5 Ugly Truths nobody wants to admit

 but I think you might be right about a lot of what you wrote. 

side note, the Kings will also be working on their 11th consecutive losing season.

 but I think you might be right about a lot of what you wrote. 

side note, the Kings will also be working on their 11th consecutive losing season.

I think you may be overestimating how people will react to this. I tend to agree with almost everything you said. Some of your points are a bit extreme but nothing absurd.  The only point I disagree with is the last.  Murray and Hield were drafted back to back so it wouldn’t too crazy for Murray to have the better career. However, I think guys like Beasley, Richardson, and Baldwin will all struggle.  Beasley is in a crowded backcourt in Denver and will struggle to find minutes and a slowed start due to the stress fracture won’t help either.  I think Richardson will be a victim of Sacremento culture and thus struggle significantly. Baldwin is an incredibly raw player tho a great athlete.  I watched him Vandy many times and never came away impressed. He’ll probably be given the keys in Memphis but I just don’t think he’ll be a productive player. I know nothing of Korkmaz, so I’ll refrain from comment on him….. Buddy will be no worse than the 3rd best SG in this class. 

I think you may be overestimating how people will react to this. I tend to agree with almost everything you said. Some of your points are a bit extreme but nothing absurd.  The only point I disagree with is the last.  Murray and Hield were drafted back to back so it wouldn’t too crazy for Murray to have the better career. However, I think guys like Beasley, Richardson, and Baldwin will all struggle.  Beasley is in a crowded backcourt in Denver and will struggle to find minutes and a slowed start due to the stress fracture won’t help either.  I think Richardson will be a victim of Sacremento culture and thus struggle significantly. Baldwin is an incredibly raw player tho a great athlete.  I watched him Vandy many times and never came away impressed. He’ll probably be given the keys in Memphis but I just don’t think he’ll be a productive player. I know nothing of Korkmaz, so I’ll refrain from comment on him….. Buddy will be no worse than the 3rd best SG in this class. 

1. T-Wolves: Houston made the playoffs in the West at 41-41 last year. With Thibs and another year of maturity for Towns and Wiggins, issuing a guarantee that Minnesota will miss the playoffs is foolish.

2. Thon Maker : Yes, he is raw, and yes, he will struggle with fouls early on. But by the time he’s in his third or fourth year, this will not be “an ugly truth that nobody wants to admit.”

3. Knicks: No one is penciling the Knicks into the ECF next year, but that doesn’t mean every move they make is destined for utter failure, either.

4. Jaylen Brown : I have not been particularly high on Brown myself, but I certainly don’t think he’ll be a bust, and there’s no way you can call it a truth that everyone knows, but is afraid to admit.

5. Buddy Hield: You are saying that we all know that FURKAN KORKMAZ will be better than Buddy Hield, but for whatever reason, we cannot bring ourselves to come to grips with it, so we are all resorting to irrational denial. Listen to yourself!

1. T-Wolves: Houston made the playoffs in the West at 41-41 last year. With Thibs and another year of maturity for Towns and Wiggins, issuing a guarantee that Minnesota will miss the playoffs is foolish.

2. Thon Maker : Yes, he is raw, and yes, he will struggle with fouls early on. But by the time he’s in his third or fourth year, this will not be “an ugly truth that nobody wants to admit.”

3. Knicks: No one is penciling the Knicks into the ECF next year, but that doesn’t mean every move they make is destined for utter failure, either.

4. Jaylen Brown : I have not been particularly high on Brown myself, but I certainly don’t think he’ll be a bust, and there’s no way you can call it a truth that everyone knows, but is afraid to admit.

5. Buddy Hield: You are saying that we all know that FURKAN KORKMAZ will be better than Buddy Hield, but for whatever reason, we cannot bring ourselves to come to grips with it, so we are all resorting to irrational denial. Listen to yourself!

The Twolves have a real chance of making the playoffs. More so than the Pelicans who made it 2 years ago. 

