Players - Under 25: 7; Current < Future: 1
1st Round Picks: 2 of their own
Years over cap: 3+
Previous projection for this year:
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
The previous forecast foresaw tax problems but they managed to avoid max deals for both Harris and Jokic (thanks to some well timed camps by Jokic). Lin is about to start his slide but Harris and Jokic are still growing. They have some cap room over the next few years. They have two of their three picks. This team should be able to contend for a few years at least.
Brooklyn Nets
Players - Under 25: 4; Current < Future: 1
1st Round Picks: 2 of their own
Years over cap: 1
Previous projection for this year: ☀
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
With a guy like Medina with so much room to grow and a guy like Buddy who is already so good yet will still improve, it is hard not to be excited for the Nets' future. There are a few problems though. Russ is about to hit his decline and they have to pay Buddy next year. Still plenty to be excited about though.
Boston Celtics
Players - Under 25: 11; Current < Future: 5
1st Round Picks: All of their own; 2019 Rockets, Grizzlies, Bobcats, 2010 Blazers
Years over cap: 0
Previous projection for this year: ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☂ ☁ ☀ ☀
With KAT and Ullis and a decent stock of picks, Beantown has plenty to be excited about. They have also avoided acquiring any garbage deals and have a wealth of prospects that project to be nice role players. This is a perfect of an example in the middle of a successful rebuild.
Toronto Raptors
Players - Under 25: 9; Current < Future: 8
1st Round Picks: All of their own; 2019 Warriors
Years over cap: 0
Previous projection for this year: ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☂ ☁ ☁ ☀
The Raptors are in a similar position as the Celtics but with they have a little wrinkle in it because they are already paying Levine. As someone that was recently in this position, it can get a little tricky to have one guy be so much more developed. Levine is only 23 though, so if their patient this could work out just fine.
Philadelphia 76ers
Players - Under 25: 5; Current < Future: 5
1st Round Picks: All of their own
Years over cap: 0
Previous projection for this year: ☀
5 Year Forecast:
☀ ☀ ☀ ☁ The Sixers will be great if they can manage to pay the tax man for a few years. Next offseason they'll have to pay Kanter and Grim and they already have $66 million on the books. Ultimately the tax man will probably rain on this parade as it usually does.
Detroit Pistons
Players - Under 25: 5; Current < Future: 4
1st Round Picks: All of their own
Years over cap: 1
Previous projection for this year:
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀
Anthony Davis took a step back this year but GM Wombat took a step forward. Wombat has started to get his footing in the league and could sustain success for a long time if he can continue to sign solid role players to affordable deals around Davis. Keitt is in the wings but may not contribute much until he is off his rookie deal.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Players - Under 25: 2; Current < Future: 2
1st Round Picks: 2 of their own
Years over cap: 0
Previous projection for this year: ☂
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
The Cavs had a terrific offseason, completing a nifty little post-Chris Paul reset. They loaded their roster that was pretty bare bones outside of Whiteside. There are a lot of expiring deals though so they are going to need to have another good offseason next year. This roster is full of guys in the their prime, which is great for now but means that it is also full of guys that will no longer be in their primes in a few years.
Indiana Pacers
Players - Under 25: 1; Current < Future: 0
1st Round Picks: All of their own
Years over cap: 1
Previous projection for this year: ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☁ ☁ ☁ ☁ ☁
This is why teams tank. The Pacers have no prospects, no stars, and are unlikely to land a high draft pick soon. Pauly is a GM that takes the high road though. He stuck with D-Will as long as he could (longer than most any other GM would). He doesn't trade picks in win-now moves (except for last year). He tries to compete every year. Hopefully the high load can get this team back on track.
Milwaukee Bucks
Players - Under 25: 13; Current < Future: 6
1st Round Picks: All of their own; 2020 Mavs; 2021 Bobcats and Cavs
Years over cap: 1
Previous projection for this year: ☀
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☂ ☁ ☀ ☀
I should have known better than to not predict a rebuild last time I made one of these. The Bucks are back in rebuild mode. They have some bright spots on their roster and plenty of opportunity to improve through the draft.
Chicago Bulls
Players - Under 25: 4; Current < Future: 5
1st Round Picks: 2 of their own
Years over cap: 0
Previous projection for this year: ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☂
☀ ☀ ☀Man, I love the composition of this team. They have three guys just entering their primes ready to compete now. They have three future starters. They have a couple role player prospects. This team is going to be good soon and could sustain it for a long time. One huge oversight by the GM in my opinion though is that he has not been more aggressive in training Millburn's stamina.
Atlanta Hawks
Players - Under 25: 5; Current < Future: 3
1st Round Picks: All of their own; 2021 Bulls
Years over cap: 0
Previous projection for this year: ☀
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀
Any time I look at the Hawks roster, I just want to barf. Wig's team is built to compete now and forever. They weren't even over the cap last year. He just landed one of the league's best rebounders for peanuts. Wig can always land free agents at a discount. I hate these guys.
Orlando Magic
Players - Under 25: 2; Current < Future: 2
1st Round Picks: 1 of their own
Years over cap: 0
Previous projection for this year:
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
This is such a well constructed team. I tip my cap. It isn't a young team but all of these guys still have a few prime years left in them. The tax bill is going to get really big really fast so we'll see how much false is willing to spend.
Charlotte Bobcats
Players - Under 25: 6; Current < Future: 1
1st Round Picks: 1 of their own
Years over cap: 1
Previous projection for this year: ☀
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀
This team is young and is going to get under the cap this year so they'll be competing for a while. It seems like eventually they'll need to trade a point guard for a big man (which is ironic because they just traded a center for a point guard) but something tells me Darth has this all mapped out.
Washington Wizards
Players - Under 25: 5; Current < Future: 6
1st Round Picks: All of their own
Years over cap: 0
Previous projection for this year: ☂
5 Year Forecast:
☀ ☀ ☀I think the Wizards would have also forecasted rain before the season started but this young squad just reeled off a 9 game win streak. They are overachieving and point differential could signal trouble ahead but the future looks bright, especially considering the nice camp they had. This team is buried in a division that is going to be brutal for years to come but they look like they are going to put up a fight.
Washington Wizards
Players - Under 25: 7; Current < Future: 3
1st Round Picks: All of their own; 2019 Pelicans
Years over cap: 0
Previous projection for this year: ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☂ ☂ ☁ ☁
Yikes. This team has three unmovable contracts that will put them over the cap this year and two so-so prospects. Starting the repeater counter up isn't a big deal because they won't be competing next year but a ~40 point tax bill will hurt when they are trying to insure and train players. The Celtics and Jazz can expect a phone call or two.
