Sometimes you fold, other times you go ALL IN. For teams that believe they have a “franchise” or “cornerstone” player, the clock is ticking. Think Tim Duncan. Think Kobe Bryant. Let’s take a look at the five franchises that have not recently won a championship and have gone all in with their hopefuls.
Rule #1 Has to be a big market. It will not be shocking if Milwaukee or Cleveland never win a championship. Small markets are at a huge disadvantage and most likely can’t be saved by one player (see: LeBron James in Cleveland years). The exception being…
Rule #2 The small market team that finds themselves loaded with talent. The Oklahoma City Thunder fits this mold as did the San Antonio Spurs once.
Rule #3 The fans truly believe this player is able to deliver a championship. Back to my examples from #1, no one is expecting Brandon Jennings (Milwaukee) or Kyrie Irving (Cleveland) to lead their organization to a championship on their own. (note: Cleveland may think this, but they are also expecting LeBron to come back. Cavalier fans are delusional)
DERRICK ROSE (Chicago Bulls)
I am reluctant to include Derrick Rose. Rose’s long recovery is heart breaking for Bulls fans. After an MVP year to go down during the Playoffs and miss the whole next year (increasingly looking like this is the case) is gut wrenching and starts to look as if Rose will never be the same. Still, there’s a chance he returns at 100% and should this be the case I would expect him to continue to lead the Bulls deep into the playoffs and compete with the Miami Heat for the Eastern Conference crown.
DERON WILLIAMS (Brooklyn Nets)
After a HUGE contract and slow start, Williams is starting to show why the Nets have built their team around him. Surrounded by glorified role players, Williams will still need to kick it up one more level if Brooklyn is expected to compete. Think Isiah Thomas and the bad boy Pistons, that should be the model and that’s really his only hope.
CARMELO ANTHONY (New York Knicks)
Consistency. Consistency. Consistency. It doesn’t matter how much we say it, Carmelo needs to be THE MAN each and every night if he is going to lead the Knicks back to the promise land. There are times when Carmelo is the most dominant player in the league – no question. Other times he seems lost in what he is looking for in his shot and teammates. Consistency. Consistency. Consistency.
KEVIN DURANT (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Sure, Russell Westbrook may be key, but it will be Kevin Durant who needs to dominant if this team is going to eventually. The team is loaded with talent and has already appeared in the Finals once and failed. That means the window has already started to close.
CHRIS PAUL (Los Angeles Clippers)
No one player may be more in the NOW than Chris Paul. He is a free agent, playing for a veteran savvy team, and positioned for a deep playoff run. If the NBA’s most doomed franchise (yes, the Clippers) are going to win a title (and hell freeze over) it will be Chris Paul winning the finals MVP.
David S. Grant is an author of several books, rock columnist, travel writer, and NBA blogger. Follow David on Twitter: @david_s_grant