 If the Knicks get a solid center like Pau or Joakim I think they have a chance in being a top 3 team. Maybe even bring back Tyson chandler. Looks like he doesn’t want to be in Phoenix now that they are in full rebuild mode.

The Twolves have a real chance of making the playoffs. More so than the Pelicans who made it 2 years ago. 

 If the Knicks get a solid center like Pau or Joakim I think they have a chance in being a top 3 team. Maybe even bring back Tyson chandler. Looks like he doesn’t want to be in Phoenix now that they are in full rebuild mode.

 Waiting for the Greek-o-Thon pick and rolls and alley-oop combinations.  Bust? who knows.  Might be fun to watch though.  Maybe he will be a fun semi-bust like Darryl Dawkins or Serge Ibaka.  

Buddy Hield can shoot and score.  He reminds me of guys I have never seen before.  Like Sam Jones or Andrew Toney.  Too bad he didn’t go to the Celtics and become the next Sam Jones.  

Speaking of the Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown is giving off a Kevin Gamble vibe.  So, the 4th option on a 45 win team.

I am now calling Wade Baldwin the Piano Man.  Well, at least he has a nickname.  Not sure he was the BEST the Grizzlies could have done — but we probably could have done worse, although I woulda rolled the dice on Skaltential.

Thomas Walkup is probably killing 47 year olds in a YMCA gym somewhere…  hopefully YMCA Oscar Robertson sticks on someone’s summer league team.

LeBron is the current MVP front runner for the 2017 hardware.  Slightly ahead of Russell Westbrook.  Don’t see Steph getting 3 in a row — especially since they blew a 3-1 lead in the Finals, and the guy doesn’t yet have a Finals MVP trophy.  OR, maybe this is the year that DeMarcus Cousins lives up to the hype and turns in a full Video Game Beast Mode Prime Benoit Benjamin Season For The Ages and takes home part of a 3 way MVP tie along with Ben Simmons (top 25 or so in my 2017 MVP depth chart), and Draymond Green aka Magic, Jr. aka Get Magic On Maury…

Admit it folks, you get down to the fantasy basketball live draft, Steph is off the board, Westbrook is off the board, LeBron is off the board, maybe even Durant or Chris Paul is off the board, admit it, you are THINKING about taking Ben Simmons at 5-7.  Who cares if Draymond Green puts up slightly better all-around stats (except for points), when you can get a kid whose LSU team flamed out you do it!  Shout out to Bob Pettit, Pete Maravich, and Shaq.

D.J. Stephens is on the summer league Grizzlies roster.  Hopefully he makes the team.  SOMEBODY has to give Zach Lavine a run for the Dunk Crown Dynasty…

D.J., LaVine, and Aaron Gordon dunking for truth?  Where IS this thing?  I wanna GO!  Hopefully, they can convince Wiggins to dunk, too.  OR, LeBron adds the last remaining line to his resume: dunk champion.  Ok, ok, I CANNOT envision a reality in which LeBron LEGITIMATELY beats Lavine, Stephens, and Aaron Gordon 360 for the Slam Dunk Championship, but STILL it would be fun…  

I am pulling for the Zika Warriors Traveling All Stars BUT I think we coulda done better than Harrison Barnes.  Like, ANYBODY.  Woulda gone Iggy if we had to get a Warriors small forward/small 4, OR Shaun Livingston’s silky smooth pull-up 15 foot, tap dancing Gregory Hines-style, IN YOUR FACE, tippy toe jumper.

With that being said, I start Kyrie the Doctor, Irving, Klaymation, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, and DeMarcus Cousins.  Use Paul George as the instant offense 6th man.  Second unit: Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, Harrison Barnes (ok, ok, at least he blends), Draymond Green, and DeMarcus Cousins.  DeMar DeRozan is my change-of-pace utility wing man.  Not THE GUY on this team but a guy who should probably be a fixture on future World Cups and maybe even a member on the 2020 Olympics.  HOWEVER, you gotta believe that FEEL THE BARNES chokes away the RIOLYMPICS too, so Team Murika has to insert DeRozan into the stecond unit.  So, think of DeMar DeRozan as your emergency back up spare tire on the Harrisonbarnesmobile.

