kid now? Bosh is going to give up that much?

I'm sorry, but I'm not seeing it as even a remote possibility. You can replace Bosh or Wade with Melo, but I can't see how it's even technically possible to get these 4 guys together.

You don't think LeBron can make ten times the max in endorsements? His salary is peanuts compared to his endorsements. If Melo joins them in Miami, that team is unbeatable. You have to think Carmelo at least considers it. It's not like he can't make money elsewhere. Think of all of the endorsements that would come with Carmelo joining that team. Later in life, he can write the book on Miami's Big Four dominating the NBA.

[il_knicks7]

Lebron/Melo will each give up $10M PER? Do you believe that? Wade is going to five up that much money at the end of his career? Doesn't he have another kid now? Bosh is going to give up that much?

I'm sorry, but I'm not seeing it as even a remote possibility. You can replace Bosh or Wade with Melo, but I can't see how it's even technically possible to get these 4 guys together.

You don't think LeBron can make ten times the max in endorsements? His salary is peanuts compared to his endorsements. If Melo joins them in Miami, that team is unbeatable. You have to think Carmelo at least considers it. It's not like he can't make money elsewhere. Think of all of the endorsements that would come with Carmelo joining that team. Later in life, he can write the book on Miami's Big Four dominating the NBA.[/quote]

Not seeing it. I'd give it a 1/100 shot.