Beyond 2019-20 season

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At some point, the chatter about Rudy Gobert 's future will pick up. Extend, super max, trade, lure in free agency? Probably doesn't really intensify til next summer. But it will be a pretty big deal. Who might compete with the Jazz for him? Maybe Raptors. Heat? Spurs? Celtics? Probably not an LA team but maybe some remote chance. May not be many really in the hunt depending on if it just max or supermax level.


Bad to horrible on and on /off playoff plus minus every time despite very good or great boxscore data. A lot of blame probably should go to teammates and the coach but how much to him? What can they do to break this pattern? If they have non-acceptable results in playoffs, do they change out Snyder? Would Gobert ask out early? How would the Jazz respond?

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Raptors have close to $90 million in expiring contracts. What will they do this season, next summer and beyond?

Seems unlikely to me that they extend any of the big salary guys.

Assume they will try to build around VanVleet and Siakam. Pretty much everything else looks up for consideration.

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How many teams will be in top 10 in 2021-22 that aren't there now? I'd guess it could be as many as 5 or as few as 1. Almost everyone thinks it is possible for them to get to top 10 by then. Many more think it likely than there are spaces. There will be plenty of disappointments.

2023-24 and beyond is too far to have much basis to guess on, other than general franchise quality history. The young players of a handful of teams might lead them to assume they'll be title contenders by then but I am probably more cautious about expecting that.

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If you thought expansion as part of the next CBA (with an expansion draft) was likely or unlikely, you might do some of the mid-level moves differently between now and then.

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Extend or just later re-sign Brown and Tatum and the Celtics basically go from no other cap flexibility (besides exceptions or after trades to create cap) for 2 years to 4 years. What can they win in next 4 years? I dunno. I don't expect any titles.

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Pelicans won't be at bottom as Zion starts, but I don't expect many of his current teammates to still be with him in 3-4 years. Maybe David Griffin has a different plan though. I would be a tough sell on paying big & early to retain any of the Laker migrants or most others.

Pelicans might rise but I think it more likely that they tread water for awhile. Most important will be trying to peak 7-9 years from now when Zion becomes unrestricted free agent. Competitive in 2nd round then or better. Sure they want playoffs before that but the importance of getting to first round will fade after achieved and they'll have to get to next level to continue feeling good.

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Not impossible for Clippers to get better than they will be the next 2 years, but it won't be easy, I think there is a very real chance chance Leonard or George might move on after this run, with the Lakers a strong possibility (if James is done there).

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Warriors will try to make 1-2 more runs but it sure looks way less likely.

Future beyond that more likely meh than good.

Wondering how much change Myers makes and to what impact.

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Nets with KD in next seasons? Do they get out of 2nd round? Could go either way. But not certain. I'd lean toward no.

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Commissioner Silver still has a lot to explain about the mid-season tournament. Especially about revenues. I'd guess that the proposal could fail right now but that is without knowing the revenue piece. What happens to TV revenue in near term and then beyond? From existing partners and perhaps some change? (more "broadcast" games?) Are football centric fans going to care more about basketball in December??

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Wizards trying some changes but hard to see near term (next 2-3 years) success with financial situation probably limiting improvements. Pay Bertans, probably not doing much else unless owner is willing to go big on salary / tax. Mahinmi comes off this summer (or before?). Probably should be trying to dump Bryant too. Compete for 8th seed in future is possible but more than that seems unlikely.

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I'd be looking hard at trading Draymond. It is a low point but I don't see it going up much, if any, later.

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Will the Big3 league survive? Will it matter? I dunno. Might get more interesting over time. Perhaps with new ownership and management. NBA, international...

Could they be convinced to go to 4 on 4? Probably not, though that could make a difference in acceptance / longevity.

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Horford for Holiday (and whatever else gets included)? Who proposes it this summer? How much was it considered at this deadline? Apparently one or both wasn't ready for it... yet. I'd think it should be considered. Though it may be 12-18 months off instead of 6.

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Projected top teams in 2022-3 and right beyond that?

Clips
Nuggets
Heat
Bucks
Pacers
Celtics

One or more of these might drop back.

Who do you think joins them?

Sixers
Nets
Lakers
Raptors
Mavs
?

Of course there are many decisions to be made and performance unknowns But these groups probably included a large share of that future top. I offered some opinion about first and second tier but that was very quick and could change with more thought. Numerical edge to the East.

4 other western teams I could have named but I had some reservations about and the list was getting pretty long.