Here is my prediction for the Memphis Grizzlies in the playoffs: I’m not.

Karl Anthony-Towns is the guy that Sam Perkins THOUGHT he was.  So, pretty, pretty good.  

Years from now this will be known as the BEN SIMMONS DRAFT, not the BEN SIMMONS AND BRANDON INGRAM DRAFT although I think Brandon Ingram will be ok.  Mr. Ingram actually reminds me more of Grant Hill than Simmons does.  While Simmons looks like a guy they name a draft after.

Jamal Murray is and will continue to be the most polarizing high level guy in this draft.  Good skill set, but looks like a guy who will live AND DIE by the jumper.  Jamal Crawford is probably a good comparison, although I see him as a rich man’s Chris Crawford.  

BOLD PREDICTION: Skal Labisierre will be a cross between Lew Alcindor and Captain Lou Albano.  

Ok, now I can’t remember at least HALF of the players taken in the first round.

Durant should stay on OKC.  The Thunder won the draft night trade.

Cleveland SHOULD get back to the NBA Finals.  Either with a re rematch with the Warriors or LeBron vs. Durant 2.0.

Michael Jordan is still, and will probably always will be, the BEST player in NBA history, but for my money, all-around, pound-for-pound, post-modern NBA, LeBron James is the GREATEST player in NBA history.  Muhammad Ali passed the torch.

 Waiting for the Greek-o-Thon pick and rolls and alley-oop combinations.  Bust? who knows.  Might be fun to watch though.  Maybe he will be a fun semi-bust like Darryl Dawkins or Serge Ibaka.  

Buddy Hield can shoot and score.  He reminds me of guys I have never seen before.  Like Sam Jones or Andrew Toney.  Too bad he didn’t go to the Celtics and become the next Sam Jones.  

Speaking of the Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown is giving off a Kevin Gamble vibe.  So, the 4th option on a 45 win team.

I am now calling Wade Baldwin the Piano Man.  Well, at least he has a nickname.  Not sure he was the BEST the Grizzlies could have done — but we probably could have done worse, although I woulda rolled the dice on Skaltential.

Thomas Walkup is probably killing 47 year olds in a YMCA gym somewhere…  hopefully YMCA Oscar Robertson sticks on someone’s summer league team.

LeBron is the current MVP front runner for the 2017 hardware.  Slightly ahead of Russell Westbrook.  Don’t see Steph getting 3 in a row — especially since they blew a 3-1 lead in the Finals, and the guy doesn’t yet have a Finals MVP trophy.  OR, maybe this is the year that DeMarcus Cousins lives up to the hype and turns in a full Video Game Beast Mode Prime Benoit Benjamin Season For The Ages and takes home part of a 3 way MVP tie along with Ben Simmons (top 25 or so in my 2017 MVP depth chart), and Draymond Green aka Magic, Jr. aka Get Magic On Maury…

Admit it folks, you get down to the fantasy basketball live draft, Steph is off the board, Westbrook is off the board, LeBron is off the board, maybe even Durant or Chris Paul is off the board, admit it, you are THINKING about taking Ben Simmons at 5-7.  Who cares if Draymond Green puts up slightly better all-around stats (except for points), when you can get a kid whose LSU team flamed out you do it!  Shout out to Bob Pettit, Pete Maravich, and Shaq.

