Top ten NBA "what ifs"

[TheBynumProject]

1)MJ in Portland (1984)
2)Kareem in PHX (lost the coin toss)
3)Kobe in Charlotte (1996)
4)VC in Golden State (1998)
5)AI in Detorit (2000)
6)Kobe in LA Clippers (2004)
7)Rodman in PHX (1994, trade rescinded)
8)LeBron in Memphis (2003)
9)Chris Paul in ATL (2005)
10)Kidd in SA (2003)

Honorable mention: Dirk in MIL (1998)

[Spike Spiegel]

Dirk, Big Dog, Ray, and Sam...*sigh*

[LakersDynasty]

Dirk, Big Dog, Ray, and Sam...*sigh*
Redd and Tim Thomas off the bench=Championship.

[Spike Spiegel]

An underrated factor in that...if we had Dirk, we would'vehad no need for Anthony Mason.

How about Dr. J to Milwaukee? Couldn't him andKareem have been on the same team for a couple years? He was drafted by the Bucks but elected to go to the ABA.

[SomeBunghole]

The Lakers got the '79 pick they used to take Magic from the Jazz, back when teams actually had the balls to trade picks without strings attached. That could've been interesting...Magic on the Jazz. Then again, the Jazz also drafted 'Nique in '82 then traded him away.

[_KP_The_Familia_]

Tmac + Duncan

how about Tmac + Carter + Camby???

[embersyc]

If Detroit had taken Melo, Bosh, Wade, anybody other than Darko...

[Targus]

WHAT IF Horry missed that three at the buzzer?!? :O

[hotsizzle]

[QUOTE=Targus

[SsKSpurs21]

Tmac + Duncan

how about Tmac + Carter + Camby???

Tmac + duncan + grant hill :D

What if: the Celtics got Duncan?

[LakersDynasty]

Ok this is getting silly. While we are at it, why not say what if the Bobcats had Wilt Chamberlain? :banghead:

[lakerfreak]

[QUOTE=Targus

[SsKSpurs21]

What if: fisher missed the infamous .4 shot? spurs go to LA up 3-2...'03 deja vu.

[eboloid]

Why am I the first to think of Len Bias?

[Kblaze8855]

MJ to Houston is always #1 to me. Houston thought so much of Sampson they turned down the offer of the #2 pick and Drexler for him. Houston would have then drafted Jordan. Hakeem, Jordan, and Drexler together with proper chemistry would have had a totally legit chance at winning every title from 85-98 or 99. Rockets made the finals in 86 with Sampson and Hakeem. You can never be sure with chemistry but I see no reason they dont become great just as fast with MJ and Drexler.

[kumquat]

What if Blazers win coin toss for Hakeem? The answer is, they were still seriously thinking about picking bowie with the #1 pick if they got it. I think that would be even worse, bowie over Hakeem and Jordan :roll:

[Se]

What if the Raptors drafted Lamarcus Aldridge instead of a bust?

[LakersDynasty]

He's not a bust. He's going to contribute later in his career, right now he's just a project.
















































:rolleyes:

[Se]

He's not a bust. He's going to contribute later in his career, right now he's just a project.


I'd rather have a guy fro mthe projects than a project.

Andrea "Yes that's a girl's name" Bargnani will never amount to anything. He is junk, no basketbal lIQ. He's 21 and likely will never improve. Think of that scrub that Denver picked at 5, Nikowhatsit Skiddyvili

[Maximum310]

I always pondered

"What if the Bulls of the 90's would have played in the Finals against the 80's power houses?"

Im not taking anything away from what the Bulls accomplished in the 90's but the league was sort of watered down compared to the 80's. I dont think the Bulls would have won 6 championships had they faced teams like the Showtime Lakers (when they faced the Lakers to win their first championship, it wasnt the Showtime Lakers), the Celtics with Bird in his prime, or the Bad BoY Pistons.

So how many championships would they have?
And would ESPN still consider MJ as the "GREATEST ATHLETE" of the century?

[Da KO King]

What if the Knicks front office shared in Don Nelson's vision and traded Ewing before his value bottomed out?

What if Tim Duncan left Wake Forest after his junior season like he considered doing?

What Kevin Garnett didn't sign that ridiculous contract in Minnesota? They still would have had money for Stephon Marbury. He could have stayed the playmaker he was instead of becoming the scorer New Jersey needed him to be.

What if the New Jersey Nets had the same injury problems with Jason Kidd that it had with Marbury?

What if Dallas matched Phoenix's offer on Steve Nash?

What if Charlotte played hardball with Kobe Bryant on his demand to be a Laker after being drafted?

What if the Golden State and Toronto trade never happened? Would Vince Carter been a bigger star if he played in Cali?

What if Atlanta never traded Pau Gasol?

[Run&Gun=Fun]

Phoenix, New Jersey and the Clippers past on Scottie Pippen with the 2,3 and 4th picks (Spurs took DRob at #1), the Bulls took him at #5...Would the Jordan dynasty still have come to fruition?

In the Same draft (1987 i think) Reggie Miller fell to #11...Originally the Pacer fans were frustrated..they wanted Indy to pick Steve Allford:confusedshrug:

If Those two players are on different teams the whole 1990's could have been different.

The coin toss for Kareem...Phoenix was stiff.

Wasn't Barkley presumably traded to the Lakers from the sixers but it fell through? Barkley got drunk to celebrate the move...He eventually was told the trade wouldn't eventuate and played that night a bit tipsy.
That would have been have huge with Barkley such a prominent figure in The suns history.

Of course if Detroit took any of Melo, Wade, Bosh they might be gunning for the 4th straight title this year.

[Da KO King]

Actually Seattle drafted Pippen.

[sydneyking]

I wasn't really a Knicks fan back then (too young), but what if the Knicks had drafted Latrell Sprewell - they had the chance and we're talking about someone who was All-NBA first team after his second season?

Would that have been enough to win a title?

[MaxFly]

[QUOTE=Targus

[Run&Gun=Fun]

Actually Seattle drafted Pippen.

So they did...Do you know who they traded him for???

I will award you 100 points if you can tell me...His initials are OP (This move was just as bad as the dirk one for traylor)

[Da KO King]

What if Harold Minor came into the NBA a few years later when isolation play dominated the game?

What if Bobby Hurley was never in accident?

[BradMiller52]

Kings fans... What if the refs had called game 5 fairly?


