NBA in a few years......

[Mayerhendrix]

based on the young players and teams of these past few years, who do you think's going to emerge as a title contender in a few years?

Cleveland and Lebron got any chance with their squad?

[Anthony15]

Ina few years, I doubt anything will change - SA, Detroit or Miami will make the finals all the time

[Dro]

Ina few years, I doubt anything will change - SA, Detroit or Miami will make the finals all the time

I disagree. Detroit might still be at the top for a few years, but I see San Antonio and Miami getting worse and worse as Duncan and Shaq slowly start getting older.

I see the following teams moving up the ranks:

Orlando, Denver, Cleveland, Golden State

And I also see Atlanta stop sucking and making the playoffs in a couple years.

I see the following teams steadily getting worse:

San Antonio, Miami, New Jersey, Philly, Memphis

But for the next 2-3 years the elite teams will probably stay the same...which is a bummer, because I'm ready for some change.

[nets4life]

what about chicago! i mean theyre making the playoffs now and theyre all young. plus they got that NYK first round draft pick next season which is looking very promising

[Silas]

duncan is only like 28, parker is only 23, ginobili is like 25, they'll keep going strong for several years. I bet the pistons drop off in 2 years, all of them will be past their prime in 2 years time. The Heat will probably get worse, but still stay good, shaq will get older, he's 34. Zo and Walker and Payton will all be gone very soon, and probably jason williams too. I bet the team will be Wayne Simmien and Udonis (who'll get really good) up front with wade in the backcourt with a questionable guard partner and an unknown SF.


The sonics will probably be good. Wilcox has nowhere to go but up, he's only 23 and already awesome. They also have nick collison who is awesome, and of course the 1-2 punch 19 year old center duo of Johan Petro and Robert Swift. Rashard is only 25 and luke ridnour is only 24. The aging star will be Ray Allen, who i believe is now on the downhill at 30. If they trade him in the future for a strong 2 guard, or draft somebody like brandon roy, they will likely be VERY good in the future.

Cleveland will probably grow to be very good, as long as their stars can be healthy. I bet Drew Gooden, LeBron, and Hughes will be a VERY strong trio in years to come assuming they stay healthy.

And of course, dont rule out Orlando, they've done well this second half of the season. A front court of Darko and Dwight will probably grow into something great, and Jameer Nelson has nowhere to go but up. I think the draft/trades will decide the SG/SF. They're going to have a boatload of cap space in the future, so they may sign someone great.

I see teams like Philly and Minnesotta going deeper and deeper into the pits, and New Jersey will probably only last a few years more. Jason Kidd is in his mid 30's, Vince Carter is near his 30's, so in a few years both will be past his prime, and Vince will have to learn to be a better guard without using his athletics so much. Richard Jefferson and Nenad Krstic i dont think can be relied on to keep the franchise going, even though both are talented players.

I think Denver will likely drop off too. Andre Miller and Kenyon Martin and Marcus Camby likely only have a few less productive years left in them. And with an older bench that includes guys like ruben patterson and francisco elson, i think they'll need to aquire some younger players to keep going.


The Jazz will probably be a great team in the future. If Devon Brown evolves into a good 2 guard, Deron williams will only continue to grow and Boozer, Memo, and AK are all young and that will be a very good if all of those guys can contribute well and stay healthy.

Another interesting team will be Sacramento. Kenny Thomas and Brad Miller will likely drop off due to age, but Ron Artest, Mike Bibby, Kevin Martin, Francisco Garcia, all of those guys are going to develop even more. If they can get some young, down low talent, they'll be set for the future.


Anyway, thats my take of a future NBA.

[benji]

I disagree. Detroit might still be at the top for a few years, but I see San Antonio and Miami getting worse and worse as Duncan and Shaq slowly start getting older.

Duncan's younger than the entire Pistons frontline.

I would think Cleveland has to be considered, but, I don't see how this team can continue to exist without a backcourt. Especially since Ilguaskas and Gooden's days with the team are numbered.

I don't like the Sonics. I do like the Mavericks actually.

Gotta love Orlando. Been rooting for the Jazz to become a contender for years, that Okur-Boozer-Kirilenko frontline (backed up by Harpring and super man defender Collins) should be the best in the West.

Atlanta should rebuild, Joe Johnson made me eat crow (even if he's still not worth the max) and while they dropped the ball on Chris Paul it's not like they don't have ample chance to make up for it.

Depends on how far in the future we're talking. With a healthy Amare, the Suns are a beast (90's Jazz + Pippen I called them on dotblog) for the next couple of years, but as Nash ages they do start to look cloudy.

[kevC]

All you haters not mentioning Houston. Best center in the league and best wing player in the league (when his back is not broke). You'll see.

[benji]

Tell me when they stop playing the third-tier players of the 90s for 75% of a game.