D.J. Stephens is on the summer league Grizzlies roster.  Hopefully he makes the team.  SOMEBODY has to give Zach Lavine a run for the Dunk Crown Dynasty…

D.J., LaVine, and Aaron Gordon dunking for truth?  Where IS this thing?  I wanna GO!  Hopefully, they can convince Wiggins to dunk, too.  OR, LeBron adds the last remaining line to his resume: dunk champion.  Ok, ok, I CANNOT envision a reality in which LeBron LEGITIMATELY beats Lavine, Stephens, and Aaron Gordon 360 for the Slam Dunk Championship, but STILL it would be fun…  

I am pulling for the Zika Warriors Traveling All Stars BUT I think we coulda done better than Harrison Barnes.  Like, ANYBODY.  Woulda gone Iggy if we had to get a Warriors small forward/small 4, OR Shaun Livingston’s silky smooth pull-up 15 foot, tap dancing Gregory Hines-style, IN YOUR FACE, tippy toe jumper.

With that being said, I start Kyrie the Doctor, Irving, Klaymation, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, and DeMarcus Cousins.  Use Paul George as the instant offense 6th man.  Second unit: Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, Harrison Barnes (ok, ok, at least he blends), Draymond Green, and DeMarcus Cousins.  DeMar DeRozan is my change-of-pace utility wing man.  Not THE GUY on this team but a guy who should probably be a fixture on future World Cups and maybe even a member on the 2020 Olympics.  HOWEVER, you gotta believe that FEEL THE BARNES chokes away the RIOLYMPICS too, so Team Murika has to insert DeRozan into the stecond unit.  So, think of DeMar DeRozan as your emergency back up spare tire on the Harrisonbarnesmobile.

Here is my prediction for the Memphis Grizzlies in the playoffs: I’m not.

Karl Anthony-Towns is the guy that Sam Perkins THOUGHT he was.  So, pretty, pretty good.  

Years from now this will be known as the BEN SIMMONS DRAFT, not the BEN SIMMONS AND BRANDON INGRAM DRAFT although I think Brandon Ingram will be ok.  Mr. Ingram actually reminds me more of Grant Hill than Simmons does.  While Simmons looks like a guy they name a draft after.

Jamal Murray is and will continue to be the most polarizing high level guy in this draft.  Good skill set, but looks like a guy who will live AND DIE by the jumper.  Jamal Crawford is probably a good comparison, although I see him as a rich man’s Chris Crawford.  

BOLD PREDICTION: Skal Labisierre will be a cross between Lew Alcindor and Captain Lou Albano.  

Ok, now I can’t remember at least HALF of the players taken in the first round.

Durant should stay on OKC.  The Thunder won the draft night trade.

Cleveland SHOULD get back to the NBA Finals.  Either with a re rematch with the Warriors or LeBron vs. Durant 2.0.

Michael Jordan is still, and will probably always will be, the BEST player in NBA history, but for my money, all-around, pound-for-pound, post-modern NBA, LeBron James is the GREATEST player in NBA history.  Muhammad Ali passed the torch.

 Jamal Murray —- just my personal opinion.

I like Dunn A Lot —- but his skill set is Redundant on the T-Wolves —– they have 3 Freak athletes in Lavine, Wiggins & KAT —- now they have 4 Fantastic athletes w/ Dunn —- so how can that be bad – right?

But I think it makes them very Easy to Defend —– if this were Pre 2002 when Zone Defenses were Outlawed – I would LUV the T-Wolves 4 sum of Ballers — but since it’s 2016 there Lack of Shooting is going to Really Hurt.

but Imagine would J. Murray could do on the T-Wolves team on Offense —– Murray can Penetrate just as well as Dunn & pass just as well but he can Shoot the lights out from Deep

Murray can’t Defend anyone — I get that — but so what??? — w/ KAT in the middle & a Lock Down defender in Wiggins, Murray would Never face up w/ anything more than the Opponents 2 guard who will stand at the 3 point line.

I did Not like Hield at all coming into the Draft —- Villanova Easily shut him down b/c he can Not create his Own shot & Hield also does Not make his teammates better —-

But Hield landed in the perfect spot —- The Uni-Brow is Still a Super Star — & Jru Holiday is an All Star level PG (when Healthy) —– so Hield can just stand at the 3 pt line & Shoot —- I was surprised the Pelicans took Hield over Murray but for their needs (an Outside shooter) I guess it doesn’t matter.

