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The biggest 'what if' moment for every NBA franchise
NBA/Getty Images

The biggest 'what if' moment for every NBA franchise

It's hard for everything to go right in the NBA, whether that's due to managerial decisions, bad luck with injuries, or other factors. In league history, there are some moments that stand out, moments that could have gone in a completely different direction and drastically changed the league. These are the biggest "what if" moments for every NBA team.

 
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Atlanta Hawks: What if they kept Luka Dončić?

Atlanta Hawks: What if they kept Luka Dončić?
Kevin Jairaj/Imagn

The Hawks drafted Dončić in 2018 but immediately traded him for Trae Young and a future first-round pick. Young has been great in Atlanta and has become one of the league's best scorers and facilitators. He's not on Dončić's level, though (few are), and maybe Luka could have drawn more free agent interest in Atlanta and reshaped the Eastern Conference.

 
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Boston Celtics: What if Len Bias didn't die?

Boston Celtics: What if Len Bias didn't die?
John Clark/Imagn

The Celtics thought they had the star to lead their post-Larry Bird era when drafting Len Bias in 1986. Just two days after the draft, though, he died due to a drug-related incident. This was the start of a string of bad luck, as just years later, Boston also lost Reggie Lewis, another rising star.

 
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Brooklyn Nets: What if Kevin Durant's foot was smaller?

Brooklyn Nets: What if Kevin Durant's foot was smaller?
Geoff Burke/Imagn

In Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals, Durant hit a shot that would have been a game-winning three-pointer had his foot not barely been on the line. It was a two, though, and the Bucks won in overtime. Had the Nets moved on, they could very well have won the Finals, and maybe Kyrie Irving and James Harden would have stuck around, changing what the conference would have looked like for the next few years.

 
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Charlotte Hornets: What if they kept Kobe Bryant?

Charlotte Hornets: What if they kept Kobe Bryant?
Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn

Before the draft, the Hornets committed to picking Kobe and sending him to the Lakers. Had they kept him, though, things would have looked a lot different. With a generational star leading the way, the team could have been lifted out of its perpetual mediocrity and reshaped the franchise's legacy.

 
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Chicago Bulls: What if Michael Jordan didn't retire in 1993?

Chicago Bulls: What if Michael Jordan didn't retire in 1993?
Anne Ryan/Imagn

When MJ left the league for the first time, his Bulls had just won three straight titles. After he returned, they won three more in a row. Had he stuck around, his Bulls would have been a real threat to win the '94 and '95 championships, too, potentially giving Chicago eight straight titles and putting them up there with the 1960s Celtics as having the most dominant NBA run ever.

 
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Cleveland Cavaliers: What if Kyrie Irving never requested a trade in 2017?

Cleveland Cavaliers: What if Kyrie Irving never requested a trade in 2017?
David Richard/Imagn

After winning a title and reaching three straight Finals, Irving wanted out of Cleveland. Had he stuck around, though, maybe LeBron doesn't leave for Los Angeles and spends the rest of his career playing for his home team. There are also ripple effects for the two teams Irving joined shortly after Cleveland, the Celtics and the Nets.

 
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Dallas Mavericks: What if Steve Nash stayed?

Dallas Mavericks: What if Steve Nash stayed?
Bob Donnan/Imagn

Nash was reluctant to leave the Mavericks in 2004, but he received a significantly better offer to sign with Phoenix. Had he stuck around, though, we could have had years of Nash and Dirk Nowitzki together in their primes. Maybe they could have gotten over the hump, and Nash could have retired with at least a championship to his name (and Dirk with more than just the 2011 trophy).

 
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Denver Nuggets: What if Jamal Murray didn't tear his ACL?

Denver Nuggets: What if Jamal Murray didn't tear his ACL?
Ron Chenoy/Imagn

The Nuggets have been hot throughout the 2020s, but there was an interruption when Murray went down with an ACL injury in April 2021. Denver claimed a title in 2023, but they could have been serious contenders for more. With more championships, the conversation around Nikola Jokić's legacy would certainly have more wrinkles.

 
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Detroit Pistons: What if they didn't draft Darko Milicic?

Detroit Pistons: What if they didn't draft Darko Milicic?
Cary Edmondson/Imagn

Milicic is infamous as one of the biggest draft busts of all time, a status that is amplified because other top picks in that draft included Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. The Pistons were already great at this point, having won a championship in Darko's rookie season, with the rookie contributing little. Had the Pistons landed one of the aforementioned greats, though, perhaps their championship window would have been significantly extended.

 
10 of 30

Golden State Warriors: What if they traded Steph Curry?

Golden State Warriors: What if they traded Steph Curry?
Raj Mehta/Imagn

When the Warriors were trying to land Andrew Bogut in 2012, they nearly included Curry in the trade, since his ankle issues were a concern at the time. Ultimately, though, the team included Monta Ellis in the deal instead of Curry. Obviously, the entire league would look radically different if the greatest shooter ever played for the Bucks and the modern Golden State dynasty never happened.

