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That is the team where if they don't win the championship in 2021, their chances would erode the most in subsequent years.

Bucks followed by Clips.

Both teams have major free agency issues pending.

EVERY ONE!!

Clippers and then Bucks.

Clippers and Bucks in whatever order. If either of those teams doesn't at least make the Finals, it's hard to imagine that they don't come apart. Giannis departs, and/or the Clippers rebuild.

Clippers are in a way more desperate situation. Their future picks are unprotected, if both Kawhi and PG13 both bolt, the team is better off contracting.

Richard4444 wrote:EVERY ONE!!

Feels like a cop out, but this is my answer as well.

Bucks and Clips for sure. Nets may need a year to gel together and give KD time to get back into basketball shape.

Clippers, then a sizeable jump down to Bucks. Shocked the Clippers aren't crushing this poll. They poured every asset into this 2 year run and both Kawhi+PG can walk next year. At least the Bucks superstar is young and he's unlikely to walk away from that mega max. Clippers two guys have already had the max deal and are older.

My order with a brief description why:
1. Bucks: If they get eliminated early Giannis probably leaves and it would take years to recover if not decades to become contenders again. It is a franchise altering season for the Bucks.
2. Clippers: They lose in embarrassing fashion again, Kawhi + PG might bounce after the season and they have no picks to recover with. They are below the Bucks because it is much easier to bounce back when you are located in LA than MIL.
3. Lakers: Lebron vs Father time. Plus Lebron is always in Win it now mode.
4. Nets: KD + Kyrie is a nuclear situation waiting to happen. If it goes really bad then it will be fine to watch for drama reasons.
5. Warriors: They already won 3 titles this past decade, they are happy. A lot less pressure on them to win then the other teams.

Imo it's the Clippers and it's not even close. They literally mortgaged their future to trade for PG, and if they don't win the title next season they could potentially lose Kawhi & PG with absolutely nothing but a historic collapse and another disappointing season to show for it

Lakers & Warriors have no business being on this list, LeBron's tenure with the Lakers will always be considered a success regardless of what happens next, while Curry/Klay/Dray have already accomplished so much anything from here on out is gravy

Clippers don't have a lot to play for, they wont win with this team, they need a lot of changes and improvements to even think about winning it all, Paul George never made it done, Kawhi is insanely good, and given the right team building has helpped imensely Toronto and San Antonio winning, but I dont think Harrel, Lou, Pat Beverly will be better next year, they even dont played as much as needed their 3rd best player in Zubac. Kawhi and George arent getting better, they are in their primes, playing in their best condition probably.

Bucks on the other hand has a lot more to lose, they get one of the best players to keep, and I truly think even keeping him, wont solve the problems, they arent good with contracts, and are some pieces they cant acquire from winning it all, if they dont manage to improve and win, they will lose both, the champioship and their best hope at winning, theres no more value to compete after Giannis, nice guys, that dont net you stars or promising players.

Warriors got their best players locked, maybe they dont win, but they wont be bad with Curry and Klay, they are well managed to, and have some nice assets to improve their team, this year pick, Wiggins contract and the huge trade exception from Iggy trade.

If AD resigns, Lakers are set, even when Lebron departs they will have a lot of cap space, no big commitments and a Superstar Center in his prime to attract other big names, and Los Angeles is Los Angeles, they will be always competing for the brighter names.

I see Nets as a gamble, they can be great, probably they wont and their locker room will need biohazard signs with KD and Kyrie there, but at least now they got a future and young players if it doesnt go well

AUnit1390 wrote:My order with a brief description why:
1. Bucks: If they get eliminated early Giannis probably leaves and it would take years to recover if not decades to become contenders again. It is a franchise altering season for the Bucks.
2. Clippers: They lose in embarrassing fashion again, Kawhi + PG might bounce after the season and they have no picks to recover with. They are below the Bucks because it is much easier to bounce back when you are located in LA than MIL.
3. Lakers: Lebron vs Father time. Plus Lebron is always in Win it now mode.
4. Nets: KD + Kyrie is a nuclear situation waiting to happen. If it goes really bad then it will be fine to watch for drama reasons.
5. Warriors: They already won 3 titles this past decade, they are happy. A lot less pressure on them to win then the other teams.

I should have factored in this more. At least the Clippers have a shot in free agency. The Bucks aren't attracting free agents as easily.

_qubik wrote:Clippers don't have a lot to play for, they wont win with this team, they need a lot of changes and improvements to even think about winning it all, Paul George never made it done, Kawhi is insanely good, and given the right team building has helpped imensely Toronto and San Antonio winning, but I dont think Harrel, Lou, Pat Beverly will be better next year, they even dont played as much as needed their 3rd best player in Zubac. Kawhi and George arent getting better, they are in their primes, playing in their best condition probably.

