Future NBA Power Rankings: Which teams have brightest future in three years, and which will be at the bottom image
The NBA can change a lot in three seasons. Consider that back in the 2023-24 season, the Celtics looked like they were at the start of a dynasty built around the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Luka Doncic-led Mavericks were worthy challengers in the Finals. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal led an interesting Suns team in the West, and the Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo had promising returns in their first year together with the Bucks.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Pistons were the worst team in basketball, losing an NBA-record 28 straight games. Victor Wembanyama won Rookie of the Year honors, but the Spurs still looked far away from competing with a 22-60 record.
Three years later, those franchises look completely different. And three years from now, much of the league will flip over again.
We don't know what a lot of the rosters will look like, but we do know where some of the stars and longer-term contracts will probably be. We also know which teams are burning the candle at both ends right now and which are setting themselves up with young players, cap space, and draft picks that should pay off for the 2029-30 season.
Using that information, here's a look at how all 30 teams could be positioned three seasons from now.
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2030 NBA Power Rankings
1. Spurs
Players in: Victor Wembanyama (26), Dylan Harper (23), Stephon Castle (25)
Players out: De'Aaron Fox (32), Tobias Harris (37), Harrison Barnes (37)
Maybes: Devin Vassell (29), Keldon Johnson (30)
Asset grade: A
Victor Wembanyama should be the best player in the league, but he'll be on a deal that pays him over $50 million even after taking less than his maximum salary. With De'Aaron Fox on a massively overpaid $61 million, team building will be tricky. Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper will also have big contracts on the books.
The Spurs are probably going to have to trade Fox in order to pay all of those guys and build out a reasonable team around Wembanyama. It may take assets to do so. Luckily, San Antonio has stockpiled a lot of them.
Having the best player in the league along with those supplementary stars and good role players should guarantee that the Spurs are a top-three team in the NBA.
2. Thunder
Players in: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31), Jalen Williams (28), Chet Holmgren (27), Aday Mara (24), Bennett Stirtz (26)
Players out: Kenrich Williams (35)
Maybes: Isaiah Hartenstein (31), Alex Caruso (35), Cason Wallace (26), Jaylin Williams (27), Thomas Sorber (24), Nikola Topic (24), Jared McCain (25), Ajay Mitchell (27)
Asset grade: A-
The Thunder are already elite. They could be even better by 2029. Their core three of SGA, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren will all be in their prime. And the plethora of young role players on their bench will have gotten better through internal improvement.
There will need to be some tough cuts in future years. The Thunder have already shed Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins to try and keep Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell. They still have a ton of draft picks to continue to trade for useful pieces.
3. Lakers
Players in: Luka Doncic (30), Austin Reaves (31), Walker Kessler (28), Quentin Grimes (29), Sandro Mamukelashvili (30), Cameron Carr (25)
Players out: Kevon Looney (33), Jarred Vanderbilt (30)
Maybes: Collin Sexton (31), Jake LaRavia (28), Bronny James (25)
Asset grade: C-
The Lakers will be riding with most of their current roster for the next three seasons. They don't have a ton of wiggle room due to the trades for Doncic and Kessler that ate up a solid chunk of their future picks.
This should be a very good team though, given that Doncic should continue to be an MVP candidate and the roster fits way better around him now. Reaves has a chance to be an elite No. 2. Kessler's viability as an elite center will determine how far they can go.
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4. Pistons
Players in: Cade Cunningham (28), Jalen Duren (25), Ebuka Okorie (22)
Players out: Duncan Robinson (35)
Maybes: John Collins (32), Isaiah Joe (30), Ausar Thompson (27), Kevin Huerter (31), Ron Holland (24), Paul Reed (30), Daniss Jenkins (28)
Asset grade: B
Duren should be re-signed, and the Cunningham-Duren duo should continue to improve over the next three seasons. Those two will take up over half of the Pistons' cap. Detroit will have to make an interesting decision on whether to prioritize Ausar Thompson, who is a good player but doesn't fit particularly well next to Duren and will impact their cap even further.
Detroit also has all of its picks to make a big trade and will continue to improve through internal development. They're already at the top of the East and will only get better.
5. Wolves
Players in: Anthony Edwards (28), Ayo Dosunmu (30), Joan Beringer (23)
Players out: Rudy Gobert (37)
Maybes: LaMelo Ball (28), Jaden McDaniels (29), Donte DiVincenzo (33), Terrence Shannon Jr. (29)
Asset grade: D-
The Wolves theoretically could pivot away from Edwards, Ball, and McDaniels by 2029. More likely, they will extend all three and roll with that group.
