NBA Reset & Reload!

Here’s a hypothetical: All NBA players are stripped from their current teams and placed in one big free agent pool. Every team’s roster salary is cleared, while the league prepares for a complete redraft. The destiny of each team’s pick is now hinged completely on the ping-pong balls that have been so kind, or cruel, to those in the lottery.

Now here’s the question: Do you want your team to do it?

Atlanta Hawks: First 60 win season. A taste of the Eastern Conference Finals. Five solid starters. The season’s ending could have been better, but was it bad enough to blow up the team? I don’t think so.

Final Answer: No

Boston Celtics: Plenty of young talent, most of which experienced their first NBA Postseason this year. They’ve successfully amassed multiple draft picks in the coming years. Could they draft a star? Could one of their current young guys become a star? Maybe. Regardless they’re in a pretty good spot.

Final Answer: No

Brooklyn Nets: No picks. No youth. No money. The win totals have decreased every year that the “Big 3” have been together. Where’s the button to blow this thing up? Hit it now!

Final Answer: Yes

Charlotte: The roster is decent. An offensively gifted Al Jeff. Cardiac Kemba. Some role players. Lance hasn't panned out the way they expected, I’m sure. But he currently holds the third highest salary on the team. Nothing too impressive here.

Final Answer: Yes

Chicago: They have a former MVP, the Most Improved Player (who was also an All-Defensive 2nd Teamer), and an All-NBA Second Team big man. The injury bug is deadly, but if they could just keep it at bay for one season…

Final Answer: No

Cleveland: LeBron James.

Final Answer: No

Dallas: That whole Rondo thing was a disaster. The future is pretty much in the hands of Monta Ellis and Chandler Parsons. Dirk’s a superstar, but is getting up there in age. They could probably do better in a fantasy draft.

Final Answer: Yes

Denver: There’s no bonafide superstar on this roster, nor are they deep enough to be a threatening team of role players.

Final Answer: Yes

Detroit: Well this is a mess. Stan did what he thought was best by sending Josh Smith out the door. But now with Jennings coming back from injury, what do they do with Reggie Jackson? Do they have enough faith in Drummond not to opt for this fantasy draft? A lot of questions. Too many. Reset.

Final Answer: Yes

Golden State: Reigning MVP. 67 wins (4th best in NBA History). Don’t touch this. It’s special.

Final Answer: No

Houston: Runner up MVP. A superstar big man. A trip to the Conference Finals in the brutal Western Conference. Can’t really argue with what the team has produced.

Final Answer: No

Indiana: The team is somewhat different, but they still have gone to the Eastern Conference Finals in two of the last three seasons, in large part to superstar Paul George. To risk losing him in a fantasy draft could be catastrophic.

Final Answer: No

Los Angeles (Clippers): Finally getting out of the first round, and consequentially getting the proverbial monkey off their back, they beat the Spurs at home in game 7. If not for a meltdown that some would consider legendary, they would have been playing in the Western Conference Finals. Oh, and they have three max contract worthy players.

Final Answer: No

Los Angeles (Lakers): Who’s on this team besides Kobe, again?

Final Answer: Yes

Memphis: They’re solid. Real solid. If only they had that one (reliable, also known as Not Jeff Green) perimeter threat.

Final Answer: No

Milwaukee: The average age of the team is 23 years old, and they made the playoffs. The future is bright.

Final Answer: No

Minnesota: One team this year already let Andrew Wiggins get away. After what he’s shown, another team would be absolutely foolish for doing so. The rest of the team be what it may, Wiggins is going to be a bonafide star.

Final Answer: No

New Orleans: Anthony Davis is going to be the best player in the league within 3 years.

Final Answer: No

New York: Usually you can’t argue in favor of letting star power walk, but Carmelo is playing with some bad, bad players. A fantasy draft would give the chance at getting another star, while also evening out the roster.

Final Answer: Yes

Oklahoma City: I’m taking my chances every time with a team consisting of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Final Answer: No

Orlando: They have youth, and they’re pretty talented. But do they have anyone that would stop me from potentially blowing it up? Nope.

Final Answer: Yes

Philadelphia: Don’t let the numbers fool you. They were terrible this past year, but if they could get everyone healthy and on the same page? They could be a force.

Final Answer: No

Portland: Some thought they could contend before the injury bug mauled them. I’d give them another shot.

Final Answer: No

Sacramento: You don’t come across a gifted big like DeMarcus Cousins does every day. You’ve got to keep him, especially being as young as he is.

Final Answer: No.

San Antonio: It’s impossible to argue against their success. They’ve made the playoffs in 24 of the last 25 seasons.

Final Answer: No

Toronto: These guys just can’t get it done. They’ve flamed out in the first round the last two years. The last time they made the playoffs before that? The 2007-2008 season.

Final Answer: Yes

Utah: After a surprisingly good end to the season, the youth of the Jazz seems to promise hopes of a good future. Still, I’m not convinced. A redraft could result in a more solid team.

Final Answer: Yes

Washington: It doesn’t get much better than John Wall and Bradley Beal being your backcourt of the future. The chances of building a better team through a redraft aren’t very high.

Final Answer: No

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