http://espn.go.com/nba/insider/stor...uture-power-rankings-kevin-pelton-chad-ford#2 Specific category rankings: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...ratings-players-management-money-market-draft Our management ranks very highly. Tied for 5th in the league. All this is another tool for us to present in FA. But still, it's really hard to do these rankings quantitatively.
Here's how the rankings came out: 1. Golden State Warriors 2. Cleveland Cavaliers 3. Boston Celtics 4. San Antonio Spurs 5. Oklahoma City Thunder 6. Miami Heat 7. Utah Jazz 8. Portland Trail Blazers 9. Minnesota Timberwolves 10. Los Angeles Clippers 11. Houston Rockets 12. Washington Wizards 13. Orlando Magic 14. Indiana Pacers 15. Atlanta Hawks 16. Chicago Bulls 17. Toronto Raptors 18. New Orleans Pelicans 19. Philadelphia 76ers 20. Denver Nuggets 21. Detroit Pistons 22. Dallas Mavericks 23. Charlotte Hornets 24. Los Angeles Lakers 25. Milwaukee Bucks 26. Memphis Grizzlies 27. Phoenix Suns 28. New York Knicks 29. Sacramento Kings 30. Brooklyn Nets Amazing to see LA and NY (and BK) this low.
I read these rankings each year and each year I'm still left scratching my head. 1) Why not do this after free agency? There's no way Miami is No. 6 if Whiteside leaves and Bosh has to retire. OKC drops into the 20's if KD leaves as well. 2) Utah in the Top 10? Wake me up when this team acquires a legitimate All-Star and makes the playoffs with that core 3) San Antonio has no business being that high. Once TD and Manu retire, they're done. Minnesota should also be higher. KAT might be the most valued player in the league right now if you factor in age, contract, and position.
I guess I'm confused by what "future" means exactly. Next year? Five years down the road? The Heat don't have a great future, unless you're talking about the next couple years. They're on the decline. The Spurs have a very murky future. Duncan and Parker and Ginobili are all on their way out in the very near future. It will be up to Kawhi and LMA and I'm not so sure those two can carry on the dynasty.
You expect me to click on the link!?! Never! Seriously though..... how can they think that Miami will "rise in the next three years?" IMO, the Spurs, Thunder, and Heat will all fall in the next three years.
As much as I hate the Clippers......way too low when healthy Toronto? Are they assuming Derozan is leaving?
But this isn't a right now power ranking. This is supposed to be a future ranking, and I'm not so sure the Clippers have a bright future as they're currently constructed.
The Spurs don't have to remain a dynasty to rank fourth--Leonard and Aldridge are still a really nice foundation and their coaching and management is top-notch. I think the Spurs will be a force for the next three years, even if not dominant.
Oh OK. I guess it might be interesting to think about. But things change so quickly I just can't look too far in the future....
I agree that the timing of this list is pretty weird. So many teams are teetering between having a chance at becoming really good or having a star leave and be faced to look at rebuilding. Portland could become really good if Olshey is able to attract one more star to sign here as a FA this summer. If he whiffs, the Blazers could just as easily become a perennial lower playoff tier contender. OKC...if they lose Durant they collapse. Get him to re-sign and they're in the thick of things next season. Miami appears set to fall off the precipice in my humble opinion. Utah? Yeah, they've got a nice core of very good players, but no player who really can be pegged as a superstar. I really like the T-Wolves' roster, but anytime you're dealing with a bunch of young guys who have never made the playoffs, let alone contended, it's a crap shoot as to whether that talent will mesh into a really strong team or not. I get that they've got to write something to keep the clicks coming during the dead time leading into the draft, but this is really premature.
They have a good coach, made the playoffs, have plenty of cap space for Free Agents, and several 1st round picks over the next few years.
They have the Nets picks for the next few years, young talent on thier roster now, good coach, and arguably the best GM in the league.
Toronto should be listed higher. Not sure what makes Indiana better. GM and coach comparisons are not even close. The Raptors beat them this year and have more resources going forward.
Was surprised by that as well. Neil is spending money very smart but it is not a given that we would start being a team that pays heavy luxury taxes again. I think PA probably would though, it just had not made sense lately.