Even with those three, the Wolves could look pretty different. Gobert will have aged out of being a dominant defensive center. Joan Beringer will hopefully be good enough to take his place. Minnesota doesn't have the draft assets to trade for another plus starter at the position. Even with those frontcourt concerns, Edwards will keep them near the top of the West.
6. Knicks
Players in: Mikal Bridges (33), Landry Shamet (32)
Players out: Andre Drummond (36)
Maybes: Jalen Brunson (33), Karl-Anthony Towns (34), OG Anunoby (32), Josh Hart (34)
Asset grade: D
Owner James Dolan has already shown that money will be a constraining factor for the Knicks after letting important reserve Mitchell Robinson go due to apron concerns. That could lead to more hard cuts down the line, as the Knicks are set to become more expensive and older over the next three years.
Brunson is due for a new contract in the summer of 2029. He should be extended before then, and he may not take as large of a pay cut this time. Towns, Anunoby, and Hart will also need new deals.
Brunson should obviously be prioritized among that group. He will still be a good player at age 33, but small guards tend to decline rapidly around that time. New York will be a good team, but it may be on their its legs as a contender.
7. Pacers
Players in: Tyrese Haliburton (29)
Players out: TJ McConnell (37)
Maybes: Pascal Siakam (35), Ivica Zubac (32), Andrew Nembhard (30), Obi Toppin (31), Aaron Nesmith (30), Kelly Oubre (34)
Asset grade: C+
The Pacers have a totally clear cap sheet in 2029. They'll almost certainly extend Haliburton and could extend Siakam and Zubac if they determine that their core is worth keeping together. That gives them the optionality to pivot and build a new team around Haliburton if needed.
With a top 10 player on the roster in a prime Haliburton and one of the premier coaches in the league in Rick Carlisle, Indiana should be near the top of the East with whatever direction they pick.
8. Hawks
Players in: Jalen Johnson (28), Dyson Daniels (26), Kingston Flemings (23), Zuby Ejiofor (25), Asa Newell (24), Henri Veesaar (25)
Players out: CJ McCollum (38)
Maybes: Lu Dort (30), Onyeka Okongwu (29), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (31)
Asset grade: B
The Hawks will be led by a 28-year-old Jalen Johnson on one of the most team-friendly deals in the league, making just $30 million while contributing All-Star production.
They have the tools to build a great team around Johnson. They're in a strong cap and asset position that could have them trading, drafting, or signing another star. Next summer, they will have almost $40 million to add a big free agent signing.
9. Jazz
Players in: Darryn Peterson (23), Jaren Jackson Jr (30), Keyonte George (26)
Players out: Jusuf Nurkic (35)
Maybes: Lauri Markkanen (32), Ace Bailey (23), Cody Williams (25), Brice Sensabaugh (26)
Asset grade: A
The Jazz may be coming off a 22-win season right now, but they have a chance to be pretty good in 2029. Darryn Peterson will still be on his rookie deal, Lauri Markkanen and Ace Bailey could be on or off the team depending on if they are extended, and Jaren Jackson Jr. will be around to help keep the team respectable on defense. Keyonte George looks like a star in the making. And this team is loaded with future picks to swing a big trade.
10. Mavericks
Players in: Cooper Flagg (23), Dereck Lively (25), Morez Johnson (24), Sergio de Larrea (24), PJ Washington (31), Naji Marshall (32)
Players out: Kyrie Irving (37), Klay Thompson (39)
Maybes: Zaccharie Risacher (24), Daniel Gafford (31), Santi Aldama (29), Max Christie (26)
Asset grade: C-
Flagg should be an All-NBA player by 2029. Masai Ujiri should have a relatively easy job building around such a versatile star. Dallas will have to acquire a lead point guard via free agency or trade, or hope that Sergio de Larrea is the steal of the 2026 draft. Help isn't coming in the draft for the Mavs though. They don't control their first-round pick through 2031. And an unprotected 2029 Lakers pick will probably be in the back half of the draft.
11. Celtics
Players in: Jayson Tatum (31), Hugo Gonzalez (23), Neemias Queta (30), Jordan Walsh (25), Chris Cenac (23)
Players out: Paul George (39)
Maybes: Derrick White (35), Payton Pritchard (32), Mitchell Robinson (31), Ron Harper Jr. (29)
Asset grade: B+
How good the Celtics are depends on how much Tatum still has left in the tank at age 31 and post-Achilles tear. He will be making a massive $71.4 million, eating up 37 percent of their cap. He should still be an All-Star, but Boston will need to make the right moves to build around him.
