ESPN Future Power Rankings

[Smitty77]

Could someone share the list?

Thanks,

Smitty77

[Big333223]

I'd also like to see it.

I saw that the Celtics are #3. Golden State is the only team I can think of that are definitely higher. Maybe Minnesota is the other, with their young core and new coach.

[colincb]

BOS 3rd behind GSW and CLE. Sixers 14th because of Simmons and Embiid and future picks.

BKN 29th, SAC 30th.



3. Boston Celtics

       Rank   Score
Players   5   65
Management   3   90
Money   8   67.5
Market   14   50
Draft   2   95
Overall: 70.6

The Celtics hold steady at No. 3. That's high praise considering the two teams above them have met in the Finals the past two years.

Staying at No. 3 doesn't mean a lack of improvement. The team landed a major free agent in Al Horford, upping its roster ranking significantly from No. 15 to No. 5.

The Celtics continue to have a bounty of picks that places them only behind the 76ers in the draft category. We also continue to be bullish on their management, ranking the Celtics third thanks to one of the best coaches, Brad Stevens, and executives, Danny Ainge.

With so much flexibility to make trades and continue to add to their roster via free agency and the draft, we believe if anyone in the East is going to dislodge the Cavs, it's Boston.

-- Chad Ford

[Smitty77]

BOS 3rd behind GSW and CLE. Sixers 14th because of Simmons and Embiid and future picks.

BKN 29th, SAC 30th.



3. Boston Celtics

       Rank   Score
Players   5   65
Management   3   90
Money   8   67.5
Market   14   50
Draft   2   95
Overall: 70.6

The Celtics hold steady at No. 3. That's high praise considering the two teams above them have met in the Finals the past two years.

Staying at No. 3 doesn't mean a lack of improvement. The team landed a major free agent in Al Horford, upping its roster ranking significantly from No. 15 to No. 5.

The Celtics continue to have a bounty of picks that places them only behind the 76ers in the draft category. We also continue to be bullish on their management, ranking the Celtics third thanks to one of the best coaches, Brad Stevens, and executives, Danny Ainge.

With so much flexibility to make trades and continue to add to their roster via free agency and the draft, we believe if anyone in the East is going to dislodge the Cavs, it's Boston.

-- Chad Ford

Where are the Charlotte Hornets?

Smitty77

[Big333223]

BOS 3rd behind GSW and CLE. Sixers 14th because of Simmons and Embiid and future picks.

I'm a little surprised by Cleveland. Obviously they're the champs and Irving probably has his best basketball ahead of him, but Lebron is going to turn 32 this season. Does anyone think that when he slips that team is going to compete for titles?

[jpotter33]

BOS 3rd behind GSW and CLE. Sixers 14th because of Simmons and Embiid and future picks.

I'm a little surprised by Cleveland. Obviously they're the champs and Irving probably has his best basketball ahead of him, but Lebron is going to turn 32 this season. Does anyone think that when he slips that team is going to compete for titles?

I was confused by that as well. Seems to be a very subjective analysis of everything. But, I think it's based on only the next three seasons, so that's not too far out there I guess.

[tazzmaniac]

How far into the future does this project? 

Who were the two teams ahead of us in management?  Spurs and GSW?

[alldaboston]

How far into the future does this project? 

Who were the two teams ahead of us in management?  Spurs and GSW?

cleveland and golden state were ahead of us

[tazzmaniac]

How far into the future does this project? 

Who were the two teams ahead of us in management?  Spurs and GSW?

cleveland and golden state were ahead of us

Cleveland ahead of us overall I can understand.  Cleveland ahead of us in management makes no sense. 

[MJohnnyboy]

How far into the future does this project? 

Who were the two teams ahead of us in management?  Spurs and GSW?

cleveland and golden state were ahead of us

Cleveland ahead of us overall I can understand.  Cleveland ahead of us in management makes no sense.

Seriously. They had one of the absolute worst managements in the league until Lebron came back and fixed everything single-handedly.

[bdm860]

How far into the future does this project? 

