Note: This is a new, updated version of ESPN's Future Power Rankings of NBA teams. The previous edition ran on Dec. 15, 2009, and the first edition launched on Nov. 10, 2009.
Consider this a convenient way to see in what direction your favorite team is headed.
Each of the NBA's 30 teams received an overall Future Power Rating of 0 to 1,000 based on how well we expected each team to perform in the three seasons after 2009-10.
To determine the Future Power Rating, we rated each team in five categories. (See table at right.)
As you can see, we determined that the most important category was a team's current players and the future potential of those players. That category accounted for 40 percent of each team's overall Future Power Rating.
At the same time, we looked at many other factors, such as management, ownership, coaching, a team's spending habits, its cap situation, the reputation of the city and the franchise, and what kind of draft picks we expected the team to have in the future.
To reach our ratings in each category, we talked to teams to get a handle on their future strategies, we looked at their contractual commitments and we carefully broke down each roster to figure out which players would improve, which would decline and which likely would depart.
These rankings will evolve as the season moves along, transactions are made, injuries occur, strategies shift and so on. Return from time to time as we update the rankings.
Here are our current rankings, from 1 to 30:
Future Power Rankings:
"http://insider.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=FuturePowerRankings-1-100302">1-5 |
"http://insider.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=FuturePowerRankings-2-100302">6-10 |
"http://insider.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=FuturePowerRankings-3-100302">11-15 |
"http://insider.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=FuturePowerRankings-4-100302">16-20 |
"http://insider.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=FuturePowerRankings-5-100302">21-25 |
"http://insider.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=FuturePowerRankings-6-100302">26-30
6. Utah Jazz | Future Power Rating: 585
Utah has been excellent lately and remains one of the league's most underrated teams for both the present and the future.
The Jazz hold the Knicks' first-round pick, which is shaping up as a top-six pick in a solid draft. By adding another young core player to the likes of All-Star point guard Deron Williams and Paul Millsap, both 25, and some other promising young players, Utah has reason for optimism.
The team also is likely to have a power forward asset in the summer. Carlos Boozer will be an unrestricted free agent, and both he and the Jazz will explore opportunities to move him in a sign-and-trade. Or if the Jazz decide to keep Boozer, they can trade Millsap.
(Previous rank: 5)
7. Denver Nuggets | Future Power Rating: 577
On the court, we like the Nuggets more than ever -- they're sixth in the players category in our latest rankings, as Chauncey Billups continues to defy the laws of aging and Arron Afflalo has provided a defensive complement to the offensive explosiveness of J.R. Smith. Meanwhile, Carmelo Anthony is an MVP candidate, and Nene remains one of the league's most underrated centers. Throw in a sharp -- although oddly structured and occasionally dysfunctional -- management team consisting of Mark Warkentien, Rex Chapman and Bret Bearup, and Denver should be a major force going forward.
Unfortunately, money issues prevent Denver from ranking higher. Owner Stan Kroenke has been reluctant to go any deeper into the luxury tax for the current team, preventing the Nuggets from acquiring the added size that they'd likely need to get past the Lakers in the Western Conference playoffs. With Denver already projected to be over next season's luxury-tax line with just five players, financial issues are likely to paralyze future transactions as well.
(Previous rank: 9)
8. Cleveland Cavaliers | Future Power Rating: 574
The Cavaliers made a major move at the trade deadline, bringing in Antawn Jamison for essentially nothing, but didn't budge in our rankings. Why?
Although the trade probably improved Cleveland's title hopes this season, the Cavs have done very little to build for the future other than try to encourage LeBron James to stay. Their most recent big acquisitions, Jamison and Shaquille O'Neal, are 33 and 37 (almost 38), respectively, and aren't likely to be part of the long-term solution in Cleveland.
Still, if James decides to stay, the Cavs will remain a force. But if he decides to leave, the Cavs could suddenly find themselves at the bottom of the barrel with the Wizards and Bobcats. We continue to believe he's more likely to stay than to leave, so that's how the team ended up eighth in the rankings. But that is far from a foregone conclusion.
Our rankings provide a bit of a road map should LeBron decide to look around. If he wants to join an organization on the rise, Oklahoma City and Chicago are especially good options. Of course, if he's considering the market itself, New York is in the picture, as we all know, and it might be able to add another star to play alongside LeBron in 2010 and yet another in 2011. And Miami might be appealing for a variety of reasons.
But if James returns, Cleveland will still have the league's best player and a bright future.
(Previous rank: 8)
9. Chicago Bulls | Future Power Rating: 573
Last time around, Chicago slid four spots in our rankings from No. 7 to No. 11. In this edition of the Future Power Rankings, the Bulls are back in the top 10, thanks to some savvy moves at the trade deadline that will allow them to chase a superstar in the summer -- Chicago native Dwyane Wade, Raptors forward Chris Bosh or perhaps even LeBron James.
By getting further under the salary cap, the Bulls moved up to No. 3 in the Money category, and Chicago remains a top market (No. 7 in that category). And with a nice young core of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng, the Bulls are also in the top 10 in the Players category.
Of course, if the Bulls are able to use those factors in their favor and acquire a top free agent, they'll rocket even farther up the overall rankings.
One sour note: The Bulls gave up on Tyrus Thomas, whom they used the No. 2 pick in 2006 (LaMarcus Aldridge) to obtain. Thomas was inconsistent and difficult, but he still has enormous promise. If he develops his game in Charlotte, it will sting. Still, the Bulls got a future draft pick from the Bobcats in the deal, so it might work out.
(Previous rank: 11)
10. Houston Rockets | Future Power Rating: 567
Even though the team has struggled on the court, the Rockets moved up from 13th to 10th in our latest rankings largely because of a clever trade that landed both sharpshooting guard Kevin Martin and at least one first-round pick from the Knicks. Adding Martin improved the ranking of the Rockets' players from 26th to 19th, even though the deal also cost them productive forward Carl Landry. Meanwhile, the picks they got in that deal move the Rockets' draft rating all the way up to fifth -- if the Knicks falter in free agency in the summer, Houston could end up with two very high picks in 2011 and 2012 in addition to their own 2012 pick.
And really, this was to be expected: We already had ranked Houston second in management, and that's where they land once again, as they've checked all the boxes from top to bottom. Owner Les Alexander is willing to spend for a winner, GM Daryl Morey and his stat-savvy team have crafted several smart deals, and coach Rick Adelman remains among the game's best.
The biggest issues going forward are uncertainty about Yao Ming's potential return and a less advantageous salary-cap position.
(Previous rank: 13)
Future Power Rankings:
"http://insider.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=FuturePowerRankings-1-100302">1-5 |
"http://insider.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=FuturePowerRankings-2-100302">6-10 |
"http://insider.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=FuturePowerRankings-3-100302">11-15 |
"http://insider.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=FuturePowerRankings-4-100302">16-20 |
"http://insider.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=FuturePowerRankings-5-100302">21-25 |
"http://insider.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=FuturePowerRankings-6-100302">26-30
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