What if the refs had called game 6 fairly?

[Run&Gun=Fun]

What if Harold Minor came into the NBA a few years later when isolation play dominated the game?

What if Bobby Hurley was never in accident?

You gonna answer my question or what?

THe answer is Olden Polynice...I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul.

[Run&Gun=Fun]

Posted twice..Sorry must have hit it twice.

I won't waste the post though

I'll tell you a story about Zach Randolph and his basketball ineptitude...

A year or two ago the Pistons scored a 5 on 4 bucket against the Blazers whilst Randolph remained at the other end complaining to the refs about a non call on the previous play...Coach at the time Mo Cheeks immediately pulled him out of the game Zachs response.."Your taking me out because i missed a shot?"....Oh Zach when will you learn?

New coach Nate Mcmillan questioned Zachs commitment to defense when looking at a boxscore of a humiliating loss to Indiana 69-101 he noticed that Zach had 9 rebounds...None of which were defensive rebounds..Nate said "It just goes to show were the work is that" When asked to comment Zach Replied " I don't know what he meant" ...You know what Zach? i beleive you.

[EricForman]

MJ to Houston is always #1 to me. Houston thought so much of Sampson they turned down the offer of the #2 pick and Drexler for him. Houston would have then drafted Jordan. Hakeem, Jordan, and Drexler together with proper chemistry would have had a totally legit chance at winning every title from 85-98 or 99. Rockets made the finals in 86 with Sampson and Hakeem. You can never be sure with chemistry but I see no reason they dont become great just as fast with MJ and Drexler.

Damn. Jordan+Hakeem+Clyde... in the 80s?

That would have been sick, Magic's Lakers, Bird's Celtics, Isiah's Pistons, and either Hakeem or Jordan's Rockets, four elite teams. I seriously think Hakeem+Jordan+Clyde would be good enough to knock off those Celtics Lakers teams too, so we'd be looking at Magic and Bird with only 2 rings each and Jordan and Hakeem would be arguing Goat status, each with like 9, 10 rings, lol.

[majorgoose]

1. what if the Rockets Hakeem Barkley and Drexler never got injured?
2. what if hakeem barkley pippen francis got to play a whole season?
3. what if michael never played baseball and played for the bulls his entire career?
4. what if wilt is still alive?
5. what if malone chose to break kareems record?
6. what if new york never sign isiah to be their gm?
7. what if grant hill never got injured?
8. what if jason richardson made that off the board between the legs 360?
9. what if shaq and yao were drafted the same year?
10. what if trade was not allowed? which team would be the greastest according to the players that they drafted?

[ak47smohawk]

What if Jordan didn't come back from retirement

Would the Jazz have 2 championships? :mad:

[lakers-city]

jordan over MJ for the rockets in 1984 ? i have never heard a rockets fan calling it a bad decision but i wanted to point that out.

[RainierBeachPoet]

So they did...Do you know who they traded him for???

I will award you 100 points if you can tell me...His initials are OP (This move was just as bad as the dirk one for traylor)

olden polynice

:violin:


we are still smarting after that one
:banghead:

yes--- what if.....:rolleyes:

[mkvli]

What if...the Raptors won? ...

[gpfanz]

Would Dallas fans whine if they had Wade & won the NBA championship with referees allowing Wade to parade to the free throw line 100x?? :D

[Wuxia]

if my aunt had a pen!s, she'd be my uncle.

[lakers-city]

of course they wouldnt, they would argue how dirk has such a great ability to get to the line, but when other player does the same its all the refs, when san antonio got the shaft job in the 2nd round i didnt hear them whine as much as mavericks fans have.

[WoGiTaLiA1]

1. Len Bias didnt meet cocaine.
2. Portland took Jordan.
3. Magic didnt get HIV.
4. Shaq worked as hard as Jordan.
5. Jordan didnt retire the first two times.
6. Penny, Hill, Baker, Coleman and Kemp didnt all fall apart.
7. Sabonis came over in his prime.
8. Wilt came back in the 80s when he was talking about it.
9. Reggie Lewis didnt die.
10. Minny didnt do the Joe Smith thing.

[JaredJordan4NBA]

Jared JOrdan all the way(Marist, 2007)

<3 XoXo!
Caroline Cay

[WADE MONEY]

MJ to Houston is always #1 to me. Houston thought so much of Sampson they turned down the offer of the #2 pick and Drexler for him. Houston would have then drafted Jordan. Hakeem, Jordan, and Drexler together with proper chemistry would have had a totally legit chance at winning every title from 85-98 or 99. Rockets made the finals in 86 with Sampson and Hakeem. You can never be sure with chemistry but I see no reason they dont become great just as fast with MJ and Drexler.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[guangmoreno]

what if HAYES returns back right now, and he will play this entire year??
--> Rox will win the ring. and Rox will kill everybody in this league.

[Se]

Boston could have built around Bias and Lewis for the 90's. Who knows who they would have drafted to add to that scary twosome. Probably not Paul Pierce anyway.

Bias and Lewis could have been better than Jordan and Pippen, but we'll never know.

[AppleNader]

What if David Stern did not decide to f&ck up the NBA?

[Da KO King]

What if Michael Jordan never went to UNC? I believe Dean Smith once said that they only offered Mike the scholarship because their initial candidate signed with someone else.

What if the Cavs never traded Kevin Johnson?

[browntown]

Jared JOrdan all the way(Marist, 2007)

<3 XoXo!
Caroline Cay

What does this have to do with the thread.

What if T-Mac never left Toronto, would VC and him gel enough to win championships?

What if Shaq and Kobe didnt have thier problems, would they be able to win more then 3 chips.

[hateraid]

1. Len Bias didnt meet cocaine.
2. Portland took Jordan.
3. Magic didnt get HIV.
4. Shaq worked as hard as Jordan.
5. Jordan didnt retire the first two times.
6. Penny, Hill, Baker, Coleman and Kemp didnt all fall apart.
7. Sabonis came over in his prime.
8. Wilt came back in the 80s when he was talking about it.
9. Reggie Lewis didnt die.
10. Minny didnt do the Joe Smith thing.


The most debatable what-ifs. I've pondered on all those once before and had great convos abotu these subjects.

[MaxFly]

D. Wade or Melo in Detroit...

[Kblaze8855]

What if the Knicks front office shared in Don Nelson's vision and traded Ewing before his value bottomed out?