 
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Houston Rockets: What if Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming stayed healthy?

Houston Rockets: What if Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming stayed healthy?
Rafael Suanes/Imagn

T-Mac and Yao were an imposing duo during the 2000s. Unfortunately, though, both dealt with regular injury issues, to the point that they never played together consistently. Had they been able though, they could have been a contender in a league otherwise dominated by the Spurs and Lakers.

 
12 of 30

Indiana Pacers: What if the Malice At The Palace never happened?

Indiana Pacers: What if the Malice At The Palace never happened?
Sam Riche/Imagn

The brawl at Auburn Hills overshadows the fact that, at the time, the Pacers were one of the league's best teams, starting the season at 6-2, going into that game. But the incident led to suspensions for key players, most notably Ron Artest, an excellent defender who was averaging over 20 points a game. The Pacers could have been title contenders, but instead, they ended up with a record around .500.

 
13 of 30

Los Angeles Clippers: What if the Donald Sterling audio wasn't released?

Los Angeles Clippers: What if the Donald Sterling audio wasn't released?
Soobum Im/Imagn

After the audio of Sterling, the owner of the Clippers, making racist comments was made public, he was forced to sell the team. Steve Ballmer came in and took charge, transforming the Clippers' fortunes. While Ballmer was stingy with his spending, he wasn't afraid to take big swings in the name of bringing star power and increased success to the Clippers.

 
14 of 30

Los Angeles Lakers: What if the Chris Paul trade wasn't vetoed?

Los Angeles Lakers: What if the Chris Paul trade wasn't vetoed?
Jennifer Stewart/Imagn

The Lakers were prepared to acquire Chris Paul in 2011, but the league, which controlled the Hornets at the time, vetoed the move. Had Paul been able to join Kobe Bryant in LA, the team's championship window would have likely been extended. Instead, Paul went to the Clippers and bounced around with other teams in pursuit of a championship.

 
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Memphis Grizzlies: What if they didn't draft Hasheem Thabeet?

Memphis Grizzlies: What if they didn't draft Hasheem Thabeet?
Brett Davis/Imagn

Memphis had a lot of faith in Thabeet, enough to grab him with the second pick in the 2009 draft. He didn't live up to expectations, though, underwhelming before being out of the NBA in five years. Stars who went after Hasheem in that draft included James Harden, Stephen Curry, and DeMar DeRozan.

 
16 of 30

Miami Heat: What if Chris Bosh didn't have blood clots?

Miami Heat: What if Chris Bosh didn't have blood clots?
Kyle Terada/Imagn

Bosh was the third option during the LeBron and Wade era in Miami, but after LeBron left and as he entered his early 30s, he was still capable of leading a team. But the discovery of blood clots forced him to end his career prematurely. Miami then floundered for a while and ended up landing Jimmy Butler, but who knows if that would have happened with Bosh still around.

 
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Milwaukee Bucks: What if Jabari Parker stayed healthy?

Milwaukee Bucks: What if Jabari Parker stayed healthy?
Benny Sieu/Imagn

Parker was the No. 2 pick in 2014, but unfortunately, injuries kept him from reaching his potential. In the 2017 season, he and Giannis Antetokounmpo were shaping up to be quite the pair, both in their early 20s and averaging over 20 a night. Had Parker been able to stay on the court, perhaps he and Giannis could have been one of the best duos of the era.

 
18 of 30

Minnesota Timberwolves: What if they drafted Stephen Curry?

Minnesota Timberwolves: What if they drafted Stephen Curry?
Cary Edmondson/Imagn

In the 2009 draft, the Timberwolves wanted a point guard. Luckily, they ended up with both the fifth and sixth picks. They got Ricky Rubio at No. 5, and he went on to have a long and productive career, while Jonny Flynn, their No. 6 pick, was out of the league in a few years. Chosen by the Warriors at No. 7 was a kid named Stephen Curry.

 
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New Orleans Pelicans: What if DeMarcus Cousins stayed healthy?

New Orleans Pelicans: What if DeMarcus Cousins stayed healthy?
Jesse Johnson/Imagn

Cousins and Anthony Davis were looking like an imposing double-big duo in 2018, when they both averaged over 25 points and 11 rebounds a night. Cousins, though, went down with an Achilles injury, and his time playing with Davis was short-lived. They also had Jrue Holiday, and those three could have formed a tough-to-beat core.

 
20 of 30

New York Knicks: What if they signed Michael Jordan?

New York Knicks: What if they signed Michael Jordan?
USA TODAY Sports/Imagn

There have been reports that in 1996, MJ was close to leaving the Bulls and joining Patrick Ewing with the Knicks. This would have changed the landscape of the NBA in the '90s and perhaps beyond. Maybe Ewing wins a championship and enjoys a stronger legacy. Maybe Jordan plays for longer instead of retiring in his mid-30s.