Who were the two teams ahead of us in management?  Spurs and GSW?

cleveland and golden state were ahead of us

Cleveland ahead of us overall I can understand.  Cleveland ahead of us in management makes no sense.

Seriously. They had one of the absolute worst managements in the league until Lebron came back and fixed everything single-handedly.

Don't believe everything you read 

I believe there's been a misunderstanding.  Cavs are 2nd overall, not 2nd in management.  Cavs actually ranked 11th in management.

And of course what's carrying the Cavs is the almighty LeBron.  "Players" is by far the largest weight, about triple the value of the next closest metric, and is based on: "current players and their potential for the future, factoring in expected departures"  So I have to imagine the "current" LeBron is carrying the team in these rankings just like in real life (and having Love, Irving, and Thompson all signed through 2020 probably doesn't hurt either).

[LarBrd33]

So the concept of this list is how teams are expected to play over the next 3 years.

That's an important distinction.  I assumed they were looking at how teams would look 5-10 years from now or something.

Naturally, Golden State is #1 by a wide wide margin.  Overall score of 84.6 with the second best team (Cavs, obviously) at 72.5.  They correctly say that if the Warriors don't win at least 2 of the next 3 championships, it will be a major major disappointment.

Surprised to see Philly all the way up at #14 considering most expect it will take them at least 3 years to start seeing real signs from their young potential cornerstones. 

Timberwolves at #5 is interesting as well.  That team has probably the brighest "future" of any team outside of Golden State, but you gotta figure it's going to take them a couple more years.   But since this is just looking at who will be the best teams over the next 3 years, 'Sota all the way up at #5 is interesting.

[Moranis]

So the concept of this list is how teams are expected to play over the next 3 years.

That's an important distinction.  I assumed they were looking at how teams would look 5-10 years from now or something.

Naturally, Golden State is #1 by a wide wide margin.  Overall score of 84.6 with the second best team (Cavs, obviously) at 72.5.  They correctly say that if the Warriors don't win at least 2 of the next 3 championships, it will be a major major disappointment.

Surprised to see Philly all the way up at #14 considering most expect it will take them at least 3 years to start seeing real signs from their young potential cornerstones. 

Timberwolves at #5 is interesting as well.  That team has probably the brighest "future" of any team outside of Golden State, but you gotta figure it's going to take them a couple more years.   But since this is just looking at who will be the best teams over the next 3 years, 'Sota all the way up at #5 is interesting.

It is the next 3 years, but they do seem more focused on year 3 than this year, which why teams like Minnesota, Utah, and even Philly are as high as they are. 

[Moranis]

BOS 3rd behind GSW and CLE. Sixers 14th because of Simmons and Embiid and future picks.

I'm a little surprised by Cleveland. Obviously they're the champs and Irving probably has his best basketball ahead of him, but Lebron is going to turn 32 this season. Does anyone think that when he slips that team is going to compete for titles?

I was confused by that as well. Seems to be a very subjective analysis of everything. But, I think it's based on only the next three seasons, so that's not too far out there I guess.

It absolutely isn't crazy to have the defending NBA Champions as the #2 team because I would expect Cleveland to easily win the east this year (and they will be the heavy favorites in each of the next 3 seasons without some major changes to the rest of the East).  As much as we like Horford and his signing here, there are legitimate arguments that he would be the 4th best player on the Cavs (yes behind Love as well as James and Irving).  And since players are the real meat of these rankings, the fact that Boston is 3rd is actually quite impressive. 

[Big333223]

BOS 3rd behind GSW and CLE. Sixers 14th because of Simmons and Embiid and future picks.

I'm a little surprised by Cleveland. Obviously they're the champs and Irving probably has his best basketball ahead of him, but Lebron is going to turn 32 this season. Does anyone think that when he slips that team is going to compete for titles?

I was confused by that as well. Seems to be a very subjective analysis of everything. But, I think it's based on only the next three seasons, so that's not too far out there I guess.

I guess 3 years makes some sense. Irving will only be 27. Lebron will be 35 but he's pretty much unparalleled, physically. I can see him putting up 20-5-5 pretty easily beyond that age.