I liked your other points –  I agree w/ Bankroll PJ —- nothing u said was Over the Top Scare Crow —– It was a pretty solid analysis if you ask me — but None of us like to hear hard "Truths" where are Fav teams are concerned.

 Jamal Murray —- just my personal opinion.

I like Dunn A Lot —- but his skill set is Redundant on the T-Wolves —– they have 3 Freak athletes in Lavine, Wiggins & KAT —- now they have 4 Fantastic athletes w/ Dunn —- so how can that be bad – right?

But I think it makes them very Easy to Defend —– if this were Pre 2002 when Zone Defenses were Outlawed – I would LUV the T-Wolves 4 sum of Ballers — but since it’s 2016 there Lack of Shooting is going to Really Hurt.

but Imagine would J. Murray could do on the T-Wolves team on Offense —– Murray can Penetrate just as well as Dunn & pass just as well but he can Shoot the lights out from Deep

Murray can’t Defend anyone — I get that — but so what??? — w/ KAT in the middle & a Lock Down defender in Wiggins, Murray would Never face up w/ anything more than the Opponents 2 guard who will stand at the 3 point line.

I did Not like Hield at all coming into the Draft —- Villanova Easily shut him down b/c he can Not create his Own shot & Hield also does Not make his teammates better —-

But Hield landed in the perfect spot —- The Uni-Brow is Still a Super Star — & Jru Holiday is an All Star level PG (when Healthy) —– so Hield can just stand at the 3 pt line & Shoot —- I was surprised the Pelicans took Hield over Murray but for their needs (an Outside shooter) I guess it doesn’t matter.

I liked your other points –  I agree w/ Bankroll PJ —- nothing u said was Over the Top Scare Crow —– It was a pretty solid analysis if you ask me — but None of us like to hear hard "Truths" where are Fav teams are concerned.

I’m just replying to the Timberwolves remark, while its not that I totally disagree and am going to guarantee they make the playoffs, I highly disagree with the firm they will not make the playoffs.

Here was the Western Conference rankings from last year without records.

Golden State Warriors X
San Antonio Spurs X
Oklahoma City Thunder X
Los Angeles Clippers X
Portland Trail Blazers
Dallas Mavericks
Memphis Grizzlies
Houston Rockets
Utah Jazz
Sacramento Kings
Denver Nuggets
New Orleans Pelicans
Minnesota Timberwolves
Phoenix Suns Q
Los Angeles Lakers Q

The teams with the X I consider I lock to make they playoffs next year
The teams with the Q I consider Long shots to be in playoff contention

So that leaves 9 teams fighting for 4 spots. Portland, Dallas, Memphis, Houston, Utah, Sacramento, Denver, New Orleans, and Minnesota.

If I had to pick 4 teams right now from this bunch I would pick Portland, Dallas, Utah, and Min.

Yes I’m a biased MN fan, but I have to ask people that doubt the Wolves, how much did you watch them this year? That Karl-Anthony Towns guy? He could EASILY be a top 15 maybe top 10 player next year. I don’t even want to bring up Wiggins, LaVine, Rubio, or Dunn. I think Towns alone is enough to help my argument. I believe he will average around 25 and 12 next year and be an all star. If you think I’m crazy than you didn’t watch enough of this guy or maybe even any. I guess my main argument is purely based on development. Towns came in stellar If he develops at a decent rate he will be a monster next year, Wiggins and LaVine are going into their 3rd seasons which is often where guys get their confidence and have breakout years. Shit we go Thibodeau too…. I’m gonna end on that note too much to bring up

Obviously your entitled to your own opinion but if you haven’t seen this team play last year than your not going to have a clear view on how much 1 year of maturity can affect this team as a whole.

