Every team's longest lasting core

[kucoach7]

I was recently looking at individual records for the Portland Trailblazers and noticing that many of my current players rank quite high. This is mostly because the Blazers individual records are pretty sad, which is mostly because of a lack of continuity on my roster, which is mostly because of lack of winning… You get the picture. I realized that my current core had risen up the rankings because they have actually been around quite a while, which got me thinking. How long have teams been able to keep their cores together. And thus an article was born… I now present a ranking of the longest tenured core (defined as three players playing together for consecutive seasons) for every team.

First place - 8 years - 6 way tie
2007-2014 Atlanta Hawks
Rudy Gay
Joakim Noah
Pau Gasol

This core was very successful by any standard. They made the playoffs every year, won a championship, and made it to another finals. They won over 50 games every year, including winning 60 twice. When the core was first assembled, Pau was in his prime, Gay just entering his prime as a blue/blue, and Noah a lowly yellow green. By the end Pau was and old yellow/yellow, Gay a dominant purple/purple, and Noah a DPOY, playoff MVP blue/blue.

2008-2015 Los Angeles Clippers
Kevin Durant
Delonte West
Roy Hibbert

This crew also won a chip and was runner up for another. They failed to win 50 games one season and even failed to win 40 another and missed the playoffs. Obviously this core was all about the OP Kevin Durant. During this stretch he won MVP and led the league in scoring four times. He was drafted by the Clippers in 2007 and in 2008 West was signed away from the Bulls in RFA and Hibbert was drafted. By the end of the streak, West had declined such that he could no longer be a key cog in an elite core.

1992-1999 Miami Heat
Gary Payton
Adam Keefe
Jim Jackson

This core was compiled with LogPMess took over the Heat in 1992 and drafted Jim Jackson and Keefe. They were not as elite as the first two, as might imagine given that Adam Keefe is included. This core did have two purple/purple players in JJ and the Glove, though and that is worth quite a lot. The Heat won 50 games twice and made the playoffs 6 times in a row. They only made it out of the first round of the playoffs in their final year together, when they lost in the conference finals.

2017-2024 Philadelphia 76ers
Van Grimaldi
Ben Simmons
Markelle Fultz

This trio was drafted by the Sixers in consecutive years from 2015-2017. It may have been the best three year run of draft picks in the league, especially considering they picked up Fultz at pick 9. This team had a Hawkian run by regular season standards, winning 50+ games every year, and hitting 60 once. They did not reach their full potential in the playoffs, though, losing the league finals once, the conference finals twice, and the first round every other year. This team had two purple potential players in Fultz and Grim but they were never purple at the same time.

1996-2003 San Antonio Spurs
Glenn Robinson
Ray Allen
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
2009-2016 San Antonio Spurs
Josh Smith
Russell Westbrook
Jordan Hill

The first core was phenomenal, capping their run with two conference and one league finals appearances. I don’t want to talk about how it came together (this is the second core we’ve talked about in which a key piece was acquired from a certain team from the Pacific Northwest). The second team took it to the next level, however, by winning the league championship. Josh Smith and Russ were just so good for so loooongg. It was incredibly frustrating.

2020-2027 Detroit Pistons
Anthony Davis
Stephen Keitt
James O’Connor

This team has been the league runner-up twice but, good news, they are still together and Keitt and O’Connor are only 29 and 28. This may look like a story of THE OP with two adequate sidekicks but Keitt is an two-time All-star and O’Connor has a chance to be one himself as he takes on more of the scoring load.

Second place - 7 years - 2 way tie
2002-2008 Boston Celtics
Steve Francis
Steven Hunter
Carlos Boozer

The Francis-Hunter-Boozer combo was mostly known for their lack of post-season accolades, usually exiting in the first or second round with one appearance in the league finals. By the end of the run however, TC had decimated Francis and maybe that is why Boozer notoriously fled to Minnesota in free agency the following offseason.

2010-2016 Houston Rockets
Al Horford
Ty Lawson
Lance Stephenson

This Rockets group was always disappointing. Lance, BIg Al, and Lawson were acquired in consecutive years and appeared to have the makings of a promising core. However, they topped out at 45 wins and never made it out of the first round. Lance Stephenson would leave to team up with AD and Al and the Rockets went on to greater heights without him.

