Which NBA Rebuilding Teams Have The Brightest Future?

Dan is joined by Es Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) from Forbes, Raptors Republic and Bleacher Report for a vibe check on the various rebuilding projects in the NBA. This time around, they spend most of their time on the Toronto Raptors but also extensively hit the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls. They also briefly touch on the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets. Follow Es on Twitter: / justesbaraheni . CHAPTERS BELOW.
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CHAPTERS⬇️
0:00 - INTRO
2:15 - Toronto Raptors
32:48 - Washington Wizards
41:17 - Utah Jazz
53:20 - San Antonio Spurs
57:04 - Portland Trail Blazers
1:04:35 - Houston Rockets
1:11:41 - Detroit Pistons
1:18:14 - Chicago Bulls
1:23:32 - Brooklyn Nets/Charlotte Hornets
#nba

[@rileymcphee9429]

Rating the Blazers a 2-3 was incredibly harsh. It's the second year of their rebuild and they're in a very good position to do several things next year, including trading their veteran pieces (which Cronin has already proved very competent at managing), finding and developing talent (which they've done with Sharpe, Reath, Camara, and Murray), and tanking for that cornerstone next year. Some fans may be upset by their moves thus far, but none of them have been indefensible like the Bulls and Wizards' moves have. Portland will not be a perennial lottery team, that much is clear.

[@nickhopson]

The confusion about the Blazers is over hyped IMO. Grant, Ant, Timelord and Tisse are all on the market and have prices attached, just so far no other team is willing the pay because other dominoes need to fall and the second apron has teams scared. Once those guys are gone, Scoot and Shae get another year to grow, and the team has their 2025 lottery pick in house you guys will change your outlook.

[@iroh3203]

Their rebuild started last year. Not the case with most teams on the list

[@dancingbabybins]

Portland planning for 2025+ tank years is gross, get dropped down to G-league why don't ya

[@zergmare7]

​@iroh3203 we have a great core and stole from the Wizards

[@yanisbondar]

@@dancingbabybins It's not planning, it's predicting... What do you want? A team with an average age of 22 years old to push for a title in arguably one of the most stacked western conferences ever?

[@dancingbabybins]

@@yanisbondarI think that planning for another top5 draft pick after drafting Wemby is obnoxious, THIS isn't a team that has watched their players become to valuable and price out of their budget, walking away as free agents. They have traded away every valuable player that they have developed for a decade, AND they have been accumulating draft capital in other trades like the picks they have received from the Raptors for taking Dragic and later trading Poeltl back to the Raptors. Why the FUCK can't they be better then Detroit, why are they aiming to tank worse then Charlotte. Horrible team

[@kevinkouns7947]

Your Blazer take is a sure sign that you haven't really followed the team. Last season was total chaos because of injuries and tanking. Scoot is a 1, Sharpe is a 2, Simons can play both and is massively under valued. They are a three man rotation at the 1-2. Avdija is the two- way 3 this team has lacked for nearly a decade. His acquisition was a huge win. Grant is on the trading block. He is a good player but doesn't fit the timeline. If he goes there are more minutes for the young wings. Ayton and Clingan are going sort out. Clingan gives the option of moving of Ayton's big contract. The backcourt is going to drive the offense. The frontcourt is going to anchor the defense. I am confused by your confusion.

[@LouisSollino]

youre spot on here with portland, they have talent up the wazoo! avdija camara scoot sharpe clingan simons ayton they will trede grant and rob williams , not sure yet what kris murray is though

[@thuggwaffle8825]

I agree with most of what you said, but Ant is “undervalued” because of how awful he is defensively. He’s twice as bad as Dame was defensively and that’s not an exaggeration. He’s good offensively, but it’s painful watching him play defense

[@petecarter6520]

The reason the raptors have a bunch of SG is because its the sole starting roster gap --- webster said they want as many swings to hit as possible

[@nahova3167]

These guys were so off on Portland

[@ryangeffert4988]

As a magic fan it’s so refreshing to clock on a video like this and the magic not be in it

[@bradjohnson2273]

If you are that confused by the blazers moves you might be out of touch.. obviously trying to trade anfernee and jerami grant. Defensive identity is what chauncey wants. Clingan and deni fit that very well and scoot and sharpe have sky high ceilings. Not sure how you guys are so confused by the blazers? Also vibes 3/10 is nuts

