Now that my sim mind is obviously on the future, I've decided to bring back the good ol' futures report. The first year of the forecast is this year.
Celtics
Players - Under 25: 7; Current < Future: 5
1st Round Picks: 2017: Celtics, Nets, Bobcats; 2018: Celtics; 2019: Bobcats, Rockets
Years over cap: 0
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☂ ☁ ☁ ☁
The Celtics don't have any future superstars on their team. . . yet. But with potentially to top two spots in the draft coming their way and a nice stock of picks, the Celtics will have a nice bunch of prospects soon enough.
Nets
Players - Under 25: 3; Current < Future: 4
1st Round Picks: 2017: Warriors; 2018: None; 2019: Nets
Years over cap: 0
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
The Nets have a nice affordable core with Buddy, Gallinari, Lamb, and MCW. They should be playoff contenders for a few years. The question is how high their ceiling is. They will probably need to mix things up to be a true contender and having $17 mil a year tied up in Ibaka and Thompson won't help.
Heat
Players - Under 25: 5; Current < Future: 3
1st Round Picks: 2017: Cavs; 2018: Heat; 2019: Heat
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☁ ☁ ☁ ☁
Years over cap: 0
The Heat have been avoiding a rebuild for a long time and it looks like they still are. However it looks like the wheels have finally come off. The core of Jonas, Monroe, and Harris doesn't seem promising enough to be able to get them back in contention next year, even with help from free agency on limited cap space. Plus they don't have their pick this year although the Cavs pick should be pretty good. I just don't see this working out for the Heat and expect they'll finally go full rebuild soon.
Knicks
Players - Under 25: 2; Current < Future: 3
1st Round Picks: 2017: Knicks; 2018: None; 2019: Knicks
Years over cap: 2
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
The Knicks have a great young duo of Gary Harris and Jokic and a nice complement of youngish players like Lin, Bazermore, and Parsons. The problem will be the tax man two years from now when Harris, Jokic, and Lin will all be due pay days.
Magic
Players - Under 25: 11; Current < Future: 8
1st Round Picks: 2017: Magic, Heat, Lakers; 2018: Magic, Jazz; 2019: Magic
Years over cap: 0
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☂ ☀ ☀
The Magic are not good this year. They will not be good next year. But, at some point, this team is going to be very good. They have compiled one of the most impressive stockpiles of prospects and picks in recent memory.
76ers
Players - Under 25: 7; Current < Future: 8
1st Round Picks: 2017: Spurs, 76ers; 2018: 76ers; 2019: 76ers
Years over cap: 1
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☁ ☀ ☀ ☀
The Sixers have three very promising prospects and some exciting guys just about to enter their primes in Kemba and Hayward, not to mention Nurkic. The GM seems determined to wait for the big 3 to develop. Hopefully they will develop fast enough to catch the a part of Hayward and Kemba's primes. If they do, this team could be a true contender.
Wizards
Players - Under 25: 7; Current < Future: 3
1st Round Picks: 2017: None; 2018: Wizards, Thunder; 2019: Wizards
Years over cap: 0
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☂ ☂ ☁ ☁
This team kind of pumped the brakes this year because they didn't have their pick. They have a couple of prospects typical of the new draft classes. This could be a long rebuild.
Hawks
Players - Under 25: 4; Current < Future: 4
1st Round Picks: 2017: Hawks; 2018: Hawks; 2019: Hawks
Years over cap: 1
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀
Honesty, Wig has made the playoffs nine years in a row. The forecast should be all suns, especially with his mix of young prospects and prime talent.
Bulls
Players - Under 25: 3; Current < Future: 1
1st Round Picks: 2017: Bulls; 2018: Bulls, Nets; 2019: Bulls
Years over cap: 4
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁ ☁
This is a team build to win now and they will. Unfortunately, the tax man should rain on this parade. With Oladipo being due a payday and their repeater status they may be forced to break up the band.
Cavs
Players - Under 25: 4; Current < Future: 2
1st Round Picks: 2017: Nuggets; 2018: Cavs; 2019: Cavs
Years over cap: 0
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☂ ☂ ☁ ☁
The Cavs are in a bad spot. They don't have their pick this year. Chris Paul is 31 and still has two years left on his behemoth contract. They should sell CP15 ASAP, as in last season, and start the rebuild.
Pistons
Players - Under 25: 5; Current < Future: 3
1st Round Picks: 2017: Pistons; 2018: Pistons, Mavs; 2019: Pistons
Years over cap: 0
5 Year Forecast:
AD55 is finally going to make the playoffs! Hurray! ... But the help he needs is not on this roster. They have to find a way to have a good offseason and turn this squad into a legitimate title threat while they have one of the best talents to ever play in the league.
Pacers
Players - Under 25: 3; Current < Future: 0
1st Round Picks: 2017: Pacers; 2018: Pacers; 2019: Pacers
Years over cap: 0
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☁ ☁ ☁
Deron Williams is still amazing but at 32, how much longer can he be expected to carry a team? Iman Shumpert is young and great. Greg Oden and Dedmon are solid... on defense. This team seems primed for a decline just like their aging leader.
Bucks
Players - Under 25: 4; Current < Future: 3
1st Round Picks: 2017: Rockets; 2018: Bucks; 2019: Bucks
Years over cap: 0
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀
The Bucks have the right mixture of young talent and young prime talent to make this last. The trick will be getting the salary situation just right. With Rubio expiring this year, Quail will have to get it right starting this offseason.
Bobcats
Players - Under 25: 6; Current < Future: 4
1st Round Picks: 2017: None; 2018: Bobcats; 2019: None
Years over cap: 0
5 Year Forecast: ☁ ☀ ☀ ☀
The Bobcats have made a couple of moves this year indicating that they are ready to start competing. With as much young talent as they have, they could start very soon. GM Darth has pulled off some quick turnarounds in the past, I think it takes him a couple of years to get this one figured out.
Raptors
Players - Under 25: 7; Current < Future: 6
1st Round Picks: 2017: Raptors, Thunder; 2018: Raptors; 2019: Warriors, Raptors
Years over cap: 3
5 Year Forecast: ☁ ☁ ☁ ☁ ☁
The Raptors are in a weird place right now. They seem like they may be setting themselves up for a reset but they still need to make a couple of moves before that really happens. On the other had, they could build around Whiteside and Turner. They'll probably reset.