The 'What If...' Thread

[Weeks]

I'll start off with two:

What If #1:

Let's say in 2009 the Thunder win the NBA Lottery. So instead of picking Harden they chose Blake Griffin.

This would have left them with 3 legitimate NBA stars who are all extrememly young.

There starting 5 would've been something like:

Westbrook
Seflosha
Durant
Griffin
Ibaka

I think had this happen the Thunder would have won at least three titles in the next ten years.

What If #2

This year the Clippers traded there first pick and B. Diddy for Mo Williams. Well, that pick ended up being #1 in the NBA Draft. If that trade never happened, the Clippers would have likely chosen Kyrie Irving.

Had they chose Irving they would have had a lineup like this:

Irving
Gordon
Aminu
Griffin
Kaman

Bench: Davis, Bledsoe, Foye, Jordan

If they would then be able to trick someone like the Hawks into doing something like Kaman, Jordan and 2 first rounders for Horford...Oh boy.

And a third possibility for a 'What If':

What if the Grizzlies don't trade Kevin Love for OJ Mayo. Then next year they pick someone like Tyreke Evans instead of Hasheem Thabeet...

[Yrogergj24]

Re: The 'What If...' Thread

What if MJ had been traded to the Clippers in 1989 for the 1st and 6th overall picks in the 1988 draft?

[brett the jet favre]

Re: The 'What If...' Thread

What if Allen Iverson won a championship, where would he be ranked then?

[TheMan16]

Re: The 'What If...' Thread

I Like this thread


1) What If Scottie Pippen Won One More Than Jordan

Portland Trailblazers gave up a 15 point lead in the 4th quarter in WCF. Had the Blazers been able to hold off the Lakers, i'm sure they'd beat Indiana in the Finals

2) What If Ron Artest didn't go into the stands

Indiana Pacers came off a very successful season the year prior. They had the best record in the league, and Ron Artest was named Defensive players of the year. In a weak Eastern Confrence that only had Miami and Detroit as real threats, what if Ron played the full 82 games and help the Pacers get better seeding in the playoffs. Reggie Miller could be retired with a ring right now.... Who knows. Pacers finished the season with the 6th seed and were beat in 6 by the Celtics that year

3) What If Grant Hill Was Healthy

Grant Hill was once billed as the 2nd coming of Michael Jordan, and could easily get 25pts and 10 rebounds a night. Had he been healthy, we could've seen some banners in Orlando due to the Tracy McGrady & Grant Hill tandem

4) What If LeBron James Went To The Knicks

7:59pm on July 8th i was under the impression that LeBron was be wearing a Knicks, Heat, Cavalier Jersey in that order next season. Had the Knicks signed LBJ, they would also be able to sign Amare for slightly less money that he makes now. And also still be able to make a trade for Carmelo Anthony. (though i think they'd be better off by keeping Gallo, and Chandler).
LeBron James could very well possibly be bigger than Jordan had he gone to the Knicks. He could also be very close in his pursuit to become the first billionaire athlete.

5) What If The Blazers Had Good Trainers

Portland finished 6th in the West during the 2009-2010 season despite so many injuries from key players. Had Brandon Roy and Greg Oden been healthy, the Blazers would have a dangerous, young, smart basketball club with the trio of Brandon Roy, Greg Oden, and Lamarcus Aldridge. With Raymond Felton also on the Blazers. This is a dangerous team.

[Marino]

Re: The 'What If...' Thread

What if George Shinn didn't alienate the fans in Charlotte over a new arena even though the Charlotte Coliseum was but 13 years old at the time? The Hornets would still be in Charlotte.

[Weeks]

Re: The 'What If...' Thread

@TheMan16

The Blazers easily could've been a dynasty...if they were able to stay healthy.

I hope Greg Oden takes this LONG break to rest his body. Then I hope he can somehow sign with the Suns, they would have the best shot at saving his career like they did with Amare/Grant Hill.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: The 'What If...' Thread

Definitely always think what if Orlando never traded Chris Webber for Penny.

Orlando was dead set on taking Webber until Penny and his agent convinced Orlando to work him out a second time in a game situation. Reportedly Penny really wanted to play alongside Shaq.

Apparently Penny ran with a bunch of the Magic players in a pick up game and were impressed. The rest is history.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: The 'What If...' Thread

Another recent one

What if Tyson Chandler passes his physical and the trade to OKC materialized

[daca]

Re: The 'What If...' Thread

what if Gerald Wallace hadn't landed on Gilbert Arenas' Knee...

always asking myself that one... Wiz even where 1st in the eastern conference before that happened...
Gil also prbly wouldn't be the most overpaid player in the NBA
but on the other hand if the Wiz still had Gil now they would have never gotten John Wall...

[RedSceptile]

Re: The 'What If...' Thread

What if number 1
What if Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming stayed relatively healthy? I think it'd be fair to assume they'd have at least 1 championship in the down years of the league (possibly steal 1 or 2 that San Antonio won or even the Miami championship)

What if number 2.5
What if Shaq stayed with the Lakers? Would they string of another 2 or so championships? Adversely what if Kobe got traded and not Shaq?

What if number 3
What if the Trailblazers drafted Kevin Durant and not Greg Oden? Would they have won a championship already similar to the Bill Walton Blazers? Would we be talking about Kevin Durant's MVP and how the Trailblazers beat the Heat...which leads to my next what if

What if number 4
What if the Heat won the NBA title instead of the Mavericks? What if LeBron put up a Herculean effort similar to Wade and they won the title. How would people feel? How would their image look. What would LeBron say?

What if number 5
What if the Bulls never got Scottie Pippen? How would Jordan's history be written? Would he be the modern era Elgin Baylor? Would we all laud him for his transcendent skills, yet inability to win a ring? Would Clyde Drexler instead be considered the best Shooting Guard of the past decade/modern era?

[ybtherockstar]

Re: The 'What If...' Thread

What if Kobe would have went to college? He said he would have went to Duke or UNC. I wonder if he would have as many rings as he does now.

[BlastX21]

Re: The 'What If...' Thread

What if Lebron took his talents to Chicago?

Undoubtably they're NBA champions this year. They would steamroll the competition with their #1 defense and dynamic star power.

[Chrisksaint]

Re: The 'What If...' Thread

What if Kobe didn't get traded to the Lakers on draft day?

What if the Hornets franchise had a non terrible owner, would they still be in Charlotte? Would they still have left, but found a way to be more successful in NO?

[mvb34]

Re: The 'What If...' Thread

What if the Wolves Marbury realize that he and KG could play together be the next Stockton-to-Malone? The Wolves could have been running the West along with Lakers instead of the Spurs..

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: The 'What If...' Thread

What if the Wolves Marbury realize that he and KG could play together be the next Stockton-to-Malone? The Wolves could have been running the West along with Lakers instead of the Spurs..

Didn't KG sign a huge contract or something basically leaving not enough money for Marbury?