just curious... thanks

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.
The Future Power Rankings are ESPN Insider's projection of the on-court success expected for each team during the 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.
HOW FUTURE POWER RATING IS DETERMINED

PLAYERS (0 to 400 points): Current players and their potential for the future, factoring in expected departures
MANAGEMENT (0 to 200 points): Quality and stability of front office, ownership, coaching
MONEY (0 to 200 points): Projected salary-cap situation; ability and willingness to exceed cap and pay luxury tax
MARKET (0 to 100 points): Appeal to future acquisitions based on team quality, franchise reputation, city's desirability as a destination, market size, taxes, business and entertainment opportunities, arena quality, fans
DRAFT (0 to 100 points): Future draft picks; draft positioning
CATEGORY RANKINGS: See how each team ranked in each category
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 following this season.
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 would likely 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: 1-5 | 6-10 | 11-15 | 16-20 | 21-25 | 26-30

1. Oklahoma City Thunder | Future Power Rating: 692

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
310 (4th) 161 (3rd) 123 (8th) 37 (21th) 60 (12th)

The Thunder have ascended to the top of the rankings thanks to the continued development of their young core and yet another astute trade. This one filched rookie point guard Eric Maynor from Utah, basically for free, and filled a rotation spot where the Thunder had previously been sorely lacking. Up front, meanwhile, the emergence of shot-blocking forward Serge Ibaka adds another piece to their rapidly expanding talent base.
That base still has only two true stars -- emerging MVP candidate and possible scoring champ Kevin Durant and his steadily improving sidekick Russell Westbrook. Fortunately, everything is in place for the Thunder to surround them with even more talent. General manager Sam Presti has preserved his cap space and hoarded draft picks, allowing him to trade from a position of strength to build the roster going forward, and the team draws so well that its small-market status shouldn't be an overwhelming concern.
(Previous rank: 3)
2. Los Angeles Lakers | Future Power Rating: 686

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
342 (2nd) 149 (5th) 91 (15th) 96 (1st) 8 (29th)

The Lakers seem to have everything going for them -- they are the defending champs, have the league's second-best record, and seem set for the next few seasons, with a nucleus of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. And while the Lakers won't have salary cap space this summer to join the superstar free-agent chase, the game remains rigged in their favor, money-wise: L.A. produces the most revenue of any team and can easily stomach paying luxury tax to keep the likes of Gasol and Lamar Odom.
Still, they're only second overall in our rankings because of the uncertainty about coach Phil Jackson's future and how that might relate to Bryant's. Jackson has yet to re-up for next year, and the smoke signals coming from L.A. make one wonder whether the team will look for a less expensive replacement. If so, Bryant could play the ultimate trump card by opting out of his contract and signing elsewhere. Is that far-fetched? Perhaps, but as long as it's in play, it's a risk that warrants mentioning.
The other concern is a paucity of quality young talent. Bynum is the only starter who is likely to get better, rather than worse, over the next three years, and the bench doesn't appear to hold any future stars. With no first-round pick this year, the Lakers will have to hope the current core ages well as they look for opportunities to make trades and sign inexpensive free agents.
(Previous rank: 2)
3. Orlando Magic | Future Power Rating: 674

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
354 (1st) 143 (8th) 78 (27th) 76 (3rd) 23 (25th)

The Magic dropped from first to third in our latest poll, as the specter of eating the back end of several large contracts looms ever larger in their future. While Vince Carter has increased his production of late, neither he nor several other well-compensated teammates (Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson, Marcin Gortat, Brandon Bass, Mickael Pietrus) have delivered at anywhere near the level at which they're paid. All those players still have years to go on their contracts, meaning the small-market Magic could be in a very precarious salary position in another year or two.
That said, Orlando still rated No. 1 in the players category. With a building block center in Dwight Howard who is a virtual certainty to stay with his team (as opposed to the uncertainty surrounding some of the game's other top stars at the moment), the Magic have the foundation of a great team. And while Howard's expensive supporting cast isn't fully earning its pay, there's no doubt that impressive talent surrounds him. With such assets, a couple of the players who haven't seen as much burn, such as Bass and Gortat, could make for great trade chips this summer.
(Previous rank: 1)
4. Miami Heat | Future Power Rating: 653

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
238 (9th) 112 (12th) 155 (2nd) 89 (2nd) 59 (13th)

