During my deep dive into NBA history (still upcoming), I started thinking about franchise relocation and expansion and all that. The NBA had some very odd (at best) movement during the 60's and 70's that shaped it into what it is today. After finally gaining some ground in the early 60's, the league started adding teams at a rapid rate. From 1967 to 1975, the league grew from 9 teams to 18, and that's with the ABA siphoning away a lot of players too. 4 teams, of course, would travel from the ABA to the NBA in 1976. And then the NBA added Dallas as a solo expansion team in 1980, despite having several franchises who were in distress (and several moved) during the time. This resulted in a quirk from 1981 through 2004 wherein the league had an uneven number of teams (through six more expansion teams!). I never got this. On the last night of the season, one team was always out.
Why didn't someone tell the Jazz, upon leaving for Salt Lake City of all places (yes, I know they had an ABA team that proved they could attract fans), that Dallas would be a better move? The Buffalo Braves also moved in the late 70's to San Diego, which of course later resulted them being bought by the atrocious Donald Sterling and moved to LA as an afterthought. Could have been them. The Kings were alternating games between Kansas City and Omaha at one point, which seems unthinkable today (unless the Rays really do become the half-Expos), and eventually surprised everyone by going to Sacramento.
Later on, we had all the madness as the also atrocious George Shinn had to move the Hornets, shortly after the Grizzlies had already abandoned ship after a few years and left one less market to consider. I know this allowed an even 30th team (and also promised that Michael Jordan could be involved as an owner) but it clouded things up. Then the league refused to let the Hornets stay in OKC after Katrina forced a move, which led to them seeking a team and eventually getting the Sonics, who got screwed only by a bad stadium deal.
Despite all this madness, things have mostly worked out ok. I don't think there are any glaring problems with the composition now besides Seattle should be have a team and probably New Orleans shouldn't, but whatever. There doesn't feel like anyone is hopeless, as all 30 teams have.. something. Talent is not as well dispersed as it could be, but better than a few superteams. This does not seem like the time that we would contract teams.
But hey.. it's been a while since I did one of these, so why not now?
I used to do these throughout the 00s, taking two teams and contracting them, then dispersing players to the worst teams. This might be actually a good time to do it since the real draft doesn't look great this year. I usually come up with a draft order that guarantees that the worst and most hopeless teams get the best picks of the teams that are dissolved.
First, we must determine which two teams go. I was thinking about this in terms of correcting history, so that the Jazz would be in Dallas and some of these other teams never existed, but it's too late for that. I would also say the Clippers and Kings may have saturated California, but they're all ok now. Definitely New Orleans is out, Seattle should be in. Maybe if we look at media markets... who are the smallest...
20. Sacramento
21. Charlotte
22. Portland
25. Indianapolis
30. Salt Lake City
31. San Antonio
35. Milwaukee
43. Oklahoma City
50. New Orleans
51. Memphis
That doesn't look great for some teams, but many of them benefit from being the only team in town. I am also thinking about location. I feel like there's a little bit of a central American tilt since the Sonics moved... lot of middle ones and Texas... Minnesota and Memphis have both complained about being in the western conference, and for good reason. I feel like they could go east and it would boost that conference a bit, which is not great now outside of Milwaukee... I know they have six interesting teams, but the bottom is REALLLLLLY bad compared to the west. LeBron and Kawhi both moving to LA didn't help, and it seems like all the lottery-but-interesting young teams are out west (Memphis, New Orleans, Phoenix, Sacramento).
Here's my plan: I am sadly going to eliminate Memphis, who probably never should have been. They had a nice run with the Grit N' Grind Grizz, and they have a bright future now, but if I'm deleting two teams they have to go. If the NBA never tried another Canada team with Toronto, they'd have 28, and probably in the right places, pending on the dumb stuff that happened in Charlotte and Seattle. They might have moved Milwaukee back to the west to even it out then, but I'd just go with 16 teams in the east.
I also want to get New Orleans out, which has given basketball a fair second turn there despite all the hardship and the Saints finally getting good. They just don't have the numbers, and I do not want to see Zion leaving in a few years just like AD did.
I am thinking, though, that given both location and futility, there might be another way. Since the dispersion of these teams will help the worst teams out, I think I can get both the conferences a little even and make more sense on the map.
So now, I am going to eliminate two of Memphis, Minnesota, and New Orleans, and then shift the other team to Seattle. This will even out the conferences and give us 4 nice divisions: the ol' Pacific with the 4 Cali teams, Phoenix, Portland, and Seattle; a more cohesive middle division with the 3 Texas teams, Denver, Utah, and OKC; and the east divisions would return to what they were in the late 90's with Toronto. Yes, this means there are 15 teams in the east and 13 in the west, but they make sense.
This is pretty unfair to Minnesota in terms of market size, but the twin cities have 3 other pro teams and the Wolves have always been the lost child, especially since they got a hockey team again. They are also low on the list of respectable franchise. They just haven't been able to get anything going since KG left. I am making a deal so that Milwaukee, which is much smaller but has a strong franchise and a new stadium, will play a handful of games there.
I am also making a deal for Charlotte to play a few games in Memphis. It may be a surprise that I keep Charlotte as they are the most hapless of all these franchises by far, but I know the league wants them, they have a surprisingly good market (and there are a couple others in the Carolinas that are also decent, giving them a large media base), and I think they want to keep MJ involved.
I had an idea that will keep balancing things out - instead of shifting one of the teams eliminated to Seattle, I am basically giving Charlotte the best roster out of all of them (I'd say New Orleans) and then sending Charlotte's roster (which is mostly decent without anyone special) to Seattle. Yes, I am doing this to get Zion to his home area, where he should finally give them the franchise guy they need. To sooth Seattle (now with the Hornets roster), they get the first pick in the dispersion draft.