The Celtics should have the willingness to spend after ducking the luxury tax for several years. They'll have a first-round pick in every draft, including a juicy one in 2028 from the Clippers or Sixers.
12. Nuggets
Players in: Nikola Jokic (34), Christian Braun (28)
Players out: None
Maybes: Jamal Murray (32), Aaron Gordon (34), Cam Johnson (33), Spencer Jones (28)
Asset grade: D+
The Nuggets will look a lot like the Bucks during the end of the Giannis era. Jokic's skill-based game should still have him as a top 10 player at age 34. There isn't much else on this team though, and they're in a rough financial and draft pick situation that prevents much improvement. They're only getting older and worse over these next three years.
13. Rockets
Players in: Alperen Sengun (27), Jabari Smith (26), Tari Eason (28), Amen Thompson (27)
Players out: Kevin Durant (41), Steven Adams (36), Marcus Smart (35)
Maybes: Fred VanVleet (35), Reed Sheppard (25)
Asset grade: B+
Houston will need to find or develop a new closer with Kevin Durant likely retired. They will still have great depth though, retaining most of their current starting lineup in their primes. That includes two potential All-Stars in Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.
The Rockets also have the assets to trade for a star, with two surplus first-round picks and some nice swaps to work with.
14. Sixers
Players in: Tyrese Maxey (29), VJ Edgecombe (24), Dean Wade (33), Labaron Philon (24)
Players out: LeBron James (45), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (36)
Maybes: Joel Embiid (36), Jaylen Brown (33), Anfernee Simons (30)
Asset grade: C
Joel Embiid might be gone and LeBron James will almost certainly be gone in three years. VJ Edgecombe will in all likelihood be re-signed as a restricted free agent, and Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey will likely be extended.
That will give the Sixers a core trio of Brown, Maxey, and Edgecombe while removing the most onerous salary in Embiid from their books. Brown and Edgecombe could be All-Stars, and Maxey should be an All-NBA guard. That is a great core, but also an expensive one. Philadelphia needs to draft well to fill out the rest of its roster.
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15. Magic
Players in: Franz Wagner (28), Paolo Banchero (27), Jalen Suggs (28)
Players out: Nikola Vucevic (39)
Maybes: Desmond Bane (31), Wendell Carter (30), Anthony Black (26), Goga Bitadze (30), Tristan Da Silva (28)
Asset grade: C
Wagner and Banchero are still under guaranteed contracts through 2030. If those two can show this season that the pairing can work under a new coach, then they should still be together by 2030. If not, one of them can be moved for good value. Jalen Suggs is also signed long-term, giving the Magic the same core as today.
The Magic are still going to have to fill out the shooting concerns around those three. There's high-end talent, and they have three more years to figure out how to better use those pieces.
16. Grizzlies
Players in: Cameron Boozer (22), Zach Edey (27), Cedric Coward (26), Karim Lopez (22)
Players out: Jerami Grant (35)
Maybes: Isaiah Stewart (28), Ty Jerome (32), Quinten Post (29), Scotty Pippen Jr. (29), Jaylen Wells (26), Walter Clayton Jr. (26)
Asset grade: A-
The Grizzlies will continue to have great depth and young talent. Boozer could develop into an All-NBA player by 2029. They'll have several quality starters on the roster to build around him. They also have a ton of future picks and significant cap space in 2027 to keep on adding.
17. Raptors
Players in: Scottie Barnes (28), Jakob Poeltl (34), Collin Murray-Boyles (24), Allen Graves (23)
Players out: Kawhi Leonard (38), Kyle Anderson (36)
Maybes: Immanuel Quickley (30), RJ Barrett (29), Jamal Shead (27)
Asset grade: C-
Kawhi Leonard may be gone, but the Raptors are poised to stay afloat after he ages out of the league. Scottie Barnes is already a top 20 player and is continuing to improve on both ends of the floor. He could easily be an All-NBA talent by 2029. Collin Murray-Boyles looks like a draft hit, and those two should keep the Raptors strong on the defensive end of the floor.
The biggest cap on Toronto's ceiling is Jakob Poeltl, who will be an anchor on the team's salary sheet. He will make $27 million as a 34-year-old center with back issues.
18. Hornets
Players in: Brandon Miller (27), Kon Knueppel (24), Hannes Steinbach (23), Christian Anderson (23)
Players out: Royce O'Neale (36)
Maybes: Naz Reid (30), Coby White (29), Grant Williams (31), Tidjane Saluan (24), Moussa Diabate (28), Ryan Kalkbrenner (28), Sion James (27)
Asset grade: A+
Miller and Knueppel are a great young duo that works well together. The Hornets will need to find a new point guard to replace LaMelo Ball, along with a high-end starting center if Steinbach can't develop into that guy. They have a ton of bites at the apple with their draft pick stash.