I’m just replying to the Timberwolves remark, while its not that I totally disagree and am going to guarantee they make the playoffs, I highly disagree with the firm they will not make the playoffs.

Here was the Western Conference rankings from last year without records.

Golden State Warriors X
San Antonio Spurs X
Oklahoma City Thunder X
Los Angeles Clippers X
Portland Trail Blazers
Dallas Mavericks
Memphis Grizzlies
Houston Rockets
Utah Jazz
Sacramento Kings
Denver Nuggets
New Orleans Pelicans
Minnesota Timberwolves
Phoenix Suns Q
Los Angeles Lakers Q

The teams with the X I consider I lock to make they playoffs next year
The teams with the Q I consider Long shots to be in playoff contention

So that leaves 9 teams fighting for 4 spots. Portland, Dallas, Memphis, Houston, Utah, Sacramento, Denver, New Orleans, and Minnesota.

If I had to pick 4 teams right now from this bunch I would pick Portland, Dallas, Utah, and Min.

Yes I’m a biased MN fan, but I have to ask people that doubt the Wolves, how much did you watch them this year? That Karl-Anthony Towns guy? He could EASILY be a top 15 maybe top 10 player next year. I don’t even want to bring up Wiggins, LaVine, Rubio, or Dunn. I think Towns alone is enough to help my argument. I believe he will average around 25 and 12 next year and be an all star. If you think I’m crazy than you didn’t watch enough of this guy or maybe even any. I guess my main argument is purely based on development. Towns came in stellar If he develops at a decent rate he will be a monster next year, Wiggins and LaVine are going into their 3rd seasons which is often where guys get their confidence and have breakout years. Shit we go Thibodeau too…. I’m gonna end on that note too much to bring up

Obviously your entitled to your own opinion but if you haven’t seen this team play last year than your not going to have a clear view on how much 1 year of maturity can affect this team as a whole.

 But I do disagree on the Wolves. Who in the West inspires enough confidence to be so sure that they won’t make the playoffs??? 

Dallas? They have a great coach but they are an aging group that can’t stay healthy and Chandler Parsons is probably gonna bolt.

Memphis? Another aging group with a rookie head coach. Mike Conley may leave. Zach Randolph isn’t the same player. Marc Gasol has issues staying healthy.

Houston? Was there a more disfunctional team last year? James Harden has proven to me to be a poor leader and his lack of any commitment whatsoever to playing defense is a complete joke. Dwight Howard will probably leave.

Denver? New Orleans? Utah? The West is actually not nearly as deep as it has been the last decade. The top four teams are juggernauts but after that just about ever team is either getting older, has injury issues, or has key free agents who may leave.

The Wolves actually don’t have hardly any of those concerns. They are obviously young but other than that, what are the real concerns? They have a proven coach, two GREAT young players and a deep (albeit young) supporting cast (Rubio, Lavine, Dunn, Muhammed, Pekovic, Dieng). The "they are gonna suck because they have always sucked" argument is only true until it isn’t true (see the Clippers, Warriors, Mavs in the 90s). 

It’s obviously not a sure thing at all that they’ll make the playoffs but I also don’t think it’s anything close to certain that they won’t.

 But I do disagree on the Wolves. Who in the West inspires enough confidence to be so sure that they won’t make the playoffs??? 

Dallas? They have a great coach but they are an aging group that can’t stay healthy and Chandler Parsons is probably gonna bolt.

Memphis? Another aging group with a rookie head coach. Mike Conley may leave. Zach Randolph isn’t the same player. Marc Gasol has issues staying healthy.

Houston? Was there a more disfunctional team last year? James Harden has proven to me to be a poor leader and his lack of any commitment whatsoever to playing defense is a complete joke. Dwight Howard will probably leave.

Denver? New Orleans? Utah? The West is actually not nearly as deep as it has been the last decade. The top four teams are juggernauts but after that just about ever team is either getting older, has injury issues, or has key free agents who may leave.

