Biggest "What Ifs?"

Discussion in 'NBA General' started by DynastYWarrioR6, Sep 23, 2008.

  1. DynastYWarrioR6

    DynastYWarrioR6 JBB SmurfY

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2005
    Messages:
    7,091
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Irvine, CA
    In sports, and in our case basketball, there are many decisions that franchises make that seem good at the time, but not so much in hindsight (20/20). In sports, we find ourselves asking alot of questions, but most beginning with the words "What If...". So my question to you guys is: What is your biggest "What If" in regards to the NBA and anything that went on in the NBA? We can even turn this into a game. Post a "What If" and rate the "What If" before yours from a scale of 1-10. I'll start us off.

    What if Washington did not draft Kwame Brown in 2001?

    I bring this up because that team had Michael Jordan and a rising Rip Hamilton. Kwame was a bust in every year that he has played, and has peaked as an average lowpost defender, but that's it. So who could they have gotten? Some big names are:

    Tyson Chandler
    Pau Gasol
    Eddy Curry
    Jason Richardson
    Shane Battier
    Joe Johnson
    Richard Jefferson
    Gerald Wallace
    Tony Parker
    Gilbert Arenas

    A pretty darn good list, especially when you consider they would be replacing Kwame Brown. Let's assume that they take a big man still. This slims the list down to Curry, Gasol, and Chandler. Now chew on that!
     
  2. Petey

    Petey Super Sized Sexy, The Bulls Fan Killer! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2007
    Messages:
    4,042
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Rating the above: 6/7/8.

    Hard to rate as if they picked Curry as they any better off? But Rip and Gasol are a nice combo. I also think Chandler would make a good combo with Rip and Gilbert.

    My what if:

    The Nets seem to make stupid draft picks year after year, after year.

    What if they had just made 2 or 3 differently?

    I still cry when I think how they picked Brandon Armstrong over Arenas. Thorn has said he asked around and it was suggested by West (if my memory serves me correctly) to take Armstrong. Gilbert's offense would had come in handle when the Nets meet the Spurs in the Finals.

    -Petey
     
  3. Денг Гордон

    Денг Гордон Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2007
    Messages:
    6,039
    Likes Received:
    26
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Columbia, MO
    What if...the Bulls took LaMarcus Aldridge #2, and did the reported Duhon + #16, and other pieces for the Celtics pick (I think #7) and took Brandon Roy, and then never traded Chandler in the offseason.
     
  4. DynastYWarrioR6

    DynastYWarrioR6 JBB SmurfY

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2005
    Messages:
    7,091
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Irvine, CA
    Rating of Above: 7

    Like we talked about, imagine how scary this lineup would've been back then:

    PG: Jason Kidd
    SG: Gilbert Arenas
    SF: Richard Jefferson
    PF: Kenyon Martin
    C: Todd MacCulloch

    I know that that wouldn't have been the starting lineup, but that was the potential lineup. Back then I think the Nets started Kerry Kittles and Keith Van Horn where Jefferson and Arenas are in this lineup. Jefferson and Arenas off the bench would've been scary too. Guys would've avoided a sweep by the Lakers :D

    My What If?:

    What if the Lakers didn't draft Kareem Rush?

    This one is probably really minor, but its a personal grudge of mine. I always look back at this draft and see that the Lakers drafted Kareem over Tayshaun Prince, Carlos Boozer, and even the rights to Luis Scola.

    Imagine today's Lakers with Tayshaun Prince (I'm assuming he didn't sign away or got traded). Right now, it would be:

    PG: Derek Fisher / Jordan Farmar
    SG: Kobe Bryant / Trevor Ariza
    SF: Lamar Odom / Tayshaun Prince / Luke Walton
    PF: Pau Gasol
    C: Andrew Bynum

    I mean I bet if we drafted Tayshaun, we wouldn't have drafted Luke. So if that is the case, who would we have gotten? At that time, after Fisher left we needed a point and a big man outside of Bynum and before Pau. So our options are:

    Steve Blake
    Zaza Pachulia
    James Jones
    Keith Bogans

    Luke isn't so bad I guess :D
     
  5. bbwchingy0007

    bbwchingy0007 BBW Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2004
    Messages:
    2,500
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Rating above 6/10

    What if Michael Jordan had never been dropped from his high school basketball team?
     
  6. DynastYWarrioR6

    DynastYWarrioR6 JBB SmurfY

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2005
    Messages:
    7,091
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Irvine, CA
    Rating of Above: 1

    Simple. He would've won more games.

    Mine:

    What if Detroit drafted Carmelo Anthony?

    PG: Chauncey Billups
    SG: Rip Hamilton
    SF: Carmelo Anthony / Tayshaun Prince
    PF: Rasheed Wallace
    C: Ben Wallace

    Would've won another championship if you ask me. Tayshaun off the bench is scary, plus would be a great trade bargaining chip :D
     
  7. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    May 24, 2007
    Messages:
    72,957
    Likes Received:
    10,620
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Never lost a case
    Location:
    Boston Legal
    Rating the above: 1

    My biggest What If involves the ABA days.

    The Milwaukee Bucks drafted Dr. J out of Massachusetts. At the time, they had Kareem and Oscar Robertson. Think on that for a second and you realize they could have had 3 HOFers, easily 3 players top 3 all-time at their position. They won a championship with Kareem, but things never really turned into a dynasty for them. Kareem ended up traded to the Lakers who later drafted Magic and won 5 championships.

    How great could the Bucks have been if they were able to sign Dr. J? And imagine those Lakers without him (Kareem).
     