This core is still young enough that they won't be competing by 2029, but they'll be a frisky playoff team with a ton of upside.
19. Cavs
Players in: Donovan Mitchell (33), Evan Mobley (28), Jarrett Allen (31), Peyton Watson (26)
Players out: James Harden (39)
Maybes: Sam Merrill (33), Jaylon Tyson (27), Craig Porter Jr. (29), Meleek Thomas (23)
Asset grade: D
It could start getting ugly for the Cavs. They will have $71 million committed to an aging Mitchell, who will still be good but will have lost a few steps athletically. They don't have control of their draft picks through 2029 and are an expensive team with few avenues to improve.
Mitchell, Mobley, Allen, and Watson will keep them respectable. But the high-end upside isn't there unless the chemistry gets drastically better with Watson.
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20. Bulls
Players in: Caleb Wilson (23), Matas Buzelis (25), Dailyn Swain (24)
Players out: Norman Powell (36)
Maybes: Josh Giddey (27), Nic Claxton (30), Noa Essengue (23), Jalen Smith (29), Rob Dillingham (25), Leonard Miller (26)
Asset grade: B
The Bulls very likely could have a completely new roster build around Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis by 2029. Lead decision-maker Bryson Graham has few ties to any of the current players. Those two will still be young enough that Chicago won't be great, but they could be an exciting low-end playoff team.
The changes will start next summer, when the Bulls are projected to have over $50 million in cap space in 2027. They should also have lottery picks over the next three drafts to keep on adding.
21. Nets
Players in: Mikel Brown Jr. (23), Egor Demin (23), Nolan Traore (23), Drake Powell (24), Ben Saraf (23), Joshua Jefferson (26), Danny Wolf (25)
Players out: Julius Randle (35)
Maybes: Michael Porter Jr. (31), Day'Ron Sharpe (28)
Asset grade: A+
The Nets have one of the best asset situations in the league. They have five surplus first-round picks to work with, some of which have immense value. That gives them the means to accelerate their rebuild if they want to.
They will probably still be a few years away from pulling that lever. They still won't be in contention by 2029, but they should be on their way up as a playoff hopeful and have at least one point guard in the future between Brown, Demin and Traore
22. Clippers
Players in: Keaton Wagler (23)
Players out: Brook Lopez (41), Bradley Beal (36)
Maybes: Darius Garland (30), Brandon Ingram (32), Max Strus (33), Rui Hachimura (31), Yanic Niederhauser (26), Baba Miller (25), Gradey Dick (26)
Asset grade: B
The Clippers will be a different team from the one we see now. Keaton Wagler and Darius Garland could perhaps still be a core duo if they choose to retain Garland. Beyond that, they'll reshape the roster through free agency in 2027, where they'll have a ton of cap space, and through the draft where they have picks in 2027 and 2029.
23. Trail Blazers
Players in: Shaedon Sharpe (26), Toumani Camara (29), Donovan Clingan (25)
Players out: Jrue Holiday (39), Damian Lillard (39)
Maybes: Deni Avdija (29), Ja Morant (30), Robert Williams III (32), Scoot Henderson (25), Yang Hansen (24)
Asset grade: A-
The Blazers are one of the teams with the haziest future three years from now. They're at legitimate risk to lose Deni Avdija, who is highly unlikely to take an extension before his contract is up in 2028 due to cap rules. There will be competition for him in free agency.
Portland will also have a chance to pivot off the Ja Morant experiment if it ends up flopping. Two other point guards, Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, will naturally age out. This year will be a big one for Scoot Henderson, who will be a restricted free agent and could be gone too.
Portland also has a ton of flexibility due to the picks that they've been acquiring over recent years. Swaps with the Bucks in 2028 and 2029 could be very juicy.
A'ja Wilson and Bam Adebayo get cute and cuddly at the Heat-Bulls game
24. Heat
Players in: Giannis Antetokounmpo (35), Bam Adebayo (32), Nikola Jovic (26)
Players out: Tim Hardaway Jr. (37)
Maybes: Andrew Wiggins (34), Bobby Portis (34), Davion Mitchell (31), Pelle Larsson (28)
Asset grade: D
Giannis should still be on the Heat if he signs an extension as is widely expected. Adebayo should also extend before the completion of his deal. Those two will make a ton of money, and Giannis probably won't be worth it by the time he's 35. As a player who is so dependent on his athleticism, he's at risk of declining rapidly in his mid-30's.