They would have only traded him to get room for an offer to Shaq not for players to build around. They would have lost Ewing watched Shaq sign in LA and leave them in the hunt for Juwan Howard and maybe they could have started their "What the ****?" contract situation about 5 years earlier if they offered him the same 100 million Miami and the Bullets did. Zo also signed a deal near then but Riley had him all the way. He wasnt going anywhere but back to Miami.

[TheHonestTruth]

What if Jordan and Kobe never existed? There would be peace in the Middle East, I'm sure.

[Se]

What if Hitler was born say 40 years later and was the commisioner of the NBA?

Sorry, just thought, already happened.

[picc84]

Dirk, Big Dog, Ray, and Sam...*sigh*

That may have been the worst defensive team in L history.

[TheBynumProject]

^Not worse than the 92 Nuggets. Worst defensive team ever.

[DLakerfan]

wHAT IF yAO didn't play basketball, According to chinese news, Yao initially played volleyball

[Attila]

5)AI in Detorit (2000)
Anyone explain this to me please.

[DLakerfan]

Anyone explain this to me please.
its says Ai could've gone to Detroit last 2000 but who cares

[lakers-city]

i dont think thats the kind of explanation he was asking

[TheBynumProject]

King and Dumars agreed on a trade in 00 that would send AI to Detroit. It was a done deal, but Matt Geiger refused to waive the 15 percent trade kicker in his contract, and killed the deal.

[Glove_20]

What if the Sonics didn't trade Scottie Pippen right after drafting him???

What would the Bulls and Jordan's career look like?

What would GP-Pippen-Kemp have done?

[dab0yech0]

Kobe signing with the Clipps would have created a frenzy in Clipperland.

Chris Kaman
Elton Brand
Corey Maggette
Kobe Bryant
Shaun Livingston

Bench
Bobby Simmons
Chris Wilcox
Marko Jaric
Mikki Moore
Rick Brunson
Matt Barnes
Mamadou Ndiaye

That team wouldve had a very serious chance of competing for the title.

[WADE MONEY]

So they did...Do you know who they traded him for???

I will award you 100 points if you can tell me...His initials are OP (This move was just as bad as the dirk one for traylor)

Olden Polynice

[Quizmaster 2000]

In the Same draft (1987 i think) Reggie Miller fell to #11...Originally the Pacer fans were frustrated..they wanted Indy to pick Steve Allford


Name the player whose assist to turnover ratio was fabtastic throughout his career drafted directly after Regie at #12 for 100 points.

You have 5 minutes.

Go forth and answer.

[lakers-city]

mugsy bogues

[Quizmaster 2000]

mugsy bogues

Lakers city you are coreect...100 points

You now sit atop the leaderboard of the Insidehoops quiz.

Congratulations:applause:

[lakers-city]

thanks :D

[Quizmaster 2000]

mugsy bogues

Name the player that played Centre in the same team as Mugsy in his Rookie year for the Bullets 300 points.


Name the centre Mugsy (standing at 5'3) onc blocked in a similar fashion to which Nate robinson blocked Yao this week for 600 points.

[lakers-city]

1. moses malone was center in that team

2. ewing was who got blocked by mugsy

[Quizmaster 2000]

1. moses malone was center in that team

2. ewing was who got blocked by mugsy

Moses Malone is not the answer i was looking for..However i will reward with a clue along with 600 points for answering Q2 correctly.

Clue: only player to ever block over 300 shots in first two NBA seasons and was drafted twice.

[lakers-city]

you were looking for the answer manute bol, but that answer would be incorrect because bol was a sub behind moses.

anyway manute bol was who blocked 300 shots and was drafted twice.

[Enigmatism]

Not sure if anyone said it, but:

Len Bias

[Quizmaster 2000]

you were looking for the answer manute bol, but that answer would be incorrect because bol was a sub behind moses.

anyway manute bol was who blocked 300 shots and was drafted twice.

I will award you 200 points...You have stumped Quizmaster 2000.try not to do it again.

[Quizmaster 2000]

Not sure if anyone said it, but:

Len Bias

No one said because its wrong...thanks for playing.

[SupermanOnSteroids]

what if David Robinson doesn't get hurt...

[TheHonestTruth]

What if Jasikevicus' didn't miss his 3pt in Sydney?

KG would've been skewered, he choked 2 big free throws in that game. KG would've been exposed earlier.

[Jailblazers7]

What if allen iverson had a work ethic and went to practice?

[lakers-city]

what if bill russell went to practice ? :confusedshrug: would he have won more championships ? i really doubt it

[Blzrfn]

I was looking up NBA what ifs on Google, and I found this board. I know that this is an older post, but I will take a shot at some of these "what ifs" and play along:

1. Len Bias didnt meet cocaine.

The Celtics win 73 games and the 1987 title. And, with Bias's presence, McHale and Bird don't have to play as much, lessening the wear and tear on their bodies. After that, Boston possibly wins at least two to three more titles, but the Lakers, Pistons, Bulls, and Blazers will still be a factor and make things tough on them.

2. Portland took Jordan.

For them to have considered taking Jordan, their medical staff would have had to find something about Bowie's feet that disturbed them. And, even then, I don't know if they would have taken Michael. They probably would have traded away Jim Paxson and the #2 pick for Sampson, and then the Rockets would have taken Jordan and Hakeem. As a result of those trades, the Lakers would have had some real rivals in the West. The Rockets would have went to two straight finals in 86 and 87, and won in 87. After the Lakers get to the finals in 88 and 89, the Blazers and Rockets take over as the best teams in the West in the 90's. The Blazers win two rings, and Houston wins at least three more. However, I don't see them doing quite as well as MJ did in Chicago without Jackson and Pippen.

3. Magic didnt get HIV.

The Lakers remain contenders for the rest of the early 90's, but don't ever see the Finals again with Magic and Worthy.

5. Jordan didnt retire the first two times.

In 1994, the Bulls get back to the Finals, and the Rockets beat them in 7. The next year, after Horace Grant still leaves for Orlando after a great FA offer, the Magic dethrone the Bulls in the East Finals, and win it all in 1995 and 1996, beating Houston and Seattle. The Bulls and Magic duke it out for East supremacy for the rest of the 90's and early 00's with Jordan and Shaq staying with those teams.

7. Sabonis came over in his prime.

Blazers = Team of the 90's!!