Third Place - 6 years - 8 way tie
4 times - Chicago Bulls
99-05: Mike Bibby+Brad Miller+Kobe/Stephen Jackson
09-14: Milsap+Galinari+Harden
19-24: Desanctis+DSJ+Westbrook

Apparently the Bulls team cycles in six year stretches. The first couple of cores were not great. They did win 50 games once under Hugo (anyone remember him?) but they never made it out of the first round and had a couple of bad years. Garbageman’s first core was inherited when they were very young and raw but he let them develop slowly and by the end they won 58 games and made it to the second round of the playoffs. Garbageman traded Harden though and reshuffled the lineup without fully rebuilding, leading up to the next core, which was phenomenal, winning 60 games twice and winning the championship.

4 times - Los Angeles Lakers
06-11: Tony Allen,+Bogut+J.R.Smith
18-25: Lecroix+Damion Williams/Bosworth/James Eills/Briseno

JR, Bogut, and Trick-or-treat Tony Allen were acquired in consecutive years. They looked fierce at times. Bogut and Allen were elite defensive players and All-Stars but JR was relied on to provide a lot of offense and he was really inefficient. In the end they topped off at with a conference finals appearance. That is more than can be said of the Lecroix Lakers teams though. Lecroix won 50 games twice but never made it out of the first round. They were fun to watch though, with three elite scorers in the starting lineup.

1990-1995 New York Knicks
David Robinson
John Starks
Roy Tarpley

Here is a blast from the past, a rare enduring core of the creation draft. This is another OP plus solid supporting guys core. This team was quite successful and for many years was the golden age of the Knicks. They won 60 games and made a couple of conference championships. They also had 4 GMs though this period, so that is pretty, um, impressive.

2004-2009 Phoenix Suns
Udonis Haslem
Andris Biedrins
Matt Bonner

Ew. Just ew. This core actually won a championship in their final year together, although it had little to do with them. It had much more to do with Kyle Korver, Chauncey Billups, Jason Terry, Kevin Love, and J.J. Reddick shooting 32.5 threes a game. In fact, Bonner and Haslem were not even regular rotation players.

2003-2008 Sacramento Kings
Tracy McGrady
Tyson Chandler
Kirk Hinrich
P.s. I think Mitchell, Hield, and Haynes match this streak this season but I’m too lazy to double check.

This was a truly elite trio. Two purple potential players, one of them OP T-Max. Other than the first year, these guys won 60 games every year, peaking at 69 in the year they won the championship. They won 62 games and lost in the league finals their final year together. The following year, Tyson Chandler was traded to the Sixers for three firsts and Tyreke Evans.

1993-1998 Seattle Supersonics
Doug Christie
Tracy Murray
Vin Baker

The Sonics drafted all three of these guys in the 1992 and 1993 drafts. Baker was solid. Christie was awesome. Murray was meh. They only made the playoffs twice and didn’t make it out of the first round either year. The following year Trell would trade Christie to the Celtics for two midround firsts and another first that ended up going back to the Celtics for Michael Dickerson.

3 times - Toronto Raptors
99-04: Michael Finley+Chauncey Billups+Elton Brand
20-26: Edward Adorno+Prozingas+Joffrey/Ironside

The first group here was the greatest Raptors squad ever. Michael Finley was a purple all-league two-way oversized guard. Chauncey was one of the best point guards to ever play in the league and was an elite two-way All-league player in his own right. Brand was also All-league before his TC demise in 2003. They won 60 games three seasons in a row and made the Finals two years in a row, winning in 2001. The second core listed here had Edward Adorno in it, so, yeah, not as good. Joffrey and Bjorn, never achieved much together so the Raptors are now hoping Bjorn and Barrett can get them back to the glory.

2022-2027: Portland Trailblazers
Marvin Bagley III
Frank Jackson
Faustino Garrido

This squad started very raw, with Bagley and Jackson not even playing in their first year together after they were drafted with consecutive picks. Garrido was signed to a four year contract hoping he would get a TC bump and go blue. The bump never came and Bagley’s progress was slow but in the last couple of seasons, this team core has come around. They won 50 games two seasons in a row for the first time in Blazers history and are well on their way to another 50 this year, with all three of these guys having career years (KNOCK ON WOOD, CROSS MY FINGERS, PRAY, ETC.). They’ve yet to progress past the second round but Portland is still optimistic about this group (and Small, Reading, KAT, etc.).

