We already know who has the chip this year. And we know the Warriors are repeating in 2018 (barring injuries). So lets talk about 2019 because that is the season I expect we see a changing of the guard. First and foremost, nikkas gotta realize the Warriors reign won't be that long. They will be favorites in 2018-19 to three-peat but it won't be a given. KD and Steph will be 30-31 years old in 2019. Draymond and Klay will be 29. Once an NBA player starts hitting the early 30s, the decline begins. Also in 2019 you'll see a lot of young stars that are emerging in the NBA begin to start hitting their athletic prime as they become 24-25 years old.
I think there are 4 candidates for next dynasty in the NBA and here is how I rank them:
(1) Minnesota Timberwolves - In 2019, Andrew Wiggins, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Zach LaVine will be 23-24 years old. This is the best young trio in the NBA right now. Wiggins and Towns have top 5 potential while LaVine is right behind them as a top 10 player potentially. Before the injury to LaVine, all 3 were averaging over 20ppg. This is another Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden situation. As long as the Wolves don't fukk it up they should be competing for championships starting in 2019 with this dynamic trio.
(2) Philadephia 76ers - If Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons can stay healthy, they can rival the Timberwolves as having the best future in the NBA. Both guys should be top 5 players in the NBA when they hit their prime starting in 2019. The big thing for Philly is who do they pick with the #3 pick. If they take someone like De'Aaron Fox or Josh Jackson, I think they will set themselves back. The right pick for them is Jayson Tatum. He's a better fit with Embiid and Simmons than those other guys. Tatum is a better isolation scorer (which the Sixers will need) and a better outside shooter than those other two players. If Jayson Tatum is added alongside a healthy Embiid and Simmons, the 76ers will be a dominant team in the future.
(3) Los Angeles Lakers - The Lakers lack the star power at the top that the Timberwolves and Sixers will have. Or even the Milwaukee Bucks. However, I think they have the most depth in terms of the number of good young players they've accumulated. Lonzo Ball, Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, D'Angelo Russell, Ivica Zubac, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr. are all good young talents. That's 7 really good rotation players that are all really young that will form the core of a playoff team in 2019. If the Lakers can get Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and/or Julius Randle to emerge as bonafide all-stars, they will have a really deep team that could ultimately turn into a 2015 Warriors type squad.
(4) Milwaukee Bucks - Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a top 5 player in the NBA. The problem for the Bucks is they don't have another bonafide top 5-10 player to pair with him. Jabari Parker has had 2 ACL tears that makes his future questionable. Thon Maker has the potential to become a star but he's not on the same level as Wiggins, Towns, Simmons, and Embiid. Plus the Bucks haven't accumulated the amount of good young players a team like the Lakers have. I think Giannis might see himself losing in the conference finals repeatedly to the Sixers in the future.
So who ya'll got as the next dynasty in the NBA?
I think there are 4 candidates for next dynasty in the NBA and here is how I rank them:
(1) Minnesota Timberwolves - In 2019, Andrew Wiggins, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Zach LaVine will be 23-24 years old. This is the best young trio in the NBA right now. Wiggins and Towns have top 5 potential while LaVine is right behind them as a top 10 player potentially. Before the injury to LaVine, all 3 were averaging over 20ppg. This is another Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden situation. As long as the Wolves don't fukk it up they should be competing for championships starting in 2019 with this dynamic trio.
(2) Philadephia 76ers - If Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons can stay healthy, they can rival the Timberwolves as having the best future in the NBA. Both guys should be top 5 players in the NBA when they hit their prime starting in 2019. The big thing for Philly is who do they pick with the #3 pick. If they take someone like De'Aaron Fox or Josh Jackson, I think they will set themselves back. The right pick for them is Jayson Tatum. He's a better fit with Embiid and Simmons than those other guys. Tatum is a better isolation scorer (which the Sixers will need) and a better outside shooter than those other two players. If Jayson Tatum is added alongside a healthy Embiid and Simmons, the 76ers will be a dominant team in the future.
(3) Los Angeles Lakers - The Lakers lack the star power at the top that the Timberwolves and Sixers will have. Or even the Milwaukee Bucks. However, I think they have the most depth in terms of the number of good young players they've accumulated. Lonzo Ball, Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, D'Angelo Russell, Ivica Zubac, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr. are all good young talents. That's 7 really good rotation players that are all really young that will form the core of a playoff team in 2019. If the Lakers can get Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and/or Julius Randle to emerge as bonafide all-stars, they will have a really deep team that could ultimately turn into a 2015 Warriors type squad.
(4) Milwaukee Bucks - Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a top 5 player in the NBA. The problem for the Bucks is they don't have another bonafide top 5-10 player to pair with him. Jabari Parker has had 2 ACL tears that makes his future questionable. Thon Maker has the potential to become a star but he's not on the same level as Wiggins, Towns, Simmons, and Embiid. Plus the Bucks haven't accumulated the amount of good young players a team like the Lakers have. I think Giannis might see himself losing in the conference finals repeatedly to the Sixers in the future.
So who ya'll got as the next dynasty in the NBA?
