Real Hoops - Hypothetical NBA Contraction Mock Draft

Talk of contraction has been all the rage this week as the 3 major team sports (sorry hockey) all face their own looming labor unrest.  For the NBA it all started when before the season when NBA overlord David J. Stern dropped the bomb that owners would consider contraction as a way to reduce player salaries in the upcoming CBA negotiations.  Sure, it was probably a negotiating tactic (though if you think Stern makes that kind of statement without it at least being on the table, you don't know King David), but the idea of contraction hit us like a bolt of lighting.  Could you imagine what would happen if a few of the worst teams had their best players redistributed to fortify, and in some cases transform, the remaining teams and reversing the decade long trend of roster depth thinning out.  The math is simple - Better Depth = Better Teams = Better Games = Better NBA.  It would be awesome for everyone except the fans in the contracted cities (and if they really cared wouldn't they go to the games?).  Well, we could imagine, and as it our want, we decided to mock draft it to see what it might look like.

Who Gets Canned?

Without much surprise, the primary candidates for contraction come from the pool of perennial bottom dwellers - Raptors, Cavs, Timberwolves, Nets, Bobcats, Hornets, Grizzlies, Clippers, and Kings. 

Of those teams, you can eliminate 3 right away:

Nets - new billionaire Russian owner, pending move to new arena in Brooklyn)
Cavaliers - just too endlessly cruel, if they took away another team the whole city might drown themselves in Lake Eerie. 
Bobcats - owned by Michael Jordan, no way the league forces him out

Of the six remaining viable candidates, the Hornets deserve to go the most, but they're also the least likely.  Despite being in an awful market with no attendance and finding themselves currently owned by the League, that awful market happens to be the site of a great American tragedy so there's no way the NBA abandons them.  (We'll ignore how dumb is it to think a mediocre basketball team can save a city and just move on.) 

Of the five that are left (Raptors, T'Wolves, Grizzlies, Clippers and Kings), the most likely scenario would have two being cut.  Memphis is a no-brainer (low attendance, small market, bad owner) with the other likely victim being either Minnesota (same) or Toronto (in Canada).  But since, it's our fantasy world, we're going to go even further and make a real difference by eliminating four teams.  (How much fun would this be if Kevin Love was the #1 overall pick.)

In our scenario, Toronto, Minnesota, Memphis and the Clippers say goodbye.  By doing so, the League remedies one of its more underrated problems by forcing out three of sports' worst owners with the added bonus of no longer having to sing "Oh, Canada" before games.  We gave Sacramento the pardon over the Clips because Donald Sterling, the Clippers owner, is a racist, pig.  As a reward for being less abhorrent than Sterling, the Kings get to Anaheim to become the second L.A.-area team, only without the stigma of playing second fiddle to the Lakers at Staples Center. 

You do a little realignment by moving Milwaukee out west and you have two tidy, 13-team conferences and a much healthier league overall.

How Would It Work?

In January 2012, the League and the Player Association would announce that, as part of their settlement on a new CBA, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors would be eliminated (with Sacramento Kings moving to Anaheim) in exchange for only a minimal reduction in player max salaries and small changes to the salary cap structure, including the inclusion of a "franchise tag." Stern can barely contain his excitement as he announces a dispersal draft will be held two weeks later, with the order to be determined using the NBA's draft lottery formula (we ran it here to get our order), live on ESPN. 

The fans from the contracted cities shrug and go on with their lives while Bill Simmons pens a 5,000 word colum for ESPN.com mourning his break-up with Blake Griffin and complaining that to see a game he'll have to get Laker championship confetti all over his keyboard.  The league buys out the owners (any lawsuits are immediately dropped after Stern gives the Plaintiffs a dirty look) and two weeks later we get our dispersal draft, hosted by Stuart Scott.  Let's go there live ...

"Booyah!! Welcome to the Prudential Center in the Brick City, Newark, New Jersey, for the NBA Dispersal Draft.  Clear eyes, full heart, these teams can't lose.  Booyah!!  Let's take a look at the available players.  Little known fact, all four of these teams, were once NBA franchises (looks into the camera with his good eye like he just made an incredibly profound point).  Booooo-Yah!!!

