The NBA Rapidfire Report: The NBA Offseason and Draft
The 2007-08 NBA season is racing toward its zenith as playoff seeding and MVP talk intensifies. This week, however, we’ve decided to a break from the rousing finale of the regular season and take a look at the offseason and beyond.
Which of the league’s worst teams (Knicks, Heat, Memphis, Seattle, Minnesota) has the best chance of a winning record next season?
Andrew Ungvari: The Heat, and not because they've shown any promise this year. It's because they're in the Eastern Conference. They're assured a top four pick, and because they should see the return of healthy Dwyane Wade, and the possible return of Alonzo Mourning.
If they end up with Michael Beasley then they're looking at a potential starting lineup of Wade, Marcus Banks, Shawn Marion, Beasley and Mourning. If they end up with Derrick Rose then they're looking at a lineup of Rose, Wade, Marion, Haslem and Mourning. Either five gives them a top six starting lineup in the Eastern Conference.
Joe Willett: If I had to choose, I would pick the Heat just because they are the only team with star power with Dwyane Wade and possibly Shawn Marion to potentially make some big name free agents join their squad.
New York spends way too much money on bad free agents. Memphis, Seattle, and Minnesota are more than a few moves away from becoming a major contender. In reality, I can't really see any of these teams getting enough good players to make the jump into a positive record.
Stan Stancill: The Heat will have the most likely chance of a winning season because of what they have done this year and what they will do in the offseason.
With the Miami Heat having the worst record in the NBA, they will probably get the top pick in the draft and select Michael Beasley, to no one's surprise. That will also help lure a big name free agent to the Heat and make them a better ball club.
Andrew Kneeland: Coming from a Minnesota fan, I'm going to say the Timberwolves will be the best next year. They have a future All-Star in Jefferson, a good guard in Foye, and a good defender in Brewer. Add to that a lottery pick this year, and the Timberwolves should play very well next year and beyond.
They have already showed great improvement in recent weeks. The reason I think that they are on the bottom of the Western Conference is because of the lack of time that they have spent together. Give them a few more months, and they should be a top-ten team in the West.
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