[kevC]

Those third-tier players of the 90s will have to die or retire soon while Yao and T-Mac are still young so I'm not too worried. Even JVG can't play a 54 year-old Mutombo when he's hyperventilating. Or can he?

[benji]

You underestimate Jeff Van Gundy's desire to play "his type of guy" also known as former Knicks or guys from the 90s.

[sucram]

Would love to see chris paul lead the hornets as far as the conf finals within 5 years. That boy has game! NOK, probably a few trades away from a solid first round team?

[benji]

Yeah, that's plausable. I mean if Desmond Mason hadn't suddenly turned into a worthless player and Chris Andersen hadn't comforted his poor dunk contest performances with drugs we'd probably be talking about them as a playoff team. They have an ass-load of youth and manuvering ability.

[sucram]

Agreed, they have had some bad luck, but with that have struck success. Odd isn't it Gotta stick with J.R, and some other of the young ones, but i feel their in need of a few 'post season' experienced players. I would love to see a Bruce Bowen in the NOK jersey

[Fitzy]

in a few years nenad krstic will be the most dominant big man in the league

[sucram]

which doesn't say much now does it

[Fenix]

Duncan is 30 and Ginobili is also close to that mark. Billups is also practically 30 years old and the Wallace brothers are already 32, 33 years old. I'll give the Spurs and the Pistons another two years. This is their prime.

[J@3]

The Bucks are a young team, I think they'll be up there too.

[Matt]

All you haters not mentioning Houston. Best center in the league and best wing player in the league (when his back is not broke). You'll see

on the assumption that both actually get healthy....wait, did you just say T-Mac > Kobe?

[Sir Robbie]

Duncan's younger than the entire Pistons frontline.

What about Tayshaun Prince?

Anyway, I can definitely see the Magic being a top team in a few years. Howard's had a great year and he's got some talented, young players around him. Darko will get better as he gets more minutes and experience, and I think that Hedo is always a good player to have around.

If the Bulls can hold onto their core - and build on it - then they have a hell of a lot of potential. Gordon is an amazing clutch player already, and I think that Luol Deng is going to be a great player. Guys like Hinirch and Nocioni are valuable as well, and if they can trade and draft well (They've got some good draft picks this year), then I can see them as a top team in a few years.

Cleveland have one of the best players in the league in King James and he's only still 21. They need to get some good players around him though - I don't think Ilguaskas will be around much longer and so that's probably where they should be looking to strengthen. They could also use a younger point guard.

[point-guard]

in 6 years time.the east will improve drastically.the tides will turn

[Laxation]

Orlando: With Dwight and Darko (both only 20) as well as Nelson, they should become the team to beat in a few years time.

Chicago: Good, young players in Gordon and Hinrich. With some further development Chandler should become alot better, and of course they have the Knicks pick. Nocioni has been playing awesome of late as well.

Houston: Unless Yao's foot injury really affects him, the combo of Ming and McGrady should take them deep into the playoffs in the next 1-2 years, barring another season of injuries

Hornets: If West keeps improving, and Paul turns into the player he is expected to, they should become pretty good in a few years.

[Matt]

this is all on the assumption that teams actually do improve and stay the same. Of course some relationships will sour, players will get traded, others will get injured and GM's will screw up.


Just think of VC & the raptors......he brought them to somewhat an elite East status and then he got injured, bad decisions were made and what looked like a promising future turned to shit. That's just one example.

[Mayerhendrix]

If you think of it, most dominant teams right now are focused on aging players.

Phoenix- Nash isn't going to stay around forever...and then their style will definitely be hampered as he grows older and can't run as much.

New Jersey - Same as Phoenix. Kidd's going to get older and slower so their running game won't be as good. Cliff Robinson's also their only good bench player right now so that's a bad factor.

Miami - Alonzo Mourning, Shaq, Payton, Walker. All of them are going to be gone, and Dwayne Wade will have to go solo unless they can bring in someone good.

Detroit - Once the starting five (except for Tayshaun and Hamilton) are older, they won't really have much to play with.

I see Lebron and Wade emerging as huge rivals, with Lebron finally the victorious one as his supporting cast has more future potential. If Toronto can get Bosh and Charlie V to play well they might be able to conquer the Atlantic Division in a few years. The Magic and Chicago may prove to be skilled more in the future too with Darko entering contention for Defensive Player of the Year. In the West, maybe Artest can be better now that he seems to have found a perfect fit? The Clippers and Hornets definitely have a chance too.

[kevC]

T-Mac's been better than Kobe every year of his career except this year.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

I know the Heat will beat worse for sure mainly because of the reasons mentioned above. Its a question mark for the Grizzlies because you don't know exactly what they are going to do in the next few years with BJax and EJ coming off the books so that will leave them with plenty of cap space.