The Heat held on to the No. 4 position, but the one thing that might worry them is how much competition they'll have for free agents this summer because of what happened at the trade deadline. Miami was hoping to have more salary-cap room than any other team, but New York blew up that plan by trading Jared Jeffries to Houston. Additionally, Chicago's creation of enough cap space to lure away Dwyane Wade presents a significant risk to the Heat's future plans.
Nonetheless, the positives far outweigh the negatives right now. Most signs point to the Heat keeping Wade in South Beach and luring another star to join him, especially given the appeal of the Miami market (No. 2 behind L.A. on our list). Though owner Micky Arison hasn't been willing to outspend other teams, the Heat are a well-run franchise from president Pat Riley on down, and they've made creative use of their salary cap options in the past.
Hence the high ranking. We'd be very surprised if they can't unite Wade with another star to form an Eastern Conference force for the next three seasons.
(Previous rank: 4)
5. Portland Trail Blazers | Future Power Rating: 620

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
284 (5th) 153 (4th) 88 (17th) 54 (13th) 41 (18th)

Portland moves up a spot from the last edition of the Future Power Rankings, mostly because the news on its young players has been largely positive. Second-year guard Jerryd Bayless has emerged as an offensive force off the bench, rookies Dante Cunningham and Jeff Pendergraph have shown they can contribute, and second-year forward Nic Batum returned from injury with a vengeance.
The Blazers did cash in one chip, trading Travis Outlaw for veteran Marcus Camby, but we had already discounted the likelihood of Outlaw returning. Of greater concern going forward is the uneven second season from Rudy Fernandez and the stalled development of forward LaMarcus Aldridge -- and, of course, our continued questions about Greg Oden's ability to stay healthy.
(Previous rank: 6)

HOW FUTURE POWER RATING IS DETERMINED

PLAYERS (0 to 400 points): Current players and their potential for the future, factoring in expected departures
MANAGEMENT (0 to 200 points): Quality and stability of front office, ownership, coaching
MONEY (0 to 200 points): Projected salary-cap situation; ability and willingness to exceed cap and pay luxury tax
MARKET (0 to 100 points): Appeal to future acquisitions based on team quality, franchise reputation, city's desirability as a destination, market size, taxes, business and entertainment opportunities, arena quality, fans
DRAFT (0 to 100 points): Future draft picks; draft positioning
CATEGORY RANKINGS: See how each team ranked in each category
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: 1-5 | 6-10 | 11-15 | 16-20 | 21-25 | 26-30

6. Utah Jazz | Future Power Rating: 585

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
250 (8th) 144 (6th) 80 (26th) 42 (20th) 69 (10th)

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

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
278 (6th) 141 (9th) 81 (25th) 55 (12th) 22 (26th)

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

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
320 (3rd) 104 (15th) 84 (21st) 53 (14th) 13 (28th)

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

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
220 (10th) 85 (17th) 153 (3rd) 66 (7th) 49 (17th)

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

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
176 (19th) 168 (2nd) 87 (18th) 62 (10th) 74 (5th)

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)

11. Dallas Mavericks | Future Power Rating: 533

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
210 (14th) 144 (7th) 92 (13th) 70 (5th) 17 (27th)

In the last edition of the Future Power Rankings, we noted, "The good news is that the Mavs have a dynamic, popular owner, and his management team has proved to be creative in handling the roster and the Mavs' perpetual lack of salary-cap space. And the franchise has some assets (including Erick Dampier's non-guaranteed contract) that we expect it to use aggressively."
Those are exactly the qualities that shaped the Mavericks' trade for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood (in exchange for essentially expiring contracts) and permitted them to hang on to Dampier as a contributor for this season's title chase and a trade asset for next season's, opening their championship window a bit wider.
While some speculate that Mark Cuban's most spectacular trick -- acquiring LeBron James or Chris Bosh via sign-and-trade for Dampier and Butler -- has yet to come, the Mavs' owner might have to settle for less miraculous maneuvers. And given that 22-year-old point guard Rodrigue Beaubois is the only youngster of note, while Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion will hit 32 this spring and Jason Kidd is almost 37, it seems inevitable that the Dallas decline will set in at some point in the next three seasons.
The Mavs are on pace to win 50 games for an amazing 10th straight season. Can they keep the streak going for three more seasons? We doubt it, but we can't count them out.
(Previous rank: 18)
12. San Antonio Spurs | Future Power Rating: 532

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
154 (22nd) 179 (1st) 96 (11th) 64 (9th) 39 (20th)