[@iroh3203]

Their assessment of that team was definitely the low point of the video. A lot of inaccuracy

[@HardwoodKnocksNBA]

@@bradjohnson2273 ehhh i think skepticism is fair, and how you feel about their future is definitely impacted by your view of Clingan. as I’ve mentioned in other videos, i don’t think he’ll end up having the defensive malleability or speed to be what people bill him as. perhaps im wrong. we’ll see. and a lot of disagreement seems to be over them eventually decongesting some of the roster, which is fair, but until they actually do it, again, i think skepticism is warranted. -dan

[@HardwoodKnocksNBA]

@@iroh3203 hmmm I don’t think it’s fair to say we’re being inaccurate. everyone has their own view. we were/are more skeptical, and I’ve outlined why in other comments. perhaps i end up being wrong. that’s fine. (and no, the low point of the video was actually during the intro when i accidentally pulled out my mic and didn’t realize it) -dan

[@iroh3203]

@@HardwoodKnocksNBA the rebuild just started? Unrealistic to expect all their roster to line up perfectly. Have to get proper value for the assets.

[@kneelpdx1]

Blazers didn’t take BPA @ 7? Who was better on your board? Salaun? Williams? Knecht?

[@HardwoodKnocksNBA]

@@kneelpdx1 yes, yes and yes, keep going lol

[@iroh3203]

Brother. At least explain this pessimistic view to me please, cause that seems insane.

[@fritzfoxwell4538]

Portland will move up in the West but still have moves to make

[@Aboleo80]

Houston is interesting because it's clear that they won't be able to pay everyone. So are some other of these young teams.

[@fritzfoxwell4538]

Pistons..Talent+Quality Vet&Good Coach

[@guyben1657]

If the Blazers are trading Grant and Simons and building their core around Sharpe, Deni, Scoot and Clingan, I’m going with : 1. Blazers 2. Rockets 3. Toronto 4. Utah 5. Detroit.

[@kristianburton6811]

Disagree Blazers extremely young. It's a totally different approach to rebuilding. The Raps like to rebuild from the middle and don't actively like tanking and being bad. This is why they took back IQ and RJ (instead of a pick heavy package). Two guys that while still fairly young 25 and 23 so still have some room to improve they are also NBA vets at this point that have both had playoff experience. It's almost like the Raps prefer to theoretically rebuild faster instead of relying on lottery luck. I agree ceiling wise (although I'm not a big scoot believer) the Blazers could be insane. Especially Sharpe he's one of my favourite players in the league.

[@yanisbondar]

@@kristianburton6811 I see your point here of two different "types" of rebuilds. But if it was up to me I'm taking the type of rebuild that builds with young guys with high ceilings. The type of rebuild the raptors are going for has such a high chance to peak at like a 5th seed and a 2nd round exit, just seems like a waste. I either want to be on the bottom of my conference or pushing for a title. And if all these guys on portlands roster pan out, this is a championship level core.

[@guyben1657]

@@kristianburton6811 good point, but I think the Blazers are one stage lower in their rebuilding, with a core of young players not older than 23. The league is going to be really fun to watch this season with all the upcoming young cores.

[@kristianburton6811]

@guyben1657 yeah like I said just different approaches to a rebuild. Alot of teams right now are trying to do what OKC did. That's a risky game just look at how long detroit have been trash even with all their lottery picks. Alot of the Raps fans right now crying to tank for Cooper Flagg. But the Raps roster just isn't bad enough to out tank teams like Detroit, Washington, Portland, Hornets, you can now add the Bulls to that aswell. I'd rather go for 30 games if they are naturally bad then trade off the older vets and pivot towards tanking.

[@babycakes9976]

Rockets has a good coaching on discipline D

[@mattwilliams7454]

San Antonio.

[@trumpetking11]

It’s Houston. This is the only correct answer. 🚀🚀🚀

[@zergmare7]

Go blazers!!!!

[@nickhopson]

Brightest future goes to whoever wins the 25 lottery. Blazers are due!

[@HardwoodKnocksNBA]

@@nickhopson that high on cooper flagg???