  8. kobe23

    kobe23 JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2006
    Messages:
    3,563
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Occupation:
    College Undergrad
    My 1st What IF:

    What if the Lakers got Dwade, Odom, Brian Grant (could have not been included), picks (that got our young guns) for Shaq, instead of Butler (as reported that the Lakers wanted Shaq)

    OR

    what if the trade was simply Wade, Odom, Picks for Shaq... The lakers would have had tons of cap space w/o grant's contract.

    The Lakers could have traded Odom (and Atkins) for Kwame and Picks (picks that drafted our young guns e.g. bynum, farmar, sasha).

    Kwame, Java, Picks traded for Pau

    Lakers line - up:
    Wade (doubt fish would be signed, since we would have used the money on wade LOL)
    Kobe
    Walton
    Pau
    Bynum

    Bench: Sasha, Farmar, Ariza, Vlad, Powell, Mihm

    2007 - 08 NBA finals Lakers in 4 LOL!

    2nd What if:

    What if the Blazers didnt pass up on MJ just coz they had Clyde???

    Clyde + Mj = Damn!

    3rd What if:

    What if Kobe came ahead of Jordan? Would he be what Jordan was and is up to this day... and would MJ be forever hated by everyone? LOL (read an article that if the 2 switched places... this is what would exactly happen)
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2008
  9. DynastYWarrioR6

    DynastYWarrioR6 JBB SmurfY

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2005
    Messages:
    7,091
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Irvine, CA
    Lol can we rate the "What ifs" above yours?
     
  10. kobe23

    kobe23 JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2006
    Messages:
    3,563
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Occupation:
    College Undergrad
    ^ huh?
     
  11. DynastYWarrioR6

    DynastYWarrioR6 JBB SmurfY

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2005
    Messages:
    7,091
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Irvine, CA
    In my first post, I asked people who were gonna post a "What if" to also rate the "What if" post above theirs.
     
  12. The Dream

    The Dream mama there goes that man!

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2004
    Messages:
    4,456
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Your 1st What If: I'll rate at a 1, cause Miami wasn't giving up Wade for Kobe.

    Your 2nd What If: I'll rate at an 8 just, because it would've been amazing to see a young Jordan and Clyde play together....................could you imagine the highlight reels??????

    Your 3rd What If: I'll rank at a 5 just, because it would be fun to see how different players played in different eras...with that being said Jordan would still be the better player.


    MY WHAT IF


    What if Ralph Sampson never got injured???? Question crosses my mind at least 5 times per day. Would the rockets eventually win a title in the 80's with Ralph and Hakeem. Would the 90's be known as Hakeem and Ralph's era, instead of Jordan's?????
     
  13. Piltzer

    Piltzer The Intern

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Messages:
    59
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Occupation:
    Unpaid Office Suport Intern
    Location:
    Portland
    I rate your what if about a 7 because there were a lot of big men in that era that would have been great players if they never had injury problems. Portland drafted one of them ahead of some guy named Michael for what is worth.

    What if Sabonis had come over before the injuries and old age set in and joined the blazer team during the Glides glory years and given us a What he gave Russia in the Olympics?
     
  14. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    May 24, 2007
    Messages:
    72,957
    Likes Received:
    10,620
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Never lost a case
    Location:
    Boston Legal
    Rating^^^ 9

    People would be saying Sabonis was one of the top 3 or 4 centers ever.

    What if the Bulls signed Mutombo when he left Denver as a FA? Bulls were never super strong at C, and had Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Harper. Add Mutombo and at least 4 of those guys were legit DPOY candidates.
     
  15. Big Frame

    Big Frame Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2007
    Messages:
    4,280
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    48
    3, The Bulls didnt need a center, they had Jordan.

    What if Magic wasnt HIV+?
     
  16. drexlersdad

    drexlersdad SABAS

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    4,825
    Likes Received:
    255
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    NEW New Hampshire
    bill simmons did this in march

    my favorite.

     
  17. pegs

    pegs My future wife.

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2007
    Messages:
    12,079
    Likes Received:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    38
    8. The Suns would've owned, seriously.

    What if the Nets never traded away Julius Erving? Would they have built around him, and won a championship?

    Also, what if Len Bias never died?
     
  18. agoo

    agoo Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2007
    Messages:
    2,868
    Likes Received:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Len Bias is my biggest what if because it raises so many questions. How much longer would Bird and McHale lasted with the minutes that Bias would have taken? Who knows really.

    Adding to that, what if Reggie Lewis never died. In 1993, Lewis was coming into his own as legit scorer in the league. Bias would have been turning 30, Lewis 27. What would they have done against Jordan and Pippen?

    My other "what if," is what if the Celtics won the Tim Duncan lottery? Bill Simmons did that one a while ago and had the C's gamble the second pick on McGrady, then struggle enough the following year to end up with the pick that they got Paul Pierce with. Even without the Pierce projection, Duncan, McGrady, and Antoine Walker is a pretty solid place to start. They'd probably win a ring or two for sure.
     
  19. Chutney

    Chutney MON-STRAWRRR!!1!

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,944
    Likes Received:
    46
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Toronto
    Tim Duncan had the ability to make any GM look good. I think there's no doubt we'd be talking about a Celtics team that would've been the class of the East for the past decade and I also think it would completely change the balance of the conferences. The West wouldn't have been nearly as dominant.

    As a Raptors fan, one of the biggest "what if's" surrounds Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. They looked like one of the most promising duos in the league after 2000. What if they had managed their egos and both re-signed with Toronto?
     
  20. Jontro

    Jontro What?

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2005
    Messages:
    149
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Occupation:
    Teacher
    What if the refs actually call each and every game fairly?

    What if Isaiah actually knew how to be a GM?
     

Share This Page