Los Angeles Clippers and 10 NBA Teams That Need to Be Relocated

There are more than a few NBA teams that would benefit from relocating to a different city.

If every market was as kind to their team as New York is to the Knicks or Los Angeles is to the Lakers, the league would have not been divided on almost every major issue during the lockout.

A number of teams are preaching the concept of competitive balance. While the NBA can restrict spending rituals and skew the numbers in an incumbent franchise's favor, the only way to truly level the playing field is to choose the correct playing field.

There is a reason that there have been only nine different teams to win an NBA championship since 1975. There is a reason why the same teams constantly appear at the bottom of yearly attendance totals. And there is a reason why players prefer to play for certain organizations over others.

In other words: Location, location, location.

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks franchise has really turned a corner in terms of performance over the past four seasons, yet it is becoming increasingly clear that there may not be a strong market for basketball in Atlanta.

Atlanta has made the playoffs for four straight years, and yet they are always among the bottom half in attendance. This is not a trend you would expect from a team who has called Atlanta its home since 1968.

Yes, the franchise has taken great strides toward improving its reputation in terms of competitive competency over the past few years, but the organization is still having a tough time piquing its city's interest.

This past season, the Hawks snagged the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, and even managed to scrape a playoff series victory, yet they finished 22nd overall in attendance, averaging 15,648 spectators per home game.

An organization that has been around as long as the Hawks should hold more clout. Struggling to develop a strong fanbase is understandable when a team is at its worst—though keep in mind teams like the Lakers and Knicks will draw a crowd even if at their worst—but to remain amongst the bottom of the pack when a franchise is at its best is telling.

And it isn't telling anything good.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks have not cracked the top half of the league in attendance since 2004, and the prognosis doesn't appear any better from here on out.

Milwaukee is a small market that isn't capable of thriving in the evolved landscape of the NBA, which calls for star players in larger markets. The Bucks haven't generated any sort of hype since the days of Sam Cassell and Ray Allen, and even then the team was never oozing with fan support.

Is Milwaukee capable of sustaining an NBA franchise adequately? Under different circumstances—like those of 10 or 15 years ago—it is possible. In this era of basketball though, Milwaukee is going to continuously be overlooked.

Relocation is definitely an avenue that the Bucks should consider exploring.

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are finally beginning to assemble a stronger supporting cast around star small forward Danny Granger, but will the city even care enough to watch their season unfold?

Indiana was at the bottom of the barrel last season in average home attendance per game, drawing 13,538 patrons per contest, failing to fill more than a quarter of the seats. This season may be a season where the Pacers can pull off an upset and possibly steal a series in the postseason, yet they aren't in a market who will notice.

One would like to believe that the lowest average attendance would belong to one of the league's lowly teams. Indiana is not one of the more inept teams in the league. They are consistently in the playoff hunt and are not famous for penny-pinching.

The Pacers are a team with potential to win. Unfortunately, winning won't translate into interest or ticket sales within the market they are currently stuck.

New Orleans Hornets

Forget that the New Orleans Hornets were 26th in attendance per game last year, averaging a mere 14,709 fans per night. Aside from the obvious financial woes come with being located in New Orleans, this team needs another fresh start somewhere else.

If the NBA ever finds a buyer for this franchise in turmoil, hopefully that buyer will look to move the team outside of New Orleans. It's not just that there are bigger markets to explore, but this is a team that needs to establish a new identity for itself.

The Hornets have become a punchline since the NBA took over. Despite making a killing in the Chris Paul trade, the fact is that their franchise player shunned them. And unless this team makes the jump to a more profitable market at the hands of an actual owner, other stars are going shun them as well.

While it takes some savvy maneuvering to assemble a contending squad, it also takes capital. No owner is going to see an adequate return on their investment should they choose to spend competitively but keep the team in New Orleans.

Any time a playoff team with a top-10 player finds itself at the bottom of the attendance docket, it's a red flag. The 2010-2011 Hornets are no exception. 

Memphis Grizzlies

It is definitely disappointing to consider the Memphis Grizzlies an organization that should explore the avenues of relocation, but it is the truth nonetheless.

The Grizzlies were an impressive team last season and made quite the postseason run, yet they were 27th in attendance at 14,650 spectators per home game. If one thing is for certain, it's that the league's playoff teams should not be amongst the bottom in attendance.