The Heat don't have avenues to add high-end talent alongside those two. They owe a pick to the Hornets that will convey over the next two years, and they don't project to have cap space any time soon.
25. Wizards
Players in: Trae Young (31), AJ Dybantsa (23)
Players out: Khris Middleton (38)
Maybes: Anthony Davis (36), Alex Sarr (24), Bilal Coulibaly (25), Tre Johnson (23), Bub Carrington (24), Will Riley (23), Kyshawn George (26)
Asset grade: A
AJ Dybantsa will be one of the best players under 24. The Wizards will have a ton of young guys alongside him, some of whom they won't be able to pay. That's particularly true if they extend Anthony Davis this season, which is part of why that move would be a mistake.
Some of those prospects will hit, which gives them complementary pieces to put around Trae Young and Dybantsa. Young will be massively overpaid, but his passing acumen isn't going away at age 31.
The Wizards do have plenty of surplus draft picks that they could use to offload Young's deal if needed. They also have a pick swap in 2028 and another good incoming 2029 pick with swap rights.
26. Suns
Players in: Devin Booker (33), Dillon Brooks (34), Collin Gillespie (30), Koa Peat (23)
Players out: None
Maybes: Miles Bridges (31), Jalen Green (27), Mark Williams (28), Khaman Maluach (23), Ryan Dunn (27), Oso Ighodaro (27)
Asset grade: D+
Devin Booker will still be solid at age 33. But with a $68.8 million salary, he'll be one of the league's most overpaid players. That, along with the absence of a star talent in the pipeline and several future draft picks traded away, have the Suns on track to be a middling-to-bad team three years from now.
The good news: Phoenix still has some decent bets with Koa Peat and Khaman Maluach who could turn into quality starters.
27. Kings
Players in: Darius Acuff (23), Keegan Murray (29), Alex Karaban (27), Maxime Raynaud (26)
Players out: Zach LaVine (34)
Maybes: Domantas Sabonis (33), De'Andre Hunter (32), Malik Monk (31)
Asset grade: B
The Kings will go as far as Darius Acuff takes them. If he can develop into a top 10 offensive talent, then Sacramento should have a clean slate by 2029 to build around him. Domantas Sabonis will be off the books or signed to a much cheaper deal, and the Kings will be rid of the other bad deals that have been weighing them down.
Sacramento also has all of their own picks in 2027, 2028, and 2029 which project to be in the lottery. They still won't be great, but they have a chance to put together a very promising group of talented young players.
28. Warriors
Players in: Yaxel Lendeborg (27), Brandin Podziemski (26)
Players out: Stephen Curry (41), Jimmy Butler (40), Draymond Green (39), Kristaps Porzingis (34), Al Horford (43)
Maybes: Moses Moody (27)
Asset grade: C-
The Warriors see the writing on the wall. The Curry era will be over by 2029. They've held onto their first-round picks over the next three seasons in order to try and retool on the fly. They may have a lottery pick, but it will be difficult to draft a star in weak 2027 and 2028 drafts. They're going to be in the very early stages of a rebuild and probably one of the worst teams in the league.
29. Bucks
Players in: Brayden Burries (24), Nate Ament (23), AJ Green (30), Gary Trent Jr. (31), Jaime Jaquez (28), Kasparas Jakucionis (23)
Players out: Kyle Kuzma (34), Caris LeVert (35)
Maybes: Tyler Herro (30), Kevin Porter Jr. (29), Ryan Rollins (27)
Asset grade: D+
The Bucks have some decent young prospects in Burries, Ament, Jaquez, and Jakucionis. None of them are good enough to build a team around. They will have some cap space to work with in 2027, but they will also have a huge portion of dead cap due to Damian Lillard's stretch-and-waive and Gary Trent's bizarre contract.
The Bucks will need a few years to unwind all of the resources they spent during the Giannis era. They can't improve through the draft until 2030 as well.
30. Pelicans
Players in: Jeremiah Fears (23), Derik Queen (25)
Players out: Jordan Poole (30), DeAndre Jordan (41)
Maybes: Zion Williamson (29), Dejounte Murray (33), Herb Jones (31), Trey Murphy (29), Yves Missi (25)
Asset grade: B
The Pelicans will likely be a completely different team by 2029. Zion Williamson is set to be a free agent in 2028 and could very well be gone. So could Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray, and Trey Murphy at this year's trade deadline if things continue to go sideways.
The new face of the Pelicans would be Joe Dumars' hand-selected duo of Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears. Both had inconsistent rookie years but showed talent.
There's no clear plan to get better by 2029 aside from hoping for draft luck. They should have a great pick in 2027 due to swap rights with the Bucks.