[@StarTraffic-z1o]

Nets.

[@EDTheOneable]

Let's be real.. It's going to be Utah

[@nickhopson]

@@HardwoodKnocksNBA yeah, me, Sam Vecenie and seemingly everyone else… also, just watched him go right at Jrue, AD, Bam and a few other decent defenders at USA training camp; seemed pretty up to the task!

[@MarkDavis-o2z]

Pistons spurs bulls

[@cleokey]

My thoughts go to Houston, largely because of head coach. 😊

[@HardwoodKnocksNBA]

@@cleokey the work he’s done on their defense is incredible for sure

[@StarTraffic-z1o]

Houston ain't getting a top 7 pick from next year's draft, that has better prospects than any young player on the current Rockets team. .

[@fritzfoxwell4538]

Utah is being held up(hostage) by Dannyv Anged

[@EDTheOneable]

Have to give it to the Spurs until they actually make a big mistake which just hasn't happened to them. None of these other teams have a player that even comes close to Wemby.

[@papayavvv]

casuals sleeping on Houston. well time will tell. that front office is special.

[@pimpnamedslickback7780]

It's easily the spurs they have the best guy

[@chirocket4791]

Rockets

[@MarkellCampbell]

Every time I hear people talk about the blazers they get more and more wrong that’s why I like it when they don’t talk about em bc they don’t know what their talking about stick to the big teams😂

[@yanisbondar]

Blazers lowk have the most underrated rebuild at this point. Soooo far under the publics radar its kind of great.

[@MarkellCampbell]

@@yanisbondar yup and I love it because when the blazer come out of no where become a play in team or even like 6 seed I can’t wait for these analytics who think they know what there talking bout talk abt the blazers

[@yanisbondar]

@@MarkellCampbell Yeah my thinking exactly. They just don’t understand that like 50% of this current roster is not the long terms pieces. Imo the only untouchables right now are Scoot | Sharpe | Deni | Toumani | Clingan. All super young, all have super high ceilings, how do they not see this lol. We are literally one good PF prospect away from starting to compete (Cooper Flagg 👀).

[@danielschomburg2140]

All these Blazers fans are overreacting to you guys not having a good sense of what our team is doing or why which is understandable. I am a Blazers fan and even I sometimes wonder why the hell they didn't bottom out the team to embrace the rebuild process. I honestly think the Blazers front office decided to just let things play out as they may. If this young group could make a playoff push great, if not then they blow it up during this offseason and this seasons upcoming trade deadline.

[@HardwoodKnocksNBA]

i think a lot of the disagreement over what we said seems to be the assumption they’ll clarify the roster in time, which i guess is fire, but until it actually happens, i think there’s an unnecessary ambiguity to what they’re doing. there will also be a discrepancy of where they’re at depending on how you feel about clinghan (who i don’t see as having the defensive malleability or speed to succeed). maybe im wrong. will welcome it. and with that said, as i mentioned, i remain bullish on scoot. but i am surprised how many people seem turned off by, what i feel, is warranted skepticism 🤷‍♂️ -dan

[@thuggwaffle8825]

No GM is gonna come out and say “these are our exact plans and we plan to execute them by X date” lol Cronin has proved he’s a patient GM, but literally everything suggests that they plan to move on from vets and build around the very young guys. Grant, Thybulle and Simons are actively being shopped. Like how would you not understand they want to fully rebuild

[@Crypto_OR]

Raptors have a trash future, have over paid players like quickley and RJ. Barnes is never going to be a number 1 option on a championship contending team. Raptors got a worse future than the blazers.

[@jaden3222]

🥱 heard this take so many times at this point it’s just laughable

[@Crypto_OR]

@@jaden3222 yup Toronto is ass and you delusional if you think they are going to be good next season

[@BigSchoolRiley]

smh this guy don't know

[@KayyP7]

im sure a franchise that won a ring know more than you lmao. we'll see what happens, keep talking while scottie racks up all the accolades.

[@geeto99]

@@Crypto_ORDo you know what a rebuild is? Raptors started the rebuild at the trade deadline this past season, are Raptors supposed to be good after half a year in a rebuild? You’re delusional if you think it takes half a year to rebuild a team