Here are a few more:

1. What if the Sonics didn't sign Jim McIlvaine in 1996?

2. What if Robert Horry was traded to Phoenix in 1996?

3. What if the Blazers would have held on to Moses Malone and drafted Adrian Dantley instead of Wally Walker in 1976?

[HylianNightmare]

didn't orlando try to get tmac garant hill and tim duncan one year?

[Roundball_Rock]

What if Hue Hollins did not gift the crucial game 5 of the 94' ECSF to the Knicks?

[noob cake]

What if TMac never got injured and had the same ethic as Kobe?

[magnax1]

What if Jesus Christ and the prophet Mohammed played basketball? Which one would be the GOAT?

[The_Yearning]

What if Jesus Christ and the prophet Mohammed played basketball? Which one would be the GOAT?

What if they were same 1 person?

[miller-time]

what if penny and c-webb weren't traded.

what if kobe stayed with charlotte?

[soadrules]

T-Mac and Yao were healthy every year?

[magnax1]

What if they were same 1 person?
What if they were Turkeys and liked to eat carrots for breakfast?

[KBryant24]

I am saying the number one what if is
what if kobe and shaq never broke up???
How many titles would they have won???
they could have easily won 5 or 6 more, both players were in their prime

[OG LeeTSkeeT]

what if the lakers drafted danny granger instead of andrew bynum and to this day have the same line up just without bynum...give or take the signing of ron artest or having ariza on the bench.

or what if the bynum never got the two injuries
what if shaun livingston didnt get hurt
what if amare never got hurt

[Blzrfn]

1. Rodman in PHX (1994, trade rescinded)

Whoa! I never heard about this one. Who was supposed to go to San Antonio for him?

If that would have happened, the Bulls don't win three more rings.

2. What if Michael Jordan never went to UNC? I believe Dean Smith once said that they only offered Mike the scholarship because their initial candidate signed with someone else.

His talent may have been more on display earlier. Smith kind of hid him at UNC. Then, in 1984, he is the #1 overall pick by the Rockets, and the Blazers get Hakeem. That means that the Lakers are in big trouble!

3. What if the Cavs never traded Kevin Johnson?

If they keep KJ instead of Price, and Ron Harper doesn't get hurt(and then traded to the Clippers for Danny Ferry, a guy that was foolishly compared to Larry Bird), the Cavs would have won a ring or two in the early-90's, although the Bulls and Pistons would still have offered up some stiff competition.

4. What if Tim Duncan left Wake Forest after his junior season like he considered doing?

He is taken #1 overall by Philly in 1996. The next few years, they draft T-Mac, Bonzi Wells, and Kenny Thomas in the first round. They get to the Finals and win them by 2000 or 01.

[phoenix18]

What if the Lakers had closed the deal against Phoenix in the first round of 2005-06? I was really pulling for the Lakers since 04-05 just because they were cast offs. Everyone one was in the lets hate on Bryant mode, all he does is ballhog whatever. But seriously looking at the teams after Phoenix, the Lakers could have made the Finals that year. I honesly mean this. They would have face the Clippers in an All-LA series. Which means the Clippers would have to play seven games on the road for the most part. Maybe a mixed crowd at home games, I'll give them that. After dispatching the Clips, Kobe would have faced the Mavs. We all know that the Mavs had NO answer for Kobe and I dont know how many points he would have dropped on them. If they passed the Mavs, all hell would break loose. A Kobe-Shaq/Wade finals. We all know that Miami would have won, but it would have been so entertaining to watch.

[MMKM]

What if Spudd Webb had been 6'6 and Michael Jordan was 5-7?

[KBryant24]

What if the Lakers had closed the deal against Phoenix in the first round of 2005-06? I was really pulling for the Lakers since 04-05 just because they were cast offs. Everyone one was in the lets hate on Bryant mode, all he does is ballhog whatever. But seriously looking at the teams after Phoenix, the Lakers could have made the Finals that year. I honesly mean this. They would have face the Clippers in an All-LA series. Which means the Clippers would have to play seven games on the road for the most part. Maybe a mixed crowd at home games, I'll give them that. After dispatching the Clips, Kobe would have faced the Mavs. We all know that the Mavs had NO answer for Kobe and I dont know how many points he would have dropped on them. If they passed the Mavs, all hell would break loose. A Kobe-Shaq/Wade finals. We all know that Miami would have won, but it would have been so entertaining to watch.

i would have loved for LA to have beat phoenix

[InspiredLebowski]

What if that guy never threw that cup?

[Doranku]

What if the Lakers had closed the deal against Phoenix in the first round of 2005-06? I was really pulling for the Lakers since 04-05 just because they were cast offs. Everyone one was in the lets hate on Bryant mode, all he does is ballhog whatever. But seriously looking at the teams after Phoenix, the Lakers could have made the Finals that year. I honesly mean this. They would have face the Clippers in an All-LA series. Which means the Clippers would have to play seven games on the road for the most part. Maybe a mixed crowd at home games, I'll give them that. After dispatching the Clips, Kobe would have faced the Mavs. We all know that the Mavs had NO answer for Kobe and I dont know how many points he would have dropped on them. If they passed the Mavs, all hell would break loose. A Kobe-Shaq/Wade finals. We all know that Miami would have won, but it would have been so entertaining to watch.

Ah, if only..

There's no doubt in my mind those Lakers would've beat the Clippers. Basically having homecourt every game would be ridiculous.

I'm not so sure if they could've beat the Mavericks, but with Kobe against that team, you never know.

Assuming they beat the Mavs, there's almost no chance that they'd beat the Heat unless Kobe averaged like 50 a game lol. You're right though, would've been a crazy fun series to watch.

[Blzrfn]

Quote "The Lakers got the '79 pick they used to take Magic from the Jazz, back when teams actually had the balls to trade picks without strings attached. That could've been interesting...Magic on the Jazz. Then again, the Jazz also drafted 'Nique in '82 then traded him away." Quote


What happened with the Magic situation is that the Jazz traded their 1979 first-rounder to the Lakers in 1976 for Gail Goodrich. The Bulls also could have had Magic that year, but they lost the flip to the Lakers. Magic would have made the Bulls better, but they still didn't have a very good team in the early 80's, and may have still been bad enough by 1984 to get MJ, or at least get Charles Barkley. Magic and Barkley would have been a kick-butt duo. And, with the Bulls in the East, you would have got to see Bird and Magic play against each other a lot more.


