What does the future hold for Knicks, Spurs, Thunder and every NBA team? We stacked all 30 — SkimNews
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- Oklahoma City Thunder topped ESPN's NBA Future Power Rankings for the next three seasons (2026-27 through 2028-29), repeating as leaders thanks to a young championship core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams plus extra draft picks.
- Victor Wembanyama's decision to forgo an All-NBA/MVP/Defensive Player of the Year escalator clause could save the San Antonio Spurs nearly $10 million per season starting in 2027-28, preserving financial runway to keep their core intact.
- Boston Celtics climbed to No. 3 from 13th a year ago, buoyed by five consecutive 50-win seasons; ESPN's Ben Golliver predicted Jayson Tatum will be the only member of the franchise's 2024 championship roster still in Boston by 2029-30.
- New York Knicks, the defending champions, ranked No. 5 but face a stacked set of extensions — Karl-Anthony Towns is eligible for a four-year, $272 million deal, and Jalen Brunson's new contract begins in 2028-29.
- Kevin Durant won't retire with the Houston Rockets, per ESPN's bold prediction, with a possible Oklahoma City homecoming or a storybook Seattle return floated if the league expands to 32 teams.
- Oklahoma City trimmed payroll by more than $300 million without touching its core this summer, but Gilgeous-Alexander's supermax extension beginning in 2027-28 could force the Thunder back into the second apron and pressure them to consider moving Williams or Holmgren.
Why it matters: Four of the top five teams face structural financial pressure under the CBA's second-apron era: OKC's $300M+ payroll trim delays but does not eliminate an apron reckoning once Gilgeous-Alexander's supermax kicks in for 2027-28, while the Knicks must navigate Brunson's new contract and a possible $272M Towns extension simultaneously — meaning the rankings reflect future roster sustainability as much as current talent.
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