Fourth Place - 5 years - 9 way tie
2007-2011 Cleveland Cavaliers
Chris Paul
Paul Pierce
Marc Gasol

Ah, the heydays of the Cavs. Chris Paul was an elite defender and passer. He was an All-league player but it was somehow never enough. Marc Gasol was only ever good. Paul Pierce was only in his prime for the beginning of this stretch. Alas, 42PhD’s master plan didn’t work out quite as well as he hoped and but they did win 50 games the last three years of this core (although the never made it past the second round) and 42 wasn’t around to see it. Never forget 42.

2001-2005 Dallas Mavericks
Antawn Jamison
Andre Miller
Marcus Camby

This was nice core that made it all the way to the league finals their first year together. They won 50 a couple of years and even 60 their last year. In retrospect, fearthebrow did really well to put together this core early in his tenure and to have it do so well for so long. Unfortunately FTB was never really able to recapture that magic. Antawn Jamison did go on to have a Hall of Fame career though so I guess that turned out well.

2023-2027 Denver Nuggets
Jeff Duren
Otto Porter Jr.
Jerry West

We all know the story of these guys. The summer of 2022, the Nuggets had one of the greatest offseasons ever. They landed MVP Jeff Duren in a free agency miracle and got the elite Jerry West with the second pick in the draft. In February of the following season, they would trade for OPJ and unite a trio that would go on to win back to back championships. They won over 60 each of their first three seasons together and topped off at an amazing 74 last year before losing to the eventual champion Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. With West's broken leg, The Syndicate's impending resignation, the Nuggets tax situation, and OPJ being 34 years old, how this core's run will end is highly uncertain.

2010-2014 Golden State Warriors
DeAndre Jordan
Stephen Curry
Anthony Morrow

Another championship squad on the list. This one could have been much better if Bow had insured Curry. The combo of Jordan and Curry alone is a great start. Then add in another shooter like Morrow and it was the Sim League Splash Brothers. The year the won the chip they also had sharp shooters Hollis Jefferson, Steve Novak, Ryan Anderson, and Aaron Afflalo. They made 41% of 33 3’s a game. It was a devastating attack. Other than the championship year, though, they were solid but not amazing. A couple of 50 win years. A couple of second round appearances.

2005-2009 Indiana Pacers
Deron Williams
Luther Head
Rasual Butler

Deron Williams was THE Pacer and I guess Luther Head and Rasual Butler were his most common running mates. This group didn’t manage much, however. They only topped 40 wins once and never made the playoffs. D-Will would not make the playoffs until but Head and Butler had moved on a few years later.

1991-1995 Memphis Grizzlies
Brad Daugherty
Mahmoud Abdul Rauf
Chris Gatling

When I think of the Grizzlies, I don’t think of the Butler/Kahwi Grizzlies that ruined the franchise, I think of this crew. Gatling and Daugherty were the consummate Grizzlies, gritty two-way bigs. They were both All-league one season. Gatling was an All-defense guy and sixth man of the year. Daugherty was a multi-year All-star. This trio would be the only team in Loco’s tenure to carry the Grizz to the conference finals.

2 times - Minnesota Timberwolves
94-98: Robot Pack+C-Webb+Grant Hill
14-18:Brook Lopez+OPJ+Wiggins

Again, for us old timers, we probably think of the 90’s T-wolves when we think of Minnesota. C-Webb, the man famously picked before Penny Hardaway, really really good. He was All-defense and All-league. Grant Hill was All-league. Robot Pack was an All-defense All-star. Yet for all those accolades they won 50 games a couple times and never made it out of the second round. The Wiggins/OPJ/Brookie of the Year combo would fair much better, winning 50 games three years in a row before winning 63 and making the league finals. The Wiggins/OPJ wing combo was just devastating.

1998-2002 Utah Jazz
Stephon Marbury
Tim Duncan
Bonzi Wells

It is always nice when these cores are iconic. This combo was pinnacle Utah Jazz of the CPrej era. Duncan was a perennial MVP. Bozi Wells was a stud 3 and D guard. And yet. And yet, this squad never made it out of the first round. Duncan wouldn’t advance out of the first round until 2005, by which time he had won 4 MVPs. Bonzi Wells was still around to enjoy that trip to the conference finals.