Los Angeles Clippers Roster
Mo Williams - $9.0M, 1 Year
Chris Kaman - $11.8M, 1 Year
Blake Griffin - $5.4M, 1 Year (1 year TO)
Randy Foye - $4.3M, 1 Year
Ryan Gomes - $4.0M, 2 Year
Eric Gordon - $3.0M, 1 Year (restricted)
Al-Farouq Aminu - $2.6M, 1 Year (2 year TO)
Eric Bledsoe - $1.5M, 1 Year (2 year TO)
Willie Warren - $500K, 2 Years
DeAndre Jordan - $800K (restricted)

Minnesota Timberwolves Roster
Michael Beasley - $5.0M, 1 Year (restricted)
Martell Webster - $4.8M, 2 Years (last non-guaranteed)
Darko. Milicic - $4.3M, 3 Years (last non-guaranteed)
Nikola Pekovic - $4.3M, 2 Years
Luke Ridnour - $4.0M, 3 Years
Wesley Johnson - $3.7M, 1 Year (2 year TO)
Kevin Love - $3.6M, 1 Year (Restricted)
Jonny Flynn - $3.2M, 1 Year (1 year TO)
Anthony Randolph, $2.9M, 1 Year (restricted)
Anthony Tolliver - $2.2M, 1 Year
Wayne Ellington - $1.1M, 1 Year (1 year TO)
Lazar Hayward - $1.0M, 1 Year (2 year TO)
Rights to Ricky Rubio

Memphis Grizzlies Roster
Rudy Gay - $13.6M, 3 Years
Marc Gasol - $3.5 (restricted free agent)
Mike Conley - $4.9M, 5 Years
O.J. Mayo - $4.5M, 1 Year (restricted)
Tony Allen - $3.0M, 2 Years
Xavier Henry - $2.0M, 1 Year (2 year TO)
Darrell Arthur - $1.1M, 1 Year (1 year TO)
Grevis Vasquez - $1.0M, 1 Year (2 year TO)
Sam Young - $886K (team option)

Toronto Raptors Roster
Jose Calderon - $9.0M, 2 Years
Andrea Bargnani - $8.5M, 4 Years
Leandro Barbosa - $7.1M (player option)
Julian Wright - $3.9m (restricted)
Amir Johnson - $5.0M, 4 Years
Linas Kleiza - $5.0M, 2 Years
Demar DeRozan - $2.5M, 1 Year (1 year TO)
Jerryd Bayless - $2.3M, 1 Year (restricted)
Ed Davis - $1.9M, 1 Year (2 year TO)
James Johnson - $1.7M, 1 Year (1 year TO)
Solomon Alabi - $670.K, 1 Year (1 year TO)

With the first pick in the 2012 NBA Dispersal Draft, The New Jersey Nets are on the clock.  Trade rumors have been rampant the past several days with teams offering anything and everything for a chance to to get his guy, Blake Superior, Blake Griffin.  Blake once played on a team with his brother Taylor.  They both look somewhat alike. (stares at camera).  Booyah!! 

1. New Jersey  Nets:  Blake Griffin, PF, L.A.;

A blog can dream, can't it?  The Nets strike gold in the dispersal lottery and end up with a player that, when combined with D-Will and Lopez immediately makes them a viable contender.  Miami's Big Three might still have the edge but the Nets would match-up incredibly well.  It would be a dream come true for Nets fans, too bad it's all fake.

Impact:  Franchise Player

2. Cleveland Cavaliers:  Rudy Gay, SF, Memphis;

Love is better but the Cavs pick get Gay based on need and their ability to control him longer.  They have decent inside players in Hickson and Verejao so getting Gay, a young, one-dimensional scorer with elite athleticism, would certainly give the moribund franchise a boost and bring playoff hopes back to the Mistake by the Lake. 

Impact:  Starter/Potential Star

3.  Kings:  Kevin Love, PF, Minnesota;

The UCLA product and rebounding prodigy would be a perfect fit in our fantasy world where the Kings go to Anaheim (they should become the L.A. Kings and copy the hockey teams only silver and black unis, Ice Cube would love that shit).  Playing with Cousins at center, they'd be a devastating inside-outside big man combo that kills everyone on the boards.  Add in Tyreke Evans and they're instantly a playoff contender. 

Impact:  Superstar

4. Washington Wizards:  Michael Beasley, F, Minnesota;

Big guys always get a bump in any draft so Beasley goes before Eric Gordon.  He's a bit of damaged goods but he can score and might benefit from playing his natural 4 position next to ultra-athletic, shot-blocker Javale McGee and developing superstar, John Wall and suddenly there's basketball hope in our nation's capital.  If he ever gets his head on straight, he could be Lamar Odom-like.
Impact: Starter/Potential Star

5.  Detroit Pistons: Chris Kaman, C, L.A.;

Again, size matters as the Pistons take the rare opportunity to pick up a quality center.  Kaman would give them a year to see if he can work in tandem with the developing Greg Monroe without committing long-term dollars and if they like him, they have a leg up on resigning him in 2012.  A starting line-up of Stuckey, Gordon, Hamilton/Daye, Monroe and Kaman would be competitive.

