The Clippers hold the top spot in ESPN’s Future Power Rankings, which predicts the best and worst franchises over the next three seasons. While the team has one of the best one-two punches in the NBA with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Los Angeles’ inability to trade a first-rounder may come back to haunt the team, Bobby Marks suggests.
L.A. sent out several first-rounders in the George deal and had just one pick (2020 selection) that was eligible to be included in a trade this season — the franchise used it to acquire Marcus Morris at the deadline.
The Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, and Celtics round out the top-5 in the ESPN’s latest rankings. Here’s more from around the league:
- The Pistons and Cavaliers rank 29th and 30th, respectively, on that aforementioned ESPN’s list. Both franchises lack blue-chip prospects and each has expensive veterans clogging its cap space.
- Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times believes Thaddeus Young will find himself on the trade block this offseason. Young, who inked a deal the Bulls last summer, was the subject of trade rumors earlier in the season.
- NBA agent Mark Bartelstein said he expected the season to get postponed after watching what was going on abroad in February and March, Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic relays. Bartelstein has clients in the Chinese Basketball Association and other international leagues.
Thad Young and Otto Porter for Al Horford, Mike Scott, Zhaire Smith and 2 second round picks.
Porter and Horfords deals are for the same amount basically, Porters is shorter. Bulls would be adding someone to play at centre. Considering Carter Jr and Markeneen both want to be PF plus they gets themselves a couple second round picks. Zhaire Smith is also a nice young pick up as a back up to LaVine. Sixers get back Porter on a shorter expiring deal and Young to add better depth . They can start either Porter or Young with Harris the other starting forward depending on match ups, both are capable shooting from deep and defending. Just getting rid of Horford is a good move
that aint it
Doesn’t exactly make the bulls much stronger. Although Horford is an upgrade, Smith is a good young addition and some picks are nice.
Sixers get rid of a bad and aging contract and bring back better versatility and depth.
Not an amazing deal but makes sense for both teams
Horford isn’t a bad deal, is just not played properly, usually players succeed if the system is right for them, PHI’s system ain’t good for Horford, not his fault, he has proven how good he is, so no, I don’t accept Horford has a bad deal.
He is gonna be 34 in a month. It’s a bad deal.
Horford is basically 34, and he’s getting 28 mil a year for this year and the next 3 years.
He averaged 12/7/4 and is going down hill now.
He’s going to be 37/38 getting 28ish mil and putting up 8/6 in a few years.
Smith will be out of the league when his current deal is up. He’s not an nba player. Was just an average GLeague player this season. You can find players with his skill level and ability in the offseason at any Lifetime Fitness across the country – and they play overseas.
Bit harsh. He’s only 20, he’s also only played in 13 games across two season.
In the g league he but up average numbers but there’s clearly potential
Not being negative about the young man. The reality is that most 20 yr olds in the world have “potential”… doesn’t mean they’re nba players. Smith was fortunate enough to be drafted. He was a Power Forward at Texas Tech! Thinking they could turn that into a legitimate nba 2-guard was a reach they felt comfortable with attempting, but still a reach. It’s hard enough for an outstanding college 2-guard to be a solid nba 2-guard. Smith has ability, it’s just more of a decent level European league ability than an nba one.
Im bulls fan.i think al > opj+young.opj injuried prone.and i think sixers will trade embiid.trade embiid to bulls for wcj+lavine+satoransky+1st round 2021&2022
I way they trade Embiid for that
No way
Horrible trade for the Bulls. Nobody wants Horford’s contract.
Clippers need to keep this team together. No one could have predicted this insane times. Morris can sign long term less money. Harrell will get raise. Harrell escalating contract. Morris deescalating contract. They can also sign another big. A rim protector. This team is ready now. Probably would have won this yr. They will have to be creative fir a couple yrs. Since no first rd picks. But this is a good solid team.
This year was between LAL/MIL no doubt about it, is more I think due to the huge experience difference, LAL would have won this year over MIL in the finals.
LAC to me look like a has been team, their best is behind them, no way forward for them, unless they can get rid of one of their stars, but then that defeats the purpose, right? As I said LAC are done!
warriors will definitely have top 5 in the next few years. lot of young talent, plus vets will be back most likely
I don’t have espn+ but the Cavs should do better than 29-30th. Some of the usual negative points are moot: salary expense for a couple players are fine if they’re the best capspace usage IRL.
Morale is good now, is the key thing– players with overlapping profiles are getting along, the team owns their first outright, and the coach is experienced.
There was a different story last fall.
No!