Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Youtube
Click here - to use the wp menu builder
Search
Politics
Business
Subscribe
FAQ
CN Staff
Press Center
Coupons
Editorial Standards
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Youtube
Instagram
Tiktok
SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
Home
Latest News
Sports
Business
Health
Privacy Policy
DMCA Policy
About Us
More
Try "researchers"
Search
Home
Tags
Conference
Tag: Conference
Western Conference: NBA's biggest what-ifs of the past five years
-
08/03/2023
0
Contents
×
Three of the biggest Western Conference what-ifs of the past five years include Zion Williamson with the Pelicans, Russell Westbrook with the Lakers and Jalen Brunson with the Mavericks. Illustration by ESPN Forget whether Dallas should have matched the deal Brunson got from the New York Knicks last summer. What if they had extended him for a four-year, $54 million deal when they had the chance during the 2021-22 season? Instead of the drama that befell the franchise last season, Dallas would again finish with a top-four record in the West, with Brunson’s steady play leading the Mavericks back to the second round of the playoffs and removing a lot of the pressure surrounding Luka Doncic‘s long-term future with the franchise. Dorian Finney-Smith would also remain in Dallas, and there would’ve been no need to get into business with Kyrie Irving. In the two weeks after the trade deadline during the 2020-21 season, Denver looked like an absolute juggernaut. Landing forward Aaron Gordon via trade helped the Nuggets start outscoring teams by over 18 points per 100 possessions in the 110 minutes the quartet of Murray, Gordon, Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. played together. But then Murray suffered a torn ACL, knocking him out of the next two postseasons and leaving Denver essentially sidelined as a Western Conference power. With Murray never leaving the lineup, Denver would have reached the NBA Finals in 2021 instead of Phoenix, who lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. A healthy Warriors team would’ve stopped the Nuggets in the West finals in 2022, but by then all doubts about Jokic’s ability to drive the team’s winning ways at the highest levels would’ve been dispelled. He would’ve gone on to claim a third straight MVP award this season as a result — becoming the fourth player to do so — and Denver would’ve gone on to win its first championship, setting it up as the league’s next dynastic power with four consecutive trips to the conference finals or beyond, plus a title. Editor’s Picks
What if the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t make the Westbrook trade?
What if the Memphis Grizzlies didn’t move up to get Ja in the draft?
Top stories of the week from
What if the New Orleans Pelicans didn’t move up to get Zion in the draft?
2023 NBA offseason
What if the Sacramento Kings drafted Luka instead of Marvin Bagley?
What if the San Antonio Spurs traded Kawhi to the Lakers?
What if the Utah Jazz’s Mike Conley hit the shot at the end of Game 7 in the bubble vs Denver?
→
Index