As noted in previous editions of the Future Power Rankings, San Antonio's strong suit is that it has been the league's model franchise for years. While the Spurs have slipped a bit between the lines, their top-rated front office should keep them in or near contention.
Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili aren't getting any younger (and Ginobili is a free agent to be), but they can still play, and the Spurs aren't devoid of young talent: Tony Parker is still just 27, George Hill is 23, DeJuan Blair is 20 and recent first-round draft pick Tiago Splitter is 24.
The Spurs should have significant salary cap space in 2011, and they've shown their smarts in the past, both in talent evaluation and in financial prudence. If they continue in that vein, the future should remain bright.
(Previous rank: 7)
13. Atlanta Hawks | Future Power Rating: 516

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
258 (7th) 76 (20th) 92 (14th) 51 (16th) 39 (21st)

With no major moves to speak of since the last time we checked in, the Hawks held steady in this edition of the Future Power Rankings.
Atlanta has two powerful positives going forward -- 23-year-old frontcourt mates Josh Smith and Al Horford -- and some further potential in Marvin Williams and Jeff Teague. Atlanta also owns a valuable trade chip in the rights to Josh Childress.
Beyond those assets, we have enough uncertainty to keep the Hawks out of the top 10. Star guard Joe Johnson could be a goner as a free agent this summer, and so may coach Mike Woodson. Ownership is another question mark, as it has yet to prove whether it will pay to keep a winning team together. And the rest of the cast members are at a point in their careers where their production should diminish.
(Previous rank: 14)
14. Los Angeles Clippers | Future Power Rating: 506

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
200 (15th) 52 (25th) 137 (5th) 59 (11th) 58 (15th)

Though the Clippers have made some moves to improve their future, they dropped from their top-10 perch in our rankings. Los Angeles replaced coach Mike Dunleavy, but left him in the GM chair, where he sent out Al Thornton at the trade deadline and created enough salary cap room to position the Clips to bring in a marquee free agent.

Unfortunately, there are several issues hurting the Clips' ranking.

For one thing, they're not the only ones in pursuit of high-profile free agents -- at least seven teams should have enough space this summer to lure a free agent with a max contract. While the L.A. market works in the Clippers' favor, the reputation of owner Donald Sterling looms as a huge drawback that will likely require them to overpay to win the rights of a second-tier free agent -- and if Sterling can't overcome his reluctance to pay top dollar, the Clips might have difficulty finding quality players to take their offers.

Also, the Clippers slipped several notches in our draft rating, as their sporadic success this season makes them increasingly unlikely to win the lottery again this year and a first-round pick from Minnesota likely won't be theirs until 2012, at which point the Wolves may be respectable.

Finally, Blake Griffin's season-eliminating knee injury and Baron Davis's continued inconsistency has us less bullish on L.A.'s current roster than we were before, as the team appears to need a big score in free agency just to contend for a playoff spot.

(Previous rank: 10)
15. Boston Celtics | Future Power Rating: 494

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
170 (21st) 141 (10th) 93 (12th) 65 (8th) 25 (24th)

In the present, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo are keeping Boston among the East's elite, but age and injuries are, more and more, catching up with the Celtics. Of the team's famed Big Three, Garnett will be 34 when next season starts; Pierce will be 33; and Allen will be 35, presuming he returns.
Boston's lack of action at the trade deadline, particularly its inability to move Allen's expiring contract for assets to carry the franchise forward, puts into serious question whether the Celtics will be able to stay near the top and keep their championship hopes alive in future seasons. The addition of spark plug Nate Robinson in place of Eddie House isn't a difference maker.
Among the key players, only Rondo -- age 24, now an All-Star and probably the Celts' best player -- and Perkins (25) are young enough to build a bridge to the future. That's why the Celtics have a mediocre Future Power Rating despite being a storied franchise and still a contender with deep pockets and good management.
(Previous rank: 12)

16. New York Knicks | Future Power Rating: 491

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
108 (27th) 111 (13th) 194 (1st) 75 (4th) 3 (30th)

The Knicks are still faltering on the court, but their trade-deadline moves helped them jump from No. 19 to No. 16 in the rankings.
The Knicks dropped another $9.4 million under the cap for next season, meaning they now have a realistic shot at signing two of the top free agents in the summer. Now they stand No. 1 in the Money category and No. 4 in the Market category. Those rankings offset their awful roster, which is rated 27th.
Unfortunately, to move up, the Knicks had to decimate its future draft status. By sending their 2012 first-round pick to Houston (top-five protected) along with the right to swap picks in 2011 (and their 2009 lottery pick, Jordan Hill), the Knicks put themselves dead last in the Draft category.
(Previous rank: 19)
17. Toronto Raptors | Future Power Rating: 489