Impact: Starter

6. Milwaukee Bucks:  Eric Gordon, G, L.A.;

The Bucks get lucky and snag potentially the 2nd best player available.  Gordon is a knock-down shooter who already averages over 22 ppg but hasn't yet reached his ceiling.  He could be the perfect go-to scorer to team with Bogut and Jennings and, with the power shift back east, propel the Bucks to the playoffs in their first season in the West.

Impact: Potential Superstar

7.  Charlotte Bobcats:  Marc Gasol, C, Memphis;

The trend continues of teams filling massive holes by picking up legit NBA big men.  There are only so many of these guys on earth so Charlotte takes Gasol despite his status as a restricted free agent, hoping they can sign him.  An Augustine/Gasol core isn't anything to get too excited about but they'd at least have a point guard, center and cap space to work with as the flagging franchise searches for direction.

Impact: Starter

8.  Houston Rockets:  Rights to Ricky Rubio, PG, Minnesota;

Rockets GM, Daryl Morey is known to be aggressive in gathering assets and Houston remains in desperate need of a stud in the wake of McGrady's departure and Yao's almost tragic physical deterioration.  The bloom is off Rubio's rose after a down season in Spain and he might balk at playing in West Texas but he remains a high-end prospect or an attractive trade chip in Houston's quest.

Impact: Potential Star/Superstar

9. Golden State Warriors:  Al-Farouq Aminu, F, L.A.; 

Unlike most of the teams on the outside of the playoffs looking in, the Warriors have a decent big man (Lee) and dynamic guards (Curry and Ellis) so they'd probably look for help in the wings.  Aminu is a former Top 10 pick who's super athletic and can swing between the 3 and 4 to provide some flexibility as the Warriors continue to rebuild.

Impact: Starter/Rotation Guy/Potential Star

10. Phoenix Suns:  Andrea Bargnani, C/PF, Toronto;

The Suns love jump-shooting big men and, despite his obvious faults (lack of rebounding or any semblance of defense), Bargnani does that very well.  He'd be a good floor spacing compliment to the Suns' burly inside guys like Gortat and Lopez and could even up his 22 ppg average while playing with Steve "The Hostage" Nash.

Impact:  Starter/Potential Star

11.  Indiana  Pacers:  O.J. Mayo, G, Memphis;

After apparently missing out on acquiring him at the deadline due to their clocks not being set to daylight savings time, the Pacers could snag Mayo as a compliment to Collison in their backcourt. He's not the player some thought he'd be when he came out and was drafted #3 overall but he's versatile and can defend and shoot well enough to be an excellent complimentary guard.  If Paul George develops, the Pacers could have a nice core with Collison-Mayo-Granger-George-Hibbert-Hansbrough (Physco T!!). 

Impact:  Starter/Potential Star

12.  Philadelphia 76ers:  DeAndre Jordan, C, L.A.;

Jordan isn't widely known but he's a big time athlete and legit 7-footer who can run the floor, play defense and block shots.  He'd provide a perfect compliment to the Philly core of Holliday, Brand, Iggy and Turner and make the Sixers a perennial playoff team as long as that group was kept in tact.

Impact: Starter

Cooler than the other side of the pillow!!

13.  New York Knicks:  Ed Davis, PF, Toronto;

After rightfully gutting their roster to get Carmelo, the Knicks need bodies, particularly big ones.  They'd be tempted by Darko's shotblocking presence but New York would eat him alive so they'd take the opportunity to grab a Top 10 draft pick in Davis is an athletic big man who's specialty is rebounding and defense. He's young and needs to get stronger but he'd compliment Amare enough to get some burn in NYC. 

Impact: Rotation Guy/Potential Starter

14.  Utah Jazz:  Demar DeRozan, SG, Toronto;

With the Jazz trading Deron Williams, they're in full rebuilding mode so DeRozan, an athletic guard the likes of which Utah hasn't seen lately, would fit.  Another high draft pick, he needs to improve his shooting and defense but the potential for goodness is there.

Impact:  Starter/Potential Star

15.  Denver Nuggets:  - Wesley Johnson, F, Minnesota;

For Denver it's all about collecting your players in the wake of the Melo-Drama.  Johnson, another Syracuse product, is super athletic and gives them another potential wing to choose from.  He'll never be a star but he's got the skills to be a solid player for a winning team. 

Impact:  Rotation Guy

16.  New Orleans Hornets:  Xavier Henry, G/F, Memphis;

If, as many expect, David West walks, the Hornets will be left in quite the bind as they try to convince CP3 to stay.  Henry is pretty one dimensional but that one dimension - shooting - is special.  After Paul leaves, they'll have a a poor-man's Michael Redd to help the rebuilding process.