So, the Grizzlies and Timberwolves rosters are up for grabs. Any draft picks they owe will be made up somehow; that Minnesota pick that Golden State owns from the Wiggins-DeAngelo trade will be based on Minnesota's record this year, so it will be good. The Celtics were likely getting the Grizz pick anyway, so now they definitely will. I think the rest can be figured out.
I made the draft list based on which teams need the most. Not just by this year, but overall what shape the team is in. I probably would have put the Hornets, Wolves (if I hadn't killed them), Cavs, or Knicks first, and I already gave Seattle the Hornets roster and made that deal. I like this. There's basically 3 studs that teams will want from these teams, plus 3-4 more interesting guys. let's do this.
Pick 1: Seattle Sonics (with current Hornets roster) - Karl Anthony-Towns
Towns is the most qualified of anyone available. Some might say that Jaren Jackson Jr. has more upside, but he hasn't reached that level. The Hornets have a meh roster but with an all-star center they could be good soon.
2. Cleveland - Jaren Jackson Jr.
JJJ could have been first. With two point guards, they probably won't look at Ja Morant. JJJ is a terrific franchise big and I'm hoping they would now move Kevin Love.
3. New York - Ja Morant
NOW the Knicks get excited. They get the point guard they've been dreaming about and almost landed last year. With Ja and RJ, they now have a future.
4. Atlanta - Jarrett Culver
DeAngelo Russell was considered, but the Hawks probably want a steady role guy next to Trae Young. They have pretty much every position besides shooting guard solved.
5. Detroit - DeAngelo Russell
They've desperately needed perimeter help and DAR could be a nice partner for Blake, if he's ever not hurt again. Or they could send him to Seattle so he and Towns can pair up again and get a younger player in Devonte Graham.
6. Chicago - Dillon Brooks
Brooks is probably the most promising guy available now. Chicago has a lot of young guys and needs to make a lot of roster choices, and Brooks is a solid wing, which is one area they could use.
7. Washington - Brandon Clarke
Clarke actually should be above Brooks, but I didn't think the Bulls wanted another big. Washington will gladly take him. With their young frontcourt and John Wall back, the Wiz would be very interesting next year.
8. Phoenix - Kyle Anderson
Phoenix seemed like the most troubled of the west almost-playoff teams, though they have been nice in the restart. They will take another forward who can play smart.
9. Charlotte - Juancho Hernangomez (with current Pelicans roster)
The former Pels have a bunch of guards and wings, and could use a stretch big to play with Zion.
10. Sacramento - Jonas Valančiūnas
The Kings have a lot of perimeter guys and seem to need insurance for Bagley and their big guys. JV is still a productive guy, and they can trade him if their young bigs get back.
11. San Antonio - Justice Winslow
The Spurs seemed trending downward but they can't even be count out. Winslow got a bit forgotten in Miami with injuries and the addition of Jimmy Butler, but it would be interesting what the Spurs could do with him.
12. Orlando - Malik Beasley
This is a nice pickup for the Magic, as not a lot of proven guys are left. They always need wing scoring.
13. Brooklyn - Gorgui Deng
The Nets really need some insurance down low. They're playing their 7th string bigs in the bubble.
14. Oklahoma City - Grayson Allen
The Thunder are happy to get a rotation guy this late. They can always use shooting.
15. Indiana - Nas Reid
The Pacers seem to keep pulling guards out of their ass, no matter what happens. They could use some big depth. Reid had some moments while Towns was out.
16. Portland - Omari Spellman
I knocked Portland down a bit as I think they will be better without injuries. Spellman got some starts for the Hawks earlier this year, and they need some big depth.
17. Philadelphia - Tyus Jones
I was really hoping a point guard or a shooter would be available, and here we go. Jones gives the Sixers a real backup point with Shake Milton starting now.
18. Dallas - Josh Okogie
Okogie is the last real rotation guy here. Carlisle will find something for him.
19. Utah - Jake Layman
Really getting to the end of the rosters now. The Jazz need another forward with size, and oh hey, it's a white guy!
20. Golden State - DeAnthony Melton
I am putting them down here because their record is entirely injury-related, they have 2 high real draft picks coming, and they shouldn't be rewarded any more after all they got. They could be last. Anyway, Melton has shown a few signs in Memphis running the point.
21. Miami - Jacob Evans
Not much left, but feels like the Heat can use guard depth.
22. Houston - Anthony Tolliver
If the Rockets do decide to go big, here's a big who can shoot.. but man this dude has been around.
23. Denver - Marko Guduric
I don't know this guy that well but he's gotten some minutes at guard for Memphis, and the Nuggets need depth there.
24. Boston - Jontay Porter
The Celtics will gladly take another big man project.
25. Toronto - Jaylen Nowell
I had no idea who this dude is. He got some minutes at guard in Minnesota. Toronto has a pretty solid roster now so just looking to get someone who can play.
26. LA Clippers - Jarred Vanderbilt
Uhhhh don't know this guy, Clips have been looking for more bigs?
27. LA Lakers - Jared McLaughlin
I do know this guy got a few starts when the Wolves had no other guards... Lakers can always use another.
28. Milwaukee - Evan Turner
He's still around! He's been tossed in a few deals the past 2 years as salary fodder. He could be a Bledsoe emergency replacement for a few minutes.
There we go. This would obviously set off a host of other moves, and there would be the real draft to think about, but this clearly helps almost every team, and definitely the bad ones. Seattle has an interesting roster to restart, the Knicks have an electric backcourt, Cleveland has a new direction, and everyone else gets a little more interesting. Atlanta and Brooklyn were already heading there and now Charlotte, Washington, and eventually New York will greatly improve the mid part of the east.
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