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
214 (13th) 103 (16th) 90 (16th) 45 (18th) 37 (22nd)

Raptors president Bryan Colangelo has to be sweating. His star forward, Chris Bosh, has the opportunity to explore the free-agent market in the summer, and it's anyone's guess where he'll end up.
The Raptors have a winning record, and Bosh seems content, so that gives Toronto hope of keeping him. On the other hand, the Heat, Bulls, Knicks and Thunder are well positioned to lure Bosh back to the states.
If Bosh stays, the Raptors' future looks about the same as the present: The team should fight for medium-to-low playoff seeding in the East. If Bosh leaves, the Raptors will move back into rebuilding mode.
So keeping the Raptors in the middle of the pack -- where they've been in each edition of the Future Power Rankings -- seems prudent.
(Previous rank: 16)
18. New Jersey Nets | Future Power Rating: 488

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
116 (3rd) 76 (21st) 151 (4th) 52 (15th) 93 (1st)

The Nets are the worst team in the league -- they're even historically bad. With the exception of Brook Lopez, most of their young talent isn't looking so talented right now. Everyone from Devin Harris to Yi Jianlian to Courtney Lee to rookie Terrence Williams has been disappointing.
Their ineptitude has an upside, though. New Jersey, with a 25 percent chance, is favored to win the lottery for the No. 1 pick, expected to be John Wall, the best point guard prospect to come into the draft since Chris Paul in 2005. In other words, the Nets' talent base could improve very quickly.
Off the court, things are looking up somewhat. The team has significant payroll flexibility moving forward, and after playing in Newark for at least a couple of seasons (starting in 2010-11), the Nets should get close to making their eventual move to Brooklyn, now that most of the legal and financial hurdles have been cleared. If and when billionaire Mikhail D. Prokhorov gets league approval to complete his acquisition of the Nets, he should provide an immediate infusion of both cash and cachet to one of the league's most woebegone franchises.
(Previous rank: 17)
19. Sacramento Kings | Future Power Rating: 469

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
174 (20th) 61 (24th) 136 (6th) 20 (28th) 78 (3rd)

The Kings moved up from 22nd to 19th in this edition of the Future Power Rankings, but that may be a Pyrrhic victory. Sacramento still faces a number of challenges going forward, and one wonders whether it has the management in place to overcome them.
First, the good news: The trade of Kevin Martin makes it possible for the Kings to rebuild quickly through the draft and free agency. The Kings have enough cap space to offer a maximum contract to a free agent and should have high picks in at least the next couple of drafts. Additionally, some building blocks are already in place: Tyreke Evans is the likely rookie of the year, while Omri Casspi, Jason Thompson, Carl Landry and Spencer Hawes all should be long-term keepers.
Now, the bad news: Sacramento isn't very good right now, and one wonders whether the right people are in charge from top to bottom to change that situation. Ownership is in a tight spot financially, as the Kings hemorrhage cash and the Maloof brothers' other businesses struggle. GM Geoff Petrie once ranked among the best but has inked a number of bad deals in recent years. And coach Paul Westphal's credentials as the man to lead this group have taken a hit, too. The fact that Evans has basically stopped playing defense is a major red flag, as was his recent bizarre deactivation of Hawes.
(Previous rank: 22)
20. Detroit Pistons | Future Power Rating: 468

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
148 (23rd) 123 (11th) 82 (24th) 44 (19th) 71 (8th)

It's hard to find much good news in Detroit. After years of being a contender, the Pistons are struggling, and fans are no longer flocking to the Palace. And after their high hopes that Pistons president Joe Dumars would make a big trade at the deadline, Pistons fans didn't get anything.
The Pistons have played better of late now that Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince are finally healthy. But for the team to avoid a future full of mediocrity, it needs Dumars to find some big men to score and balance out the roster.
(Previous rank: 15)

crzymdups wrote:thanks - where are the knicks ranked? just so i can stab myself in the eyes.

Right behind St. Johns.

oohah

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.

i just hope we're not here lamenting over the Houston Rockets owning our top 6 pick after next season.

TheGame wrote:

TMS wrote:

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.

i just hope we're not here lamenting over the Houston Rockets owning our top 6 pick after next season.

Actually, we want it to be Top-6 pick (or at least Top-5). If we are lamenting about them owning our Top-6-14 pick, then we are in trouble.

next year's pick is only swap protected to 1