Impact:  Rotation Guy


17.  Portland Trailblazers:  Mike Conley, PG, Memphis;

For whatever reason, Andre Miller's time in Portland is running out so Conley would represent a smooth transition.  He's played well enough to justify about 80% of his big contract and the possibility that reuniting him with Oden might rejuvenate the former #1 overall pick makes him worth the money.

Impact:  Starter

18.  Atlanta Hawks:  Eric Bledsoe, PG, L.A.

The Hawks finally jettisoned the perennially disappointing Mike Bibby for the solid Kirk Hinrich and would have the chance to add their point guard of the future in Bledsoe.  While he's only been in the league a few months it's clear he can play after being overshadowed by Wall and Cousins at Kentucky.  He's got the chance to be a real stud and could be dynamic with Joe Johnson and Josh Smith.

Impact:  Rotation Guy/Potential Star

Holla at a playa when you see him in the street!"

19.  Orlando Magic:  Darko Milicic, C, Minnesota

Darko, Darko, Darko.  Perhaps nobody elicits a worse reaction from fans that ol' Darko.  For all his faults, he does one thing very well - block shots and in a league with a dearth of big men, that's always valuable.  Sure, he's overpaid and lazy but Orlando needs a back-up and he did work out well once upon a time playing with Superman.
Impact:  Rotation Guy

(This is the point where things start to get real interesting again.  The worst teams got potential game-changes, the middle teams got depth but now, as we reach the contender level, these teams have a chance to add a piece that puts them over the top, starting with the Thunder.)

20.  Oklahoma City Thunder:  Tony Allen, G, Memphis;

By adding Perkins, the Thunder have declared that they're ready to compete for championships and adding Tony Allen, a pesky defender who does as well against Kobe as anyone, would make perfect sense. 

Impact:  Rotation Guy/Defensive Specialist

21.  Los Angeles Lakers:  Anthony Randolph, C/F, Minnesota

Randolph is an extremely talented headcase who can handle the ball and block shots and his unique set of skills make him worth the risk for a Laker team that rarely has an opportunity to grab those types of players.  The Lakers are beginning to age so infusing high-upside youth would be a priority.  Maybe he turns into a player, maybe he busts completely.   Their equally likely and neither would surprise us.

Impact:  Who the hell knows

22.  Chicago Bulls:  Mo Williams, PG, L.A.;

The Bulls desperately need a guard who can come off the bench and score.  Williams would be a perfect fit in both that role and off the ball with Derrick Rose when needed, since he knows how to play off a ball-dominating star form his time with Bron.

Impact:  Potential Over-The-Top Guy

23.  Dallas Mavericks:  Luke Ridnour, PG, Minnesota;

Dallas doesn't care about mony so the overpaid, but steady Ridnour has to be intriguing.  He's a good enough shooter to play in backcourt off-the-ball with Kidd or at the point with Roddy Beaubois.  Dallas always has tremendous depth so it's hard to say he's the missing piece but he certainly wouldn't hurt.

Impact:  Rotation Guy

Call him butter, he's on a roll.

24.  Miami Heat:  Jose Calderon, PG, Toronto;

While he's not a perfect fit for a team with LeBron/Wade ball-dominating style, Calderon is a good shooter to space the floor and a steady playmaker should those guys want to share a bit.  He could also lead their second unity to avoid the steep dropoff they suffer anytime their stars need a rest.  Sure, he's awful on defense, but nobody's perfect and he's better than what they have. 

Impact:  Potential Over-The-Top Guy

25.  Boston Celtics:  Randy Foye, G, L.A.;

Foye is a veteran combo guard who could both back up Rondo and spell Ray-Ray at the 2 to provide Doc with more versatility.  He'd give them all the production of Nate or Delonte just without the mental issues.  Even better, his contract comes off the books just in time for their big Dwight Howard push.

Impact:  Rotation Guy

26.  San Antonio Spurs:  Jonny Flynn, PG, Minnesota;

There's really no telling where the Spurs will go as the Tim Duncan era slowly comes to an end but Flynn's talent is too good to go undrafted.  He's struggled terribly as a poorly match triangle point guard, but he could develop into an aggressive, scoring point in the mold of Tony Parker.

Impact:  Asset

And there you have it.  Every single team in the league gets better and certain teams like the Nets, Thunder, Bulls and Heat put themselves in position to win championships, all while dumping bad owners and boring teams.  Imagine a second round series with Blake-D-Will-Lopez vs. Miami's Big 3 or The Thunder rolling out Tony Allen to frustrate Kobe as they finally get over the hump.  It's a win-win.  Too bad, it'll never happen.

Boo-Yah!!