re: The roster is set how many wins do you predict next season?

35-43 depending on how quickly we fall out of playoff contention.

38-40. If and when Davis gets hurt again, this team is enormously fricked

I don't think Memphis is fighting for a spot
They're a semi lock team based on your tiers
Houston upgraded by getting rid of Howard

Assuming reasonable health.....

Contender:

GS

50 + Wins:

SAS
LAC
MEM

Then a whole lot of :shrug: wouldn't be shocked to see any of these teams in or out of the playoffs...(OKC off the board b/c Westbrook uncertainty, but they would be at the top of this list if Russ stays)


PDX
UTAH
DAL
HOU
NOP
MIN
DEN

I think Portland and Utah look to be in the playoffs. Dallas, as usual, will Jedi mind trick the league and end up right above .500. Houston is a wild card; have talent, but had talent last season and were embarrassing for most of the year.

Wolves and Nuggets are still so young. At least a year away, IMO, but maybe they start to put it together. Both look to be long term players in the West as the sun sets on Spurs, Clippers, and Grizz over the next few years.

Pels can be anywhere from 35-45 wins. Frontcourt depth will be a huge problem, but they have more depth on the wing and in the backcourt than before. And the roster, while not particularly talented, at least makes sense. Basically, like everyone else has said, Davis/Holiday have to be healthy and be awesome for them to get near 45 wins.

50 games

Davis and Holiday play almost every game. Holiday averages 20+ ppg.

Hield wins rookie of the year.

1. Golden State- Couple of surprise losses early, but then they
start rolling right before Christmas on. 66 wins.
NBA Finals Champions.

2. San Antonio- Odd year and we know how they do. Pop paces this
team for the playoffs. 57 wins. Conf. Finals.

3. LA Clippers- Will start hot, turmoil in the middle, and as
always, just seem to can't get it done when it
counts. Roster is sneaky deep, SF spot only
weakness. 52 wins. 1st round loss.

4. Portland- I want to say they take a step back but they seem
to have just enough a lot of nights. Crazy that
their fortunes may fall upon Aminu and whether he
has truly become a factor like he was in the
playoffs. 48 wins. Conf. semifinals.

5. Dallas- This spot all depends, not on Barnes, but on the
health of Williams, Matthews, and especially.
Bogut. If one of them misses more than 30 games,
No playoffs. 46 wins. 1st round loss.


6. Minnesota- I think this is a team that makes a leap with
most of the West transitioning. They have
pieces and Thibs is going to give this team an
identity. Towns, Wiggins, Dunn (who I wanted in
this draft) is a baby BIG 3 the making. 45 wins.
Conf. semifinals.

7. New Orleans- Get back into the playoffs with Top 12-15 ranking
in offense and defense. Can climb to 5 seed if
they stay healthy and gel early. Mid-season trade
for a 2nd star may be the diff. in 1st round
playoff win. 45 wins. 1st round loss.

8. Utah- Suprisingly solid and deep roster. Gobert will
be a Top 5 defensive player of the year. Hayward
remains steady and Dante Exum makes people
remember that he is a 'rookie" of the Year
candidate. Joe Johnson gives them some clutch
game winners down the stretch to get them
in. 44 wins. 1st round loss.

9. Memphis- Finally take a full step backwards. Ownership
realizes the mistake they made signing Conley
and Parsons to max contracts. Randolph.
contemplates retirement from here on out. 43 wins

10 Houston- All offense, no defense and will lose many games
by less than 3 in the 100's because of the
inability to get a last minute stop. But really I
see Gordon or Harden getting injured and waving
white flag by March. 42 wins.

11 Oklahoma City- The unknown surrounding Westbrook's free.
agency will weigh this team down. If they.
struggle out the gate, he could be gone before
Christmas. If they do stay in the hunt, falter
inevitable because Westbrook tires out down the
stretch from going too hard, for too long. 38
or less wins.

12. Denver- Year 2 of the rebuild. Will be frustrating to
watch, at times, but will make strides. Probably
a major player at the trade deadline. Faried
gets traded for a 1st round pick from a
contender. Murray comes on at the end of the
season.

13. Phoenix- 1st year of a rebuild. Watch for a Mid-season
trade of Tyson Chandler to a contender for
draft assests. 31 wins.

14. LA Lakers- Year 2 of a rebuild. Growing pains early, but
fun to watch late. Too bad their fans won't care
because their eyes will be on the Westbrook
watch. 29 wins. Core starting to take shape.
Ingram will be a star. Think Stacey Augmon meets
a poor man's Durant. He will be good, but I
think he may be auditioning for Oklahoma City.
Gonna have to lose him to get Westbrook or
trade Russell, Randle and a 1st rounder. Price
may too steep for the Lakers and might just wait
for Westbrook's 2017 FA if he gives signs he will
sign with them anyways after the season. Boston
might have something to say about that
beforehand.


15. Sacramento- Cousins will punch Vlade by December and be
traded by the deadline. Vlade gets fired as GM
at years end. Same ole Kings. Just can't get
right. Mid-season fire sale. 25 wins.


So, the Pelicans should make it and I expect them to. Anything less and Gentry can go. I like what Demps/Ferry have done although if this team doesn't make the playoffs Dell is gone and it's a matter of whether they give the spot to Ferry or let him go to, so as not to make it seem that was the plan all along.

I have high hopes for this team because of the depth, fit of new players and the ability to absorb injuries and still have a chance to win games. I'm thinking some team who spent a lot of money this summer will want a reset and trade for Tyreke's expiring to try to create more cap space for next year's free agent class. Just hope it's a team that we can get a star player in return, he sees the potential of this team after a hard fought playoff series and resigns to show another star we are ready. '16 GO PELS!!!

Finally, a team with assets that may be ready to go places. I'm ready for Year 1 of the reset. Couldn't have had a better off season other than getting rid of Asik and Tyreke, and getting a 2nd star now. Still looking for that Vucevic trade, maybe at the deadline when it becomes apparent he is disgruntled. Get him, and this might be a Top 3 seeded team. Make it happen Dell. One more Orlando fleece and it's on. One of the Philly big men wouldn't be a bad option neither.

Agreed. When AD misses games they will be auto-losses.

38-45 wins


They'll be decent. Depends on health of course.

It seems like everyone was smart enough in this thread to recognize that there are numerous unknowns at play here that will create a wide variance, depending on how they play out. I would like people to rank these variables, in order of importance. I would say:

1. AD's health
2. Jrue's health
3. Asik's performance
4. Health of other role players
5. What, if anything, they get from Tyreke (in trade and/or in performance)
6. Solomon Hill's performance
7. Buddy Hield's performance
8. Q-Pon's performance
9. Gentry's rotations and play calling at the end of games
10. Schedule (back to backs, when we get other similar teams, etc.)