Quote "What if Dallas matched Phoenix's offer on Steve Nash?"


The Mavs would have went to the Finals a year earlier, and lost to Detroit.


Quote "I wasn't really a Knicks fan back then (too young), but what if the Knicks had drafted Latrell Sprewell - they had the chance and we're talking about someone who was All-NBA first team after his second season?


Would that have been enough to win a title?" Quote

If the Knicks would have taken Latrell, held on to Mark Jackson, and held on to Xavier McDaniel(who was the Pippen harasser), they may have won it all in 1993.

[Blzrfn]

BTW, here is one I forgot:

What if Hakeem was traded to the Sonics in 1992 for Derrick McKey, Benoit Benjamin, and Nate McMillan? He was unhappy in Houston at the time, and that trade almost went down.

[Beebo]

What if VC and T-mac stayed with the raptors....!?

[Aussie Dunker]

What if Wilt had that fight with Ali?

What if Iverson was 6 inches taller?...

What if Tmac had Kobes desire?...

What if Jordan came out of retirement?

What if Yao was 7 foot instead of 7 foot 6?

[mika]

What if Tmac had Kobes desire?...

http://www.nba.com/media/McGradyFan600.jpg
:confusedshrug:

[fos]

http://www.nba.com/media/McGradyFan600.jpg
:confusedshrug:

:lol

[sipitri]

http://www.nba.com/media/McGradyFan600.jpg
:confusedshrug:
OH SHIT :roll: :roll: :roll: :oldlol: :lol

[Blzrfn]

What if Blazers win coin toss for Hakeem? The answer is, they were still seriously thinking about picking bowie with the #1 pick if they got it. I think that would be even worse, bowie over Hakeem and Jordan :roll:

No, they weren't. I watched the "Top 5 Reasons you can't blame" episode about the Bowie over MJ situation. One of the Blazer heads at the time(I think that it was Harry Glickman) said something to the effect that they had Hakeem rated #1, then Ewing(if he would have came out after his junior year), and then Bowie.

But, Hakeem on that Blazer team with Clyde, Kersey, Porter, and the other talent that they had would have been in the Finals by 86, and would have started winning championships in 1987.

Here is another "what if":

What if Magic entered the draft in 1978 instead of 1979?

I watched a show on the Big 10 network about MSU hoops, and it suggested that Magic would have came out if they would have won the championship in 1978. Portland had the #1 pick that year, and if they would have taken Magic, maybe somehow Walton stays, they get a good backup center to spell him more, and the Blazers remain a championship contender.

[InspiredLebowski]

Speaking of the 84 draft, what if Indy hadn't traded their 1st rounder (obviously ended up being #2) for Tom Owens. I know the what ifs can be played all day, but with bigs like Stipanovich, Granville Waiters (at the time thought to be a savior), Herb Williams, and to a lesser extent Clark Kellogg already rostered, surely that Jordan guy woulda been the pick. Then in 85, all things remaining equal (of course, unlikely) the coin toss goes the other way, and you've got an MJ /Ewing duo dominating the East for years to come. :violin:

[Blzrfn]

Speaking of the 84 draft, what if Indy hadn't traded their 1st rounder (obviously ended up being #2) for Tom Owens. I know the what ifs can be played all day, but with bigs like Stipanovich, Granville Waiters (at the time thought to be a savior), Herb Williams, and to a lesser extent Clark Kellogg already rostered, surely that Jordan guy woulda been the pick. Then in 85, all things remaining equal (of course, unlikely) the coin toss goes the other way, and you've got an MJ /Ewing duo dominating the East for years to come. :violin:

I agree that they would have taken Jordan if they didn't trade that pick for Tom Owens. Although, if they had MJ, I don't think they would have gotten Ewing because Stern fixed the 85 Lottery for the Knicks. However, they could have drafted Karl Malone. Imagine those other guys and MJ with Karl Malone. Then, if they still somehow get Reggie in 1987, that would have been an awesome team eventually.

[Myth]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but what if Orlando was able to land Duncan when they got Hill and T-Mac, and Hill remained healthy :eek:

[Timmy D for MVP]

Tim Duncan drafted by the Celtics. (They had a ridiculously high lottery percentage while SA was low.)

I thought I remember talk about Tracy Mcgrady being traded to the Chicago Bulls or something like that on draft night. Was that the case?

[JohnnySic]

There is no greater "what if" than Len Bias. He was the *other MJ*...

[gotbacon23]

these are the ones i think of (sorry if some are repetitive)

1. what if len bias didn't do coke?
2. what if amare stoudemire didn't leave the bench vs the spurs after horry body checked steve nash?
3. what if nick anderson didn't miss those free throws in game one?
4. what if jay williams didn't drive that motorcycle?
5. what if muggsy bougues was 6'5" rather than 5'3"?
6. what if penny hardaway/grant hill didn't start getting hurt?
7. what if the bullets never traded tom gugliotta and three future first round draft picks for chris webber?
8. what if the wizards never traded ben wallace for issac austin?
9. what if the wizards never traded rip hamilton for jerry stackhouse?
10. what if the bullets never traded rasheed wallace for rod strickland? (hmmm... smell a trend?)
11. what if the celtics didn't trade chauncy billups for kenny anderson?
12. what if there was no expansion in the late 80s/mid 90s/00s (aka, what if the bobcats, raptors, grizzlies, t-wolves, magic, heat, and hornets did not exist and weren't replaced).
13. what if patrick ewing didn't miss that gimmie in '95?
14. what if hubert davis didn't get that call?
15. what if duncan's shot over shaq went in with 0.0 seconds rather than 0.4 seconds?
16. what if magic never got the HIVy?
17. what if bill walton had good feet?
18. what if kobe was never traded for vlade divac?
19. what if derrick coleman/shawn kemp really applied themselves?
20. what if arvyas sabonis came to the nba in 1986?

[EllEffEll]

The Lakers got the '79 pick they used to take Magic from the Jazz, back when teams actually had the balls to trade picks without strings attached. That could've been interesting...Magic on the Jazz. Then again, the Jazz also drafted 'Nique in '82 then traded him away.

The Lakers still had to win the coin toss vs. Chicago Bulls to get Magic.

I have to believe that if that coin toss had been won by the Bulls and Magic had been drafted by the Bulls, the saga of Michael Jordan would have been played out in an entirely different city. Results would have probably been similar though :pimp:
===================
Nice list bacon!

