NBA's Extreme Makeover Draft Edition: Teams That Are a Draft Away From Playoffs
Every team has it's lows.
Besides the LA Lakers, almost every team had point in time where they were the laughing stock of the NBA. Most of these teams nowandays either try and do it the quick less effective way (free agency), or the long most effective way (draft).
When you look at a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder, or Seattle Supersonics at the time, the first two years they drafted Kevin Durant they only won 43 games in the two first seasons combined. Everyone laughed at them because they were bad and questioned Kevin Durant's ability to lead a team. Now after successfully building through the draft they have two centerpieces to the franchise in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
I KNOW, THAT I DIDN'T INCLUDE PLAYERS LIKE KYRIE IRVING OR PERRY JONES IN THIS ARTICLE. The reason for that being is because then it would be too predictable because it is an obvious choice that the top two picks in the draft would make the bigger impacts for my prediction.
These teams are teams that I believe can possibly surprise people come next year in result of the NBA Draft.
5. Milwaukee Bucks
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The Bucks looked to be a team that could make a deep playoff run this season, but have failed to live up to the hype. Much of it was due to Brandon Jennings and his injuries, but you can't blame him for that. The Bucks have both a franchise point guard and center, now they need to get some pieces to put in between the two. Brandon Jennings has the shooting ability to take over a game and Bogut can rebound like crazy but, when they aren't on the floor the team suffers.
They need one more scoring punch that could help this team.
Most suitable pick: Jordan Hamilton
What does he bring: Hamilton could bring the scoring threat that the Bucks need to aside with Jennings, he also adds some presence in rebounding down low. He scores a lot like Brandon Jennings, which could be a problem because he takes up a lot of shots for the team, but he is definitely one of the elite scorers in the NCAA right now.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
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The Timberwolves are probably the only team this year that has an all-star in Kevin Love on their team, yet they get no national television time. Love is a great building block to this franchise as he reminds me of a white Charles Barkley, without the complete brute strength of Barkley and has a better jumper than Barkley.
They also drafted the small forward out of Syracuse in Wesley Johnson who has plenty of potential with a nice shot and athleticism. The team struggles because of the lack of scorers on the team, Michael Beasley has been off and on with his injures and at time is inconsistent.
Most suitable pick: Jimmer Fredette
What does he bring: Everybody knows about Jimmer and his ridiculous year he is having with BYU thanks to ESPN; but what he brings is a score who does display a bit of high volume. Kevin Love should have a fun time with Jimmer Fredette and could help them reach a playoff berth.
3. Golden State Warriors
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Golden State has one of the quickest backcourts I've ever seen. The main thing that is special about both Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis is that they both can create their own shots. Monta Ellis is a top scorer in the league while Curry is a top 3-point shooter in the league. So obviously they don't really need any more scorers on the team. The main problem for the Warriors has always been the production on the defensive side of the floor.
They hoped to solve that problem last year by drafting Ekpe Udoh out of Baylor for defensive purposes, but yet defense still remains as an issue. Right now the starting five consists of a duo of studs in the backcourt, an emerging 3-point shooting threat, an undersized PF and an aging center. Kudos to whoever guesses who those five are.
Most Suitable Pick: Enes Kanter
What does he bring: Kanter's physical toughness and presence in the post can help spread the floor for the Warriors offensively and make people scared to take it in defensively. Although we haven't seen much of him due to his ineligibility to play for Kentucky but just looking at him makes you think that he is NBA-ready.
2. Washington Wizards
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The Washington Wizards are on of the young electrifying teams in the NBA and a lot of this is due to their superstar in the making, John Wall. The Wizards almost remind me of the Memphis Grizzles because of all the talent they have on the team and yet they can't reach a playoff berth. A lot of the Wizards' struggles come from the lack of toughness in the paint from Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee.
When people think of the laughing stocks of the NBA most of them think of the Washington Wizards, mostly due to the Gilbert Arenas incident and now the nuisance of Andray Blatche off-court.
Most Suitable Pick: Jared Sullinger
What does he bring: Right now the Wizards main problem is the soft interior they have. Now opposing NBA teams strategies consists of attacking the frontcourt in order to win games. With Sullinger in the mix that won't cause any problems with the power he possesses in the paint.
1. Los Angeles Clippers
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The Clippers have definitely been the surprise team this season and the center of the hype is Blake Griffin. As he as surprised many, the Clippers as a team has overwhelmed expectations by beating elite teams. Right now they definitely have a franchise forward and possibly a franchise shooting guard in Eric Gordon, but they still need help at the small forward position although they drafted one with their first round pick last year.
I feel that they should build the team around Blake Griffin as if he were Dwight Howard; with shooters everywhere on the court to give defenses a problem with trying to contain both Griffin and the shooters around him.
Most Suitable Pick: Harrison Barnes
What does he bring: He may have been a disappointment this season but he his still a good shooter that isn't too selfish who fits the Clippers perfectly. His rebounding skills will give the Clippers a competitive advantage on the boards instead of it just being Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan going up for every rebound.