The Wolves actually don’t have hardly any of those concerns. They are obviously young but other than that, what are the real concerns? They have a proven coach, two GREAT young players and a deep (albeit young) supporting cast (Rubio, Lavine, Dunn, Muhammed, Pekovic, Dieng). The "they are gonna suck because they have always sucked" argument is only true until it isn’t true (see the Clippers, Warriors, Mavs in the 90s). 

It’s obviously not a sure thing at all that they’ll make the playoffs but I also don’t think it’s anything close to certain that they won’t.

 Scare Crow

       Turner most likely isn’t coming back to Boston. Brown is going to either sink or swin playing ET’s                  minutes

       Thon Maker will be a bust if he is 23 years old like what was being reported yesterday. If he’s 19 like he          says I believe he will be a really good player

 Scare Crow

       Turner most likely isn’t coming back to Boston. Brown is going to either sink or swin playing ET’s                  minutes

       Thon Maker will be a bust if he is 23 years old like what was being reported yesterday. If he’s 19 like he          says I believe he will be a really good player

 I want to see who gets off to a fast start out West.  Could really, really help down the stretch.

The West is very top heavy, but it is still deep.  It will be hard to dig out of a early season hole.  So, let’s see who starts off sluggish.

Not too many teams out West I would rule out.  Even the Lakers could be a player if they score some big hits in free agency.  

New Orleans probably WON’T make the playoffs but they still have Anthony Davis and I like Buddy Hield giving them some floor spacing and additional shooting.  

Rockets, Mavs, and Grizzlies could get flipped for some combination of T Wolves, Nuggets, Jazz, and T Wolves.

It seems like the Nuggets have enough fire power (especially on the perimeter) to keep things interesting.

Maybe the Kings do something.  They have been in contention for parts of the past few seasons but have yet to put it together.

A 5 or 6 game mini-losing streak could really put some teams in danger of missing the entire playoffs.

 I want to see who gets off to a fast start out West.  Could really, really help down the stretch.

The West is very top heavy, but it is still deep.  It will be hard to dig out of a early season hole.  So, let’s see who starts off sluggish.

Not too many teams out West I would rule out.  Even the Lakers could be a player if they score some big hits in free agency.  

New Orleans probably WON’T make the playoffs but they still have Anthony Davis and I like Buddy Hield giving them some floor spacing and additional shooting.  

Rockets, Mavs, and Grizzlies could get flipped for some combination of T Wolves, Nuggets, Jazz, and T Wolves.

It seems like the Nuggets have enough fire power (especially on the perimeter) to keep things interesting.

Maybe the Kings do something.  They have been in contention for parts of the past few seasons but have yet to put it together.

A 5 or 6 game mini-losing streak could really put some teams in danger of missing the entire playoffs.

It is June 30. I like the direction of Minnesota, but I think it is best to refrain from predictions about how much of a jump they can make until rosters begin to settle.

As for Thon Maker, I wish he went to a team with a direct D-League affiliate. Twenty-two of the thirty NBA teams will have a D-League affiliate next season, Milwaukee is one that will not. Given what we saw of Exum and Mudiay as rookies making prep-to-pro jumps (the handful of Chinese games Mudiay played in does not really count), and factoring in the increased burden on him being a 7-footer who weighs 200 lbs, it is going to be rough for him early on.

Before 12/25, 24 games 13.5 PPG, 37.2 FG%, 22.4 3FG%, 70.5FT%, 5.4 APG, 2.6 TOPG, 3.3 RPG, .7 SPG. Thereafter, 42 games 18.0 PPG, 45.5 FG%, 33.7 3FG%, 83.9FT%, 4.3 APG, 2.7 TOPG, 3.5 RPG, .6 SPG. If you don’t factor in the important context of Rose playing with blurred vision early in the season and didn’t follow his season closely, I could see why people think Rose is washed up. He offensive game came back. Barring something unforeseen, they aren’t going to start the season with a double-visioned Derrick Rose. They will have a healthy one. If the Knicks turn Robin Lopez and Jose Calderon into Derrick Rose and either Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol, Al Horford, or Hassan Whiteside, it is an unquestioned win.