 
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Oklahoma City Thunder: What if they kept James Harden?

Oklahoma City Thunder: What if they kept James Harden?
Jennifer Stewart/Imagn

Harden and OKC couldn't agree on a contract extension, so in 2012, he was traded to the Rockets. This broke up the star trio of him, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook. The young Big Three were already title contenders, so who knows how many championships they could have racked up had they stayed together in their primes.

 
22 of 30

Orlando Magic: What if the Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill duo worked out?

Orlando Magic: What if the Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill duo worked out?
RVR Photos/Imagn

After the Shaq and Penny Hardaway era ended in Orlando, there was potential for McGrady and Hill to lead the way into the future. Hill, though, just couldn't stay healthy, so it was mostly McGrady taking charge on his own. Who knows how successful McGrady and Hill could have been as a duo, perhaps one of the best of the era?

 
23 of 30

Philadelphia 76ers: What if they didn't draft Markelle Fultz?

Philadelphia 76ers: What if they didn't draft Markelle Fultz?
Bill Streicher/Imagn

For the 2017 draft, the 76ers traded to get the Celtics' No. 1 pick and used it on Markelle Fultz. They passed on Jayson Tatum, who became one of the league's biggest stars, to do so, while Fultz is one of the bigger busts in recent memory. It actually ended up alright for Philly, though: The Sixers traded Fultz to the Magic for a future draft pick, which turned out to be Tyrese Maxey.

 
24 of 30

Phoenix Suns: What if they had the No. 1 pick in 1969?

Phoenix Suns: What if they had the No. 1 pick in 1969?
Malcolm Emmons/Imagn

The No. 1 pick in the '69 draft was determined by a coin flip between the Bucks and Suns. The prize of the draft was UCLA star Lew Alcindor, and the honor of taking him went to the Bucks, who won the flip. The player later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, of course, went on to be one of the best to ever lace 'em up.

 
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Portland Trail Blazers: What if they didn't draft Greg Oden?

Portland Trail Blazers: What if they didn't draft Greg Oden?
Craig Mitchelldyer/Imagn

Oden had unbelievable potential, it was believed, enough for Portland to use their No. 1 pick on him in 2007. Tragically, injuries derailed his career, and he was only a fraction of the player people thought he could be. Meanwhile, that draft's second pick, Kevin Durant, is one of the best players ever, and he in Portland would have changed the look of the NBA.

 
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Sacramento Kings: What if the 2002 officiating controversy never happened?

Sacramento Kings: What if the 2002 officiating controversy never happened?
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty

The Kings were one of the league's hottest teams in 2002, and they made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals. That series against the Lakers, though, was drenched in controversy, with the officiating seemingly favoring LA. Had Sacramento made the Finals and secured a championship, though, perhaps they could have been a long-term contender and avoided years of mediocrity that followed.

 
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San Antonio Spurs: What if they never drafted Tim Duncan?

San Antonio Spurs: What if they never drafted Tim Duncan?
Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn

The Spurs only had the third-best odds to win the draft lottery in 1997, but they came out ahead anyway and picked Tim Duncan. TD of course made the Spurs one of the most consistently great teams of the 2000s. Had the Spurs fell to third in that draft, though, perhaps they end up with a star like Chauncey Billups or Tracy McGrady, or they make a pick that doesn't work out.

 
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Toronto Raptors: What if Kawhi Leonard stayed?

Toronto Raptors: What if Kawhi Leonard stayed?
John E. Sokolowski/Imagn

Kawhi spent only one year in Toronto, but what a year it was. There was that iconic game- and series-winning shot against the 76ers, then they went on to win a championship. Still, Leonard wanted out, but maybe Toronto would become a new franchise if he weren't so intent on going to California.

 
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Utah Jazz: What if Michael Jordan didn't come out of retirement?

Utah Jazz: What if Michael Jordan didn't come out of retirement?
USA TODAY Sports/Imagn

The Jazz were one of the most dominant teams of the '90s. Unfortunately, they faced Michael Jordan's Bulls in the Finals in back-to-back seasons, in '97 and '98. Had Jordan stuck to his baseball career, though, maybe Utah secures a title, or even two, and forever bolsters John Stockton and Karl Malone's legacies.

 
30 of 30

Washington Wizards: What if they didn't draft Jan Veselý?

Washington Wizards: What if they didn't draft Jan Veselý?
Kim Klement/Imagn

Both Kawhi Leonard and Klay Thompson were on the Wizards' radar ahead of the 2011 draft. With the No. 6 pick, though, they went with Jan Veselý. Veselý played in the league for three uneventful seasons before being released by the NBA. Klay and Kawhi, meanwhile, are two of the more impactful players of their generation.

Derrick Rossignol

Derrick Rossignol has written about music, sports, video games, pop culture, technology, and other topics for publications like The Boston Globe, The Guardian, Nintendo Life, The AV Club, and more. He also takes photos and does some other stuff. 

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