[gotbacon23]

Tim Duncan drafted by the Celtics. (They had a ridiculously high lottery percentage while SA was low.)

I thought I remember talk about Tracy Mcgrady being traded to the Chicago Bulls or something like that on draft night. Was that the case?

the thing about that celtic's draft was that they were basically gunning for duncan that year and had 2 lottery picks. its not like san antonio came out of nowhere to grab him, they had the 2nd best odds. the celtics odds were higher than in a normal year because the raptors and grizzlies were barred from having the 1st pick in the '96, '97, and '98 drafts upon entering the league. celtics had a 27.51% chance with their own pick, and an 8.80% with the maverick's pick to get the first pick. still though, that means they had a greater chance of not getting the pick then getting it. spurs had a 21.6% chance.

http://www.nba.com/history/lottery_probabilities.html

celtics ended up getting billups and ron mercer. but what if they had turned that into billups and mcgrady?? that would have a been nice consolation prize (if they had kept billups and let him develop).

[Roundball_Rock]

1) Game 7 of the 2000 WCF
2) The 2002 WCF

[KG215]

these are the ones i think of (sorry if some are repetitive)
12. what if there was no expansion in the late 80s/mid 90s/00s (aka, what if the bobcats, raptors, grizzlies, t-wolves, magic, heat, and hornets did not exist and weren't replaced).


Bill Simmons references it a lot in his columns and new books, saying how stacked the Lakers, Celtics, and a few other teams were in the 80's.

Think about it: Just take the top 2-4 players off each team and imagine them being on one of the 23 teams in the league.

Raptors
Bosh
Bargs
Turkoglu
Calderon

Grizzlies
Mayo
Gay
Randolph
AI

Bobcats
Wallace
Felton
Augustin
Diaw

T-Wolves
Jefferson
Love
Flynn
Gomes

Magic
Howard
Lewis
Nelson
VC
Anderson

Heat
Wade
Beasley
Haslem
Chalmers

Hornets
Paul
Lee
Okafor
Posey

That's almost 30 quality players. I didn't even include rookies and some other guys who are fading but have been pretty good at some point in their career.

[Dasher]

[quote=Se

[Blzrfn]

1. What if Maurice Stokes didn't have his tragic injury:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Stokes

2. What if the Suns won the Lottery in 1987 and drafted David Robinson?

3. I know that this isn't an NBA one, but this guy would have eventually been an NBA star: What if Ben Wilson wasn't shot and killed in November, 1984?

[mika]

This is a very old post, but in my opinioin Andrea has surpassed LaMarcus who seems to have reached his ceiling.
Or if they had taken Adam Morrison:lol

I remember ISH the summer of 06'.
Adam Morrison was considered the great white hope.

People were justifying the Brandon Roy and Randy Foye by saying Brandon Roy is more NBA ready but Randy Foye will be better.

Everyone said the Nets had the steal of the Draft with Marcus Williams at #22, but the pick before him was Rajon Rondo at #21.

[Timmy D for MVP]

What if Zo didn't have to take so much time off and have a shortened career?

[Blzrfn]

1. What if the Sonics don't trade their 86 #1 pick to the Celtics for Gerald Henderson?

The Sonics should have been in a position to take Bias, and they traded it away to Boston for a mediocre player. If Seattle keeps that pick and gets Bias, he may not have died since he may not have been at Maryland that night since Seattle is further away. And, if he comes home and parties with his friends at a later date, maybe the cocaine they get isn't as strong, and Len doesn't have any problems.

In his rookie year, he leads Seattle to a second-place finish in the Pacific Division, and they lose to the Lakers in 6 in the West Finals. They eventually surround Bias with more talented players like Shawn Kemp, and they win multiple titles in the 90's.

[KG215]

A Sonics team of the 90's featuring, Bias, Kemp, Payton, and Schrempf would have been scary good. We would have had a Bulls/Sonics finals almost every year of the 90's.

[StroShow4]

[QUOTE=Se

[Crazy Style]

8)LeBron in Memphis (2003)


What's this?

[Rekindled]

[QUOTE=Se

[KG215]

What's this?

Memphis had the best odds going into the draft lottery, IIRC. Not Cleveland.

[ProfessorMurder]

What if McDyess had good knees?

What if Larry Johnson/Alonzo never feuded and split up the Hornets?

What if Jordan never retired to play baseball?

What if Mutombo and the Nuggs beat the Jazz in game 7 in '94? First the Sonics, then the Jazz, would they take the Rockets and get to the finals?

[Blzrfn]

A Sonics team of the 90's featuring, Bias, Kemp, Payton, and Schrempf would have been scary good. We would have had a Bulls/Sonics finals almost every year of the 90's.

With Kemp and Bias, I don't think that they would have been bad enough to get Payton in 1990, but they still would have had a great team.

Here are two Golden State scenarios that I thought of:

1. What if the Warriors don't trade Robert Parish and the #3 pick in the 1980 draft to Boston for the first and 13th overall picks in that same draft, and used the #3 pick on Kevin McHale?

2. What if Bernard King got his act together with Golden State, and they didn't trade him to the Knicks in 1982 for Michael Ray Richardson?

That would have changed things immesurably. With Boston not having McHale and Parish, Philly would have went to the 1981 Finals and beat Houston. Then in 1982, that Bucks team that was always close-but-no-cigar gets to the Finals but loses to the Lakers. Having their first taste of the Finals with the Don Nelson-Sidney Moncrief-Marques Johnson crew, they decide to trade for Moses Malone, and they win the Finals the next two years.

As for GS, Parish and McHale mesh well together, and with Bernard King, they are a perennial playoff contender. They even upset the Lakers in the 1984 West Finals before losing to Milwaukee.

[RoseCity07]

You guys got some obvious ones.

Some Blazer ones I think about is what if the Blazers drafted Chris Paul instead of Martell Webster like Kevin Pritchard wanted them to? Would we still have gotten Oden, Roy, and Aldridge, what if we did get all four of those players in that 3-4 year time span?


What if Houston would have got Brandon Roy? They were very interested in him. Yao and Brandon Roy would have been something to watch.

[phxsuns4life]

I like that list, all of them make me go 'hmmmmm....'. A lot to think on.

If Kareem went to the Suns, who knows? He dominated the NBA for practically a decade, if not longer. If only....