What about Buddy Hield’s history of getting better every year he was at Oklahoma leads you to believe he will suddenly stop working to improve? At 6′ 5″ and a 6′ 9″ wingspan, he is not as undersized as one might have feared. New Orleans had a disastrous season, but there are worse running mates to have going forward than Anthony Davis. It is a great position for him succeed, and he is starting out miles ahead of the rest.

It is June 30. I like the direction of Minnesota, but I think it is best to refrain from predictions about how much of a jump they can make until rosters begin to settle.

As for Thon Maker, I wish he went to a team with a direct D-League affiliate. Twenty-two of the thirty NBA teams will have a D-League affiliate next season, Milwaukee is one that will not. Given what we saw of Exum and Mudiay as rookies making prep-to-pro jumps (the handful of Chinese games Mudiay played in does not really count), and factoring in the increased burden on him being a 7-footer who weighs 200 lbs, it is going to be rough for him early on.

Before 12/25, 24 games 13.5 PPG, 37.2 FG%, 22.4 3FG%, 70.5FT%, 5.4 APG, 2.6 TOPG, 3.3 RPG, .7 SPG. Thereafter, 42 games 18.0 PPG, 45.5 FG%, 33.7 3FG%, 83.9FT%, 4.3 APG, 2.7 TOPG, 3.5 RPG, .6 SPG. If you don’t factor in the important context of Rose playing with blurred vision early in the season and didn’t follow his season closely, I could see why people think Rose is washed up. He offensive game came back. Barring something unforeseen, they aren’t going to start the season with a double-visioned Derrick Rose. They will have a healthy one. If the Knicks turn Robin Lopez and Jose Calderon into Derrick Rose and either Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol, Al Horford, or Hassan Whiteside, it is an unquestioned win.

What about Buddy Hield’s history of getting better every year he was at Oklahoma leads you to believe he will suddenly stop working to improve? At 6′ 5″ and a 6′ 9″ wingspan, he is not as undersized as one might have feared. New Orleans had a disastrous season, but there are worse running mates to have going forward than Anthony Davis. It is a great position for him succeed, and he is starting out miles ahead of the rest.

 Agree about the Timberwolves and Thon especially. I don’t really care about the votes system here so here goes, but Wiggins is a poor man’s Carmelo. Not a winner and just puts up numbers, although even Melo is a better winner than him and puts up better numbers. The wolves won 40 games the year before Wiggins.. After trading love and I’m not sure who else, they only won 16 with Wiggins. Then Towns comes and makes them 13 wins better. I think Towns is the real deal but I don’t think Wiggins will live up to the hype.

then with thon, all the love comes because he’s an unknown. Imagine if skal didn’t play in college and went straight to the draft last year. He probably would’ve gone much higher than 29. Thon has small hands (can’t think of a great big man who had really small hands like thon), is somewhat uncoordinated except that he can shoot, and he’ll put on weight but not the 30-40 pounds he needs to. 

 Agree about the Timberwolves and Thon especially. I don’t really care about the votes system here so here goes, but Wiggins is a poor man’s Carmelo. Not a winner and just puts up numbers, although even Melo is a better winner than him and puts up better numbers. The wolves won 40 games the year before Wiggins.. After trading love and I’m not sure who else, they only won 16 with Wiggins. Then Towns comes and makes them 13 wins better. I think Towns is the real deal but I don’t think Wiggins will live up to the hype.

then with thon, all the love comes because he’s an unknown. Imagine if skal didn’t play in college and went straight to the draft last year. He probably would’ve gone much higher than 29. Thon has small hands (can’t think of a great big man who had really small hands like thon), is somewhat uncoordinated except that he can shoot, and he’ll put on weight but not the 30-40 pounds he needs to.