5 Biggest What-ifs of the past decade
What one action could change the course of NBA history the most?
I lean towards my Houston Rockets not taking the trade the Blazers offered that could have possibly resulted in having Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Michael Jordan all on the team. The Blazers offered the Rockets the number 2 pick in the 1986 draft and Drexler for Ralph Sampson. The Rockets declined and the birth of the “Twin Towers”-Ralph and Hakeem, happened. Whether Clyde and Jordan would be able to co-exist back then will be a question of the ages, but still, what if?
In the past decade, there’s been a flurry of activities and questionable decisions in the NBA that made or broken franchises. From a single foul call that possibly costs a championship, to passing on prospects that have become game changers, to career altering injuries, we chronologically list the biggest what-ifs of the past decade as a result:
Honourable Mentions:
- What if Portland were more fortunate?
First, the Trail Blazers picked Greg Oden with the first pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, passing on Kevin Durant. Their roster already had a good up and coming frontcourt of LaMarcus Aldridge and Zach Randolph. A wing player would make more sense. KD ends up becoming a perennial superstar while injuries riddled Oden’s career.
Secondly, Brandon Roy. His career was cut short after four stellar seasons, in which he earned the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in a near-unanimous vote. He was selected as a reserve to three All-Star games - 2008,09, and 2010. On December 10, 2011, Roy announced his retirement from basketball due to a degenerative knee condition.
What if they picked Kevin Durant and Brandon Roy stayed healthy?
NOTE: This is just in the past decade, the Blazers need a full article for their what ifs.
2. What if Carmelo entered free agency in 2010?
The big three in Miami was initially planned for Melo, LeBron James, and Wade. Instead of Melo signing a rookie scale 3-year contract, he opted for a five-year contract with an option to opt out after the fourth. He claimed that he belongs to Denver and that the fans appreciate him. This means that his free agency came a year later.
Fast forward, he ended up forcing a move to the New York Knicks and everyone knows what transpired there. What if the banana boat reunion happened earlier than expected?