[Blzrfn]

I like that list, all of them make me go 'hmmmmm....'. A lot to think on.

If Kareem went to the Suns, who knows? He dominated the NBA for practically a decade, if not longer. If only....

There are so many "what ifs" with the Suns, like the Horry incident in 07 or Stoudemire getting hurt in 06 or if George Gervin would have played with them when they drafted him in 1974 instead of going to the ABA.

[symbol33]

1)MJ in Portland (1984)
2)Kareem in PHX (lost the coin toss)
3)Kobe in Charlotte (1996)
4)VC in Golden State (1998)
5)AI in Detorit (2000)
6)Kobe in LA Clippers (2004)
7)Rodman in PHX (1994, trade rescinded)
8)LeBron in Memphis (2003)
9)Chris Paul in ATL (2005)
10)Kidd in SA (2003)

Honorable mention: Dirk in MIL (1998)

i want to talk about the no 1 MJ in Portland as i have some idea recently.
what will happen:
1. MJ will asked for a transfer after his contact come to an end.
as we saw today in Leborn James, the manage team of Cav didn't do a good job when picked someone else to help him and made big mistake when chosed Shak to help, and right now the Cav still all depended on Leborn. after all these years past, Leborn may want to change his jersey then he will have the chance to play with some good enough player like Pippen.
2. the coach.
without Phil, MJ definitely will not got six ring if still under his ex coach when the game all depended on MJ himself.
we saw some excellent transfers in this decade such as R Wallace to the Detroit, Gasol to LA, KG to Boston, we know that with only one all-star palyer, there was nearly 0% to got the title, so, the manage team's role was really very importment in every team, but it looks like just sereral teams did a good job.

[Blzrfn]

i want to talk about the no 1 MJ in Portland as i have some idea recently.
what will happen:
1. MJ will asked for a transfer after his contact come to an end.
as we saw today in Leborn James, the manage team of Cav didn't do a good job when picked someone else to help him and made big mistake when chosed Shak to help, and right now the Cav still all depended on Leborn. after all these years past, Leborn may want to change his jersey then he will have the chance to play with some good enough player like Pippen.
2. the coach.
without Phil, MJ definitely will not got six ring if still under his ex coach when the game all depended on MJ himself.
we saw some excellent transfers in this decade such as R Wallace to the Detroit, Gasol to LA, KG to Boston, we know that with only one all-star palyer, there was nearly 0% to got the title, so, the manage team's role was really very importment in every team, but it looks like just sereral teams did a good job.

I don't think he would have asked to be traded after his contract ran out. He would have been on a pretty good team with Drexler, Jerome Kersey, Terry Porter, Cliff Robinson, and other guys that they may have used either Kiki Vandeweghe or Jim Paxson as trade bait to acquire. And, maybe if they would have still drafted Sabonis, he may have pushed harder to come over to play with Portland earlier because of Michael.

[symbol33]

I don't think he would have asked to be traded after his contract ran out. He would have been on a pretty good team with Drexler, Jerome Kersey, Terry Porter, Cliff Robinson, and other guys that they may have used either Kiki Vandeweghe or Jim Paxson as trade bait to acquire. And, maybe if they would have still drafted Sabonis, he may have pushed harder to come over to play with Portland earlier because of Michael.

1. there were many excellent players asked for a trade after a long term contract when they felt disappointing that they had no chance to win a title in the teams they served for so lone, such as A.I.3 to Denver, KG to Boston, R Wallace to Detroit, Drexler to Houston, they had won enough personal honor and what they wanted was just a ring. We also had a good example, the Detroit beated LA when LA had Shak, Kobe, Malone and Payton with R Wallace, Big Ben, Hamilton, Billups and Prince.
2. You presumed that Portland could had a good winning percentage when MJ and Drexler were both on court, but remembered that they both played as Guard-Forward, their positons and styles were mismatch each other. Drexler joined NBA in 1983 and MJ in 1984, the Portland had a good enough G-F so in my opinion they did not want another player to share the shooting chance from Drexler. If MJ came to Portland, finally one of the two had to leave just like Daivs was traded to Golded State because of Leborn James.
3. Sabonis, that's a good point. What if he joined NBA in his prime? That will be amazing that he will become one of the top 100 in NBA history, and LA could not had the chance to the 1991 final. But you should knowed that no matter how much Sabonis willing to play in NBA, he was born in USSR and played in Eurp, he had no choice unless his team released him. Absolutely, as a coach, I won't let him go when he was in his prime.

[symbol33]

I don't think he would have asked to be traded after his contract ran out. He would have been on a pretty good team with Drexler, Jerome Kersey, Terry Porter, Cliff Robinson, and other guys that they may have used either Kiki Vandeweghe or Jim Paxson as trade bait to acquire. And, maybe if they would have still drafted Sabonis, he may have pushed harder to come over to play with Portland earlier because of Michael.

[QUOTE=symbol33]1. there were many excellent players asked for a trade after a long term contract when they felt disappointing that they had no chance to win a title in the teams they served for so lone, such as A.I.3 to Denver, KG to Boston, R Wallace to Detroit, Drexler to Houston, they had won enough personal honor and what they wanted was just a ring. We also had a good example, the Detroit beated LA when LA had Shak, Kobe, Malone and Payton with R Wallace, Big Ben, Hamilton, Billups and Prince.
2. You presumed that Portland could had a good winning percentage when MJ and Drexler were both on court, but remembered that they both played as Guard-Forward, their positons and styles were mismatch each other. Drexler joined NBA in 1983 and MJ in 1984, the Portland had a good enough G-F so in my opinion they did not want another player to share the shooting chance from Drexler. If MJ came to Portland, finally one of the two had to leave just like Daivs was traded to Golded State because of Leborn James.
3. Sabonis, that's a good point. What if he joined NBA in his prime? That will be amazing that he will become one of the top 100 in NBA history, and LA could not had the chance to the 1991 final. But you should knowed that no matter how much Sabonis willing to play in NBA, he was born in USSR and played in Eurp, he had no choice unless his team released him. Absolutely, as a coach, I won't let him go when he was in his prime.

[beasly15]

stockton didn't put the dagger on charles barkley and the rockets.

[triangleoffense]

all of those looks like they would be horrible ideas. Kobe got drafted for Charlotte so that actually happened but charlotte like always did realize what kind of talent they had.