2001-2005 Washington Wizards
Lamar Odom
Rashard Lewis
Jonathan Bender

You had to know Rashard Lewis was going to be on the Wiz core and Odom was his most common running mate. Lewis was a monster and this particular squad did win 50 games two years in a row before peaking at 63 but they never made it past the second round. Indeed, Rashard Lewis would never make it past the second round in his entire HOF career.

Fifth Place - 4 years - 3 way tie
3 times - Milwaukee Bucks
93-97: Brian Grant+Jalen Rose+Terrell Brandon
02-05: Manu+Amare+Artest
13-16: Kanter+Kyrie+Kevin Seraphin?

I don’t think anyone is surprised to see Dealin’ Doug’s Bucks this far down on the list. I also don’t think anyone is surprised to see Jalen Rose, Amare, and Ron Artest on this list. The Manu/Amare/Artest team would break up after losing in the Finals. The Grant/Rose/Brandon trio would break up after losing in the conference finals. Nothing makes Doug want to blow up his team like success. The Kyrie/Kanter/Kevin Seraphin? Trio never made it out of the second round.

7 times - New Jersey Nets

I’m not typing all this up. Apparently RPF’s strategy is to cycle through cores every 4 years. Guys who show up a lot on this list: Tristan Thompson, Danny Green, Buddy Pedraza, F. Cole Medina, Chris Kaman, Jameer Nelson. Jameer Nelson and Chris Kaman would be part of the only core to make it to the conference finals when they teamed up with T-Max in 2009.

2023-2026 Orlando Magic
Trae Young
Josh Jackson
Boban Marjanovic

False has proven himself a terrific GM. This core was no exception to his generally excellent work. They won 50 games twice and 60 once and made the league finals. I was sad to see Trae Young get traded to break up this trio. The Magic haven’t stood out this year but their young core around JJ and Boban is looking really promising. I’m glad we’re still in different conferences.

Sixth Place - 3 years
2 times: Charlotte Hornets/New Orleans Pelicans
19-21: Hield+Winkler+Pearsall+Lawrence Arbogast
25-27: Jokic+McNary+Darnell Mitchell+Tristan Bosworth (oh, wait, nevermind)

Lol. Well, I don’t think anyone is surprised to see Negotiatin’ Nick Malone here in a league of his own. The interesting thing is that neither of these two cores really did anything. I guess he kept them together too long.

[TheSyndicate]

[Darth Vegito]

Not a single team....interesting indeed

[kucoach7]

Sorry. Not sure how I missed the Nuggets. I'll add you.

[kucoach7]

Not a single team....interesting indeed

I do know how I missed you. I've never updated my code to capture the Bobcats. I'll consider updating the code. No promises here.

[Darth Vegito]

Ryan at least you were missed accidentally. I'm not on there because apparently I have the least amount of patience in the league.

I've had 3 teams and none were on there. It's not you, it's me. Lmao

[kucoach7]

2023-2027 Denver Nuggets
Jeff Duren
Otto Porter Jr.
Jerry West

We all know the story of these guys. The summer of 2022, the Nuggets had one of the greatest offseasons ever. They landed MVP Jeff Duren in a free agency miracle and got the elite Jerry West with the second pick in the draft. In February of the following season, they would trade for OPJ and unite a trio that would go on to win back to back championships. They won over 60 each of their first three seasons together and topped off at an amazing 74 last year before losing to the eventual champion Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. With West's broken leg, The Syndicate's impending resignation, the Nuggets tax situation, and OPJ being 34 years old, how this core's run will end is highly uncertain.

OP updated

[78#]

Really love your articles, this one included.

I had a great run of draft picks starting with Thaddeus Young and then getting Horford, Ty Lawson, Stephenson, Biyombo, Patrick Beverly, and Sean Kilpatrick. But half of those guys were involved in trades.

[IamQuailman]

this article is amazing. Fun fact Manu got swapped for Stephen Jackson and I EVEEEEEEEEEENTUALLY won a ship with Amare+Artest... that was the core

2895 words --> 10pts