Every six months or so, an ESPN panel ranks the NBA’s 30 teams through the prism of its Future Power Rankings. It’s a determination based on projected on-court success expected for each team over the next three seasons: 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24. Back in May, the Nets, based on the availability of their “Big Three,” were ranked No. 1 for the first time in the rankings’ 12-year history.
Now, despite all the injuries, illnesses and (current) controversies, ESPN hasn’t moved them off their perch. They still top the list ... going forward, as they say. That said, there is one bit of controversy.