These so called NBA experts are either playing dumb or they simply don't know sh1t.

[Listen]

the Nuggets are one of the youngest teams in the league that just went through an entire destroy and rebuild (only Ty Lawson remains from the Melo era).

they're stacked at every position and have multiple trade assets, assets that can you can flip for an Olympian and All-Star:

the Nuggets may not be contenders this year, but their window is wide open with only one of their key pieces just entering their prime (Iggy). Masai could either stand pat and let the young dudes develop or make another Iggy-like trade to bring in the final peice. either way, Denver is in great position.

Masai "The Pride of Africa" Ujiri is setting the blueprint. beleedatplayboi

Ty Lawson will be a top 5 PG in 2 years or people will underrate him like they have Tony Parker.

 

[tremonthustler1]

The team doesn't have to suck though. You bring Bynum in. Get rid of Hedo's contract. Keep Anderson. You make a couple good moves and you are a nice squad.

Nice as in mediocre? Nobody wants to willingly be that.

 

[FTBS]

Nice as in mediocre? Nobody wants to willingly be that.

If Bynum continues to develop and reaches his potential and you make the right moves around him you could have a contender. IMO it's worth a shot. It's better than just blatantly tanking and hoping you get an impact player to build around. If they get the top pick and that player turns out to be special then but if they don't they might have just signed up for a decade of nothingness.

 

[ghostwriterx]

Nice as in mediocre? Nobody wants to willingly be that.

Nice as in perennial playoff team with an outside chance to get to a Finals in a weak conference. I'd rather do that than suck for the next 5 years as you wait/hope/pray for the next superstar to fall in your lap.

 

[tremonthustler1]

Nice as in perennial playoff team with an outside chance to get to a Finals in a weak conference. I'd rather do that than suck for the next 5 years as you wait/hope/pray for the next superstar to fall in your lap.

even in the east that Magic team w/Bynum instead of Howard would never get to a Finals.

it's the exact opposite of how it works though. Any other sport? You're dead on, but in basketball, it's a superstar's league. They're the ones who win. It's not a league where a random variable can throw everything off like football, baseball or hockey.

Win if you can, suck if you must, but never be mediocre. That's how nearly every GM thinks. The ones that don't are comfortable with not trying to win, and that turns people off to the product. Even the commissioner of the league feels that way. That's why Stern rejected a deal that would keep NO somewhat competitive and in the hunt for a playoff spot in favor of tearing it down completely and starting over. It sucks that you have to hope for that franchise savior, but it's the only way a team can build itself up. Orlando apparently felt Bynum wasn't gonna be that. Orlando can't sell fans on shyt this year. Going forward with a little luck in the lotto (which almost every team needs) they can start selling the future to die hards.

 

[tremonthustler1]

If Bynum continues to develop and reaches his potential and you make the right moves around him you could have a contender. IMO it's worth a shot. It's better than just blatantly tanking and hoping you get an impact player to build around. If they get the top pick and that player turns out to be special then but if they don't they might have just signed up for a decade of nothingness.

If I pay Bynum and essentially keep the rest of the team intact, it's hard to "make the right moves around him." Remember the Magic were paying big time lux tax money for the squad they surrounded Dwight with. In order for a deal like that to ultimately work in Orlando's favor, Bynum would have to become a top 5 player in the league (since you'd pretty much be paying him like one). If not, it becomes as bad as the Rashard Lewis deal. The whole "well let's trade for this guy, pretend like we're trying to win and hopefully attract free agents" fairtytale doesn't really exist unless you're in a huge market, and then that would take precedence over all anyway. How many young players are out there right now playing so good that other established players are trying to join him? You can probably count the examples on one hand over the last decade and LeBron's not even one of them.

 

[beenz]

if the Sonics had the first pick, they would have undoubtedly picked Oden too. getting #2 saved them from themselves (but nothing could save them from Stern and those demonic hicks in Oklahoma ).

you know what the "OKC model" is? freak luck.

OKC is done when it comes to cap flexibility now. They just paid ibaka $48m and harden is due next. They are gonna be real close to lux tax.

 

[FTBS]

If I pay Bynum and essentially keep the rest of the team intact, it's hard to "make the right moves around him." Remember the Magic were paying big time lux tax money for the squad they surrounded Dwight with. In order for a deal like that to ultimately work in Orlando's favor, Bynum would have to become a top 5 player in the league (since you'd pretty much be paying him like one). If not, it becomes as bad as the Rashard Lewis deal. The whole "well let's trade for this guy, pretend like we're trying to win and hopefully attract free agents" fairtytale doesn't really exist unless you're in a huge market, and then that would take precedence over all anyway. How many young players are out there right now playing so good that other established players are trying to join him? You can probably count the examples on one hand over the last decade and LeBron's not even one of them.

In order for the plan they currently have in place to workout the person they draft next year has to end up being KD caliber and then they have to follow that up with getting a Westbrook, Harden, and Ibaka all in the draft. I think Bynum becoming a top 5 guy is more likely then them getting on an OKC type roll in the draft. Orlando has an advantage that most other small markets don't have...warm weather. So it would likely be an easier sell than Cleveland.

 

[tremonthustler1]

In order for the plan they currently have in place to workout the person they draft next year has to end up being KD caliber and then they have to follow that up with getting a Westbrook, Harden, and Ibaka all in the draft. I think Bynum becoming a top 5 guy is more likely then them getting on an OKC type roll in the draft. Orlando has an advantage that most other small markets don't have...warm weather. So it would likely be an easier sell than Cleveland.

In order to become a good team, whether you have Bynum or not, you're gonna have to do well in the draft. Bynum doesn't eliminate the draft as a need and doesn't eliminate the draft as a need to draft their franchise player. It's actually more likely that Bynum fails to live up to a $102 mil deal. (let's be real here, if Bynum was going to be that good, why would LA deal him? And it's not like they can use money or the excuse of needing to win now because Bynum has 2 rings. Trading Bynum isn't exactly a Laker donation).

Everyone must draft well. Some teams just need it more than others.

 

[PTBG]

Wrong thread

 

[FTBS]

In order to become a good team, whether you have Bynum or not, you're gonna have to do well in the draft. Bynum doesn't eliminate the draft as a need and doesn't eliminate the draft as a need to draft their franchise player. It's actually more likely that Bynum fails to live up to a $102 mil deal. (let's be real here, if Bynum was going to be that good, why would LA deal him? And it's not like they can use money or the excuse of needing to win now because Bynum has 2 rings. Trading Bynum isn't exactly a Laker donation).

Everyone must draft well. Some teams just need it more than others.

Not denying this but they gotta hit 3 or 4 straight HR in the draft. IMO it's worth giving Bynum a shot as a building block first. If it works you got something to build around. If it doesn't you just end up in the same boat you are in now. It was worth an attempt.