Bucks on the other hand has a lot more to lose, they get one of the best players to keep, and I truly think even keeping him, wont solve the problems, they arent good with contracts, and are some pieces they cant acquire from winning it all, if they dont manage to improve and win, they will lose both, the champioship and their best hope at winning, theres no more value to compete after Giannis, nice guys, that dont net you stars or promising players.

Warriors got their best players locked, maybe they dont win, but they wont be bad with Curry and Klay, they are well managed to, and have some nice assets to improve their team, this year pick, Wiggins contract and the huge trade exception from Iggy trade.

If AD resigns, Lakers are set, even when Lebron departs they will have a lot of cap space, no big commitments and a Superstar Center in his prime to attract other big names, and Los Angeles is Los Angeles, they will be always competing for the brighter names.

I see Nets as a gamble, they can be great, probably they wont and their locker room will need biohazard signs with KD and Kyrie there, but at least now they got a future and young players if it doesnt go well

Why would you even put yourself in such an overextended position to look like a fool? The Clippers are likely to make 3-4 trades here soon. We don't know how that team will look. The chances of Bev/Lou/Harrell being on the team next year are slim at this point.

ClipsFanSince98 wrote:

_qubik wrote:Clippers don't have a lot to play for, they wont win with this team, they need a lot of changes and improvements to even think about winning it all, Paul George never made it done, Kawhi is insanely good, and given the right team building has helpped imensely Toronto and San Antonio winning, but I dont think Harrel, Lou, Pat Beverly will be better next year, they even dont played as much as needed their 3rd best player in Zubac. Kawhi and George arent getting better, they are in their primes, playing in their best condition probably.

Bucks on the other hand has a lot more to lose, they get one of the best players to keep, and I truly think even keeping him, wont solve the problems, they arent good with contracts, and are some pieces they cant acquire from winning it all, if they dont manage to improve and win, they will lose both, the champioship and their best hope at winning, theres no more value to compete after Giannis, nice guys, that dont net you stars or promising players.

Warriors got their best players locked, maybe they dont win, but they wont be bad with Curry and Klay, they are well managed to, and have some nice assets to improve their team, this year pick, Wiggins contract and the huge trade exception from Iggy trade.

If AD resigns, Lakers are set, even when Lebron departs they will have a lot of cap space, no big commitments and a Superstar Center in his prime to attract other big names, and Los Angeles is Los Angeles, they will be always competing for the brighter names.

I see Nets as a gamble, they can be great, probably they wont and their locker room will need biohazard signs with KD and Kyrie there, but at least now they got a future and young players if it doesnt go well

Why would you even put yourself in such an overextended position to look like a fool? The Clippers are likely to make 3-4 trades here soon. We don't know how that team will look. The chances of Bev/Lou/Harrell being on the team next year are slim at this point.

The last 50 yrs say you guys will get things wrong again and lose, Kawhi will leave, Paul George doesnt even need to leave to get things worse. Jokes apart, last yr playoff decreased a lot this trio value, Harrell isnt a bad player, and given market muddy look can be brought back in a nice contract, he holds value as a second stringer, Lou Williams played poorly on playoffs for most of his carreer, every team knows what they get trading for him, and Pat Beverly is overpaid and well, he is not good, he is a above average defender for all of his carreer, and hit his 3pt at nice percentage at moderate shots, theres not much else to be happy about. Cant see you guys overhauling the roster with those guys as the main assets, the free agent class is shallow and are a lot of better situations is other teams, and Clippers dont have a lot of room to get it done with the most impactfull players. Clippers tried again, barked a lot all year long, and are paying for this. Good luck supporting Los Angeles wrong team.

I would think the Nets just because who knows how long that chemistry experiment will last

Clippers, Bucks... then honestly Portland... If Portland can't make a solid WCF run with the full team as it stands... It will be out of excuses for breaking apart Dame and CJ.

Clippers then Nets.

Bucks aren't as high as others have them because the Giannis extension is still in the air - it might get settled before the season is over, which buys them a few more seasons at least.

Clippers , bucks , lakers

Stan wrote:Imo it's the Clippers and it's not even close. They literally mortgaged their future to trade for PG, and if they don't win the title next season they could potentially lose Kawhi & PG with absolutely nothing but a historic collapse and another disappointing season to show for it

Lakers & Warriors have no business being on this list, LeBron's tenure with the Lakers will always be considered a success regardless of what happens next, while Curry/Klay/Dray have already accomplished so much anything from here on out is gravy

Lakers have old Lebron so every year is win now. His teams are required to mortgage the future every year.

GSW’s big three is getting older and they have an insane payroll. They aren’t desperate and won’t totally mortgage the future but they are definitely win now if they’re considering trading #2 for a vet.