The NBA is thinking of adding another team in Charlotte to replace for the Hornets, but is this a good idea? Stern wants 30 teams in 6 divison, 3 divisons per conference. This could go two ways; first, teams like Atlanta and Cleveland who have no fans, they're just going to get weaker (though I think Cleveland is going to get LeBron next year) but also, with the influx of foreign players and the NBDL, the talent pool is bigger then ever, so the NBA might have the necessary amount of talent. Just thinking off hand, the 5 closest teams to the Knicks (and therefore would probably be in their division) would be the Nets, Wizards, 76ers, Celtics, and then who? Miami and Orlando are both in the south and probably would be in the southern division with teams like Charlotte, New Orleans, and Memphis. Who would be the 6th team? My guess is Cleveland.

hey you only need 5 teams per conference, like you said that would be

Nets, Wizards, 76ers, Celtics and the Knicks.

Posted by BigSm00th:

Oh, ha, my bad. What are everyone's thoughts on this, though? Is it good or bad for the NBA?

bad to re-align. good to add one more team. need to shift more teams west. like pacers or something.

Yeah, realignment would take place in two years, because they can't add an entire team in one offseason, so the Knicks would hopefully by then have some pieces to build around. I don't think 'Toine is like Glenn Robinson though, but I could easily see him turning into that now that I'm thinking of it. Wizards might be on the rise with a good draft pick this season and if Brown develops and Haywood continues to develop. 76ers are always changing but with Iverson they're dangerous every night, and the Nets might not even be able to keep Kidd once he becomes a free-agent. If they get pounded by the Lakers, which I think will happen, then have an early playoff exit the next year Kidd could be gone. I don't know where though, maybe out west to a team that contends (unlike the Suns), because Kidd wants a championship. He grew up in Cali, wouldn't that be absolutely horrible if he signed with the Lakers in two years. A Kidd/Kobe backcourt and Shaq downlow would be absolutely unfair. Anyway, I've already rambled too far off topic, I'm going to bed. Later all.

Why not NOT protect Houston.. Get rid of the contract... That way someone takes him if they can afford the contract, and if they can't you send a signal to AH and protect one more on the squad.