As we transition into this season, the Grizzlies are poised to contend for a championship, but fascination in their future endeavors is at its highest outside of Memphis. Owner Michael Heisley has shown a willingness to invest big money in this team, yet the team's loyal fans—or lack thereof—have not shown an inclination to return his investment in the form of support.

Sometimes, like in the case of the Oklahoma City Thunder, smaller markets serve as a viable home for its franchise.

Memphis is not one of those smaller markets.   

Sacramento Kings

Last season, the Sacramento Kings were second to last in attendance, drawing a meager 13,890 fans per home game.

The Kings have not been an interesting team for a while, but they are trying to resurrect such a notion. That being said, even if they became instant contenders, California is too crowded a market to support this team, and Sacramento in particular doesn't seem to keen on supporting its NBA resident.

The Kings have toiled with the idea of relocation already, most recently entertaining the idea of a move to Anaheim. While anywhere but Sacramento would be a better fit, looking outside California would not be a bad decision either.

DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans may give the Kings a promising outlook for the near future, but such potential is nowhere near as appeasing as relocating would prove to be.

Minnesota Timberwolves

In the Minnesota Timberwolves' defense, they haven't been a good team for quite awhile, so being 24th in attendance shouldn't be so alarming. That being said, Minnesota isn't a market that is exactly going to draw payers in.

Attendance in Minnesota was actually amongst the top half of the NBA when Kevin Garnett was around, but those days are long gone. Garnett eventually left because he was unable to attain a championship, due largely to the fact that it was becoming increasingly difficult to assemble a competent supporting cast around him.  

We just witnessed Chris Paul force his way into a bigger market; Dwight Howard is poised to do the same. Will Minnesota, regardless of who is on its roster, ever be a team that stars or players in general aspire to play for?

No.

If LeBron James could not convince a player like Amar'e Stoudemire to make a home for himself in Cleveland, how is Kevin Love supposed to entice other athletes to come join the cause in Minnesota?

Toronto Raptors

Basketball in Canada should not be a taboo topic, but at the same time, Toronto just isn't cutting it for the Raptors.

The Raptors are not the worst in attendance numbers, but the team has a tendency to watch its star players map out an exit at one point or another. Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh all sought greener pastures, a trend that is likely to continue.

Athletes are not jumping at the opportunity to play in Canada, so while the NBA has gone to great lengths to ensure incumbent teams have an edge when it comes to retaining home-grown players, Toronto will always be at a disadvantage.

The Raptors are much better off than some other teams in terms of attendance, but they are worse off than most in terms of location.

And as we know, location is everything. 

Charlotte Bobcats

While some may appreciate Michael Jordan's effort to instill life in an otherwise dying franchise, the fact of the matter is that the Bobcats would be better off outside of Charlotte, or perhaps not in existence at all.

This past season, the Bobcats finished 21st overall in home attendance, jumping ahead one spot from 22nd the year before. In all reality, after the Hornets relocated to New Orleans, a Charlotte expansion team should have never been allowed.

Charlotte is one of the league's smallest markets, and it is rapidly proving to be an insufficient one. Sure, the city hasn't exactly had much to cheer for since the Bobcats came into existence in 2004, but it is unlikely the team fills seats even if they were playoff-bound.

Want proof? When the Bobcats actually clinched a playoff berth in the 2009-2010 season, they were 26th in attendance. Their numbers have increased slightly since that year, but this team is destined to always be at the bottom of the barrel in that department.

And the way they are currently structured, expect them to land to near the bottom of the standings as well.

Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles is a huge market, but it is a huge market that is already owned by the Lakers.

The Clippers could trade for LeBron James or Dwight Howard and it wouldn't matter. The Lakers are always going to be Los Angeles' team, and the Clippers will always be the city's stepchild.

Blake Griffin and Chris Paul are great pillars for an organization, but the duo's presence would go a longer way in a different city. Even though the team's attendance numbers aren't bad at all, they will never be able to build a legacy all their own as long as they are overshadowed by the Lakers.

While Paul and Griffin put the Clippers in position to win more basketball games, they are nowhere near enough to eclipse the rich history that the Lakers share with the city of Los Angeles. If the team wants to shed the red-jerseyed step-child moniker that has been assigned to them, relocation is an avenue worth exploring.

It wouldn't hurt if Donald Sterling took a hike either.

You can follow Dan Favale on Twitter here @Dan_Favale.