I have a couple good ones.

What if McGrady didn't get hurt? (in houston and orlando) He could have been to the finals already.. last year houston had artest/grady/yao/brooks/scola and a pretty deep bench. They could at least been in the WCF.

What if Hardaway didn't get hurt? scenerio would be like above but he could have actually won a ring since he'd already been there with shaq, but then again it's shaq.

What if Hill didn't get hurt? See above =/.

What if Chris Webber didn't get hurt so frequently? Again another player that should have at least been to the finals. His Kings were on the brink in 03 or 04 i believe but Horry denied them the chance, just like he has so many other teams.

[spillo88]

wat if carl lewis played instead of going to track and field

[Blzrfn]

1. What if the Rockets would have taken Clyde Drexler instead of Rodney McCray with their second first round pick in 1983?

2. Here are some Mavs draft "What ifs"
a. What if they would have taken Karl Malone instead of Detlef Schrempf in 1985?

b. Here is a fact about the 1984 draft: If Cleveland would have lost one more game, they would have been picking third, and the Bulls would have been picking fourth. And, Dallas owned Cleveland's pick. If Dallas would have taken MJ, they could have had a dynasty.

3. What if Alex English didn't break his hand in the 1985 Western Finals against LA with the series tied at 1?

[blazerjimmy]

What if Arvydas Sabonis came to the Blazers before all of his injury problems?

What if Rasheed Wallace had a work ethic?

What if Allen Iverson played team basketball?

What if Shawn Kemp didn't let himself go and demand that idiotic trade from Seattle?

What if we had known that Clay Bennett and David Stern were..........

What if the Blazers hadn't traded the #3 pick to Utah and had taken Deron Williams instead of Martell Webster?

What if Latrell Sprewell had decided $9 million a year was enough to feed his family?

What if Robert Swift had gone to college and learned how to play basketball?

[iggy>]

what if duncan came out a year early and was drafted by the sixers, would he have won a title with stackhouse as a sidekick and larry brown coaching?

[stephanieg]

What if Jordan's sophomore foot injury was career ending? What would the landscape of the '90s look like?

[Blzrfn]

Remember how Seattle drafted Pippen, then traded him to Chicago?

Well, the Bulls were able to do that because of the Knicks, the team that they eliminated from the playoffs several times from 1989-96.

It's like this: On November 12, 1986, the Knicks acquired Gerald Henderson (the guy who went to Seattle for the Bias pick) and the 18th pick in the 87 Draft from the Sonics for the 5th overall pick in the 87 Draft. Seattle selects Pippen, and trades him to Chicago.

However, what if the Knicks don't make that trade and select Pippen?

[nbastatus]

What if Arvydas Sabonis came to the Blazers before all of his injury problems?

What if Rasheed Wallace had a work ethic?

What if Allen Iverson played team basketball?

What if Shawn Kemp didn't let himself go and demand that idiotic trade from Seattle?

What if we had known that Clay Bennett and David Stern were..........

What if the Blazers hadn't traded the #3 pick to Utah and had taken Deron Williams instead of Martell Webster?

What if Latrell Sprewell had decided $9 million a year was enough to feed his family?

What if Robert Swift had gone to college and learned how to play basketball?
:bowdown:

[tsforthrees]

what if the nuggets could inbound the basketball?

[Mrofir]

For a Suns fan, the entire nba world is what-if.

What if Paxson doesn't hit that three?

What if Suns hold on to their 3-1 lead in 94 against the rockets?

What if Stoudemire and Diaw aren't suspended?

What if the KG Amare trade went through?

What if they had forced Joe Johnson to re-sign as a restricted free agent?

What if they hadn't traded Diaw and Bell?

What if they had kept D'antoni as the coach?

What if they would have kept Rajon Rondo?

What if they hadn't traded for Shaq?

What if Steve Nash's nose wasn't bloodied?

What if Stoudemire wasn't injured in 2006 when the Suns lost to the Mavs in the wcf and would have had a very favorable matchup vs the Heat in the finals?

:violin:

[twolvesfan]

What if KG played with ray allen in MN?

[Blzrfn]

Tim Duncan drafted by the Celtics. (They had a ridiculously high lottery percentage while SA was low.)

I thought I remember talk about Tracy Mcgrady being traded to the Chicago Bulls or something like that on draft night. Was that the case?

No, but Jerry Krause wanted to trade Scottie Pippen and one other guy (either Luc Longley or Ron Harper, but I am not sure) to Boston for both of their #1 picks that year. I don't know who Jerry was going to take, though. MJ put his foot down, and the trade was 86ed.

BTW, speaking of the Bulls, what if they would have made better drafting decisions in the 80's and 90's?

Prime examples:

1985: They drafted Keith Lee, and sent him to Cleveland for Charles Oakley. They passed up on a guy named Karl Malone, however.

1989: They took Stacey King with the first of their two first round picks, but they could have had Tim Hardaway, Mookie Blaylock, Nick Anderson, or Shawn Kemp.

1993: They took Corie Blount, and passed on Nick Van Exel.

1995: They took Jason Caffey one pick before Michael Finley was drafted.

1998: They took Corey Benjamin over Rashard Lewis, Ruben Patterson, and Nazr Mohammed.

They could have had an even better team in the 90's, and been more able to move forward in the 00's after Jordan, Jackson, and Pippen left.

[Bigsmoke]

what if Slim Thug and Mike Jones ended up balling instead of rapping?

[Bigsmoke]

Dirk, Big Dog, Ray, and Sam...*sigh*

no defense.

[Dasher]

Or if they had taken Adam Morrison:lol

I remember ISH the summer of 06'.
Adam Morrison was considered the great white hope.

People were justifying the Brandon Roy and Randy Foye by saying Brandon Roy is more NBA ready but Randy Foye will be better.

Everyone said the Nets had the steal of the Draft with Marcus Williams at #22, but the pick before him was Rajon Rondo at #21.
I think Adam Morrison may have finally cured ISH of it's "Great White Hope"itis. They have gotten to the point where they no longer hype White prospects. Any other year Chase Budinger's draft stock would have been constantly on the 1st page of the forum, and his good start to his NBA career would be resulting in many "I Told You So" threads.

For the life of me I never understood why Foye was in the first round, and what miracles he performed to make it out of the 2nd.

I thought The Nets had a steal in Marcus Williams too. People were ripping The Hawks for not taking him.