ESPN.com · 3 days ago
NBA core danger tiers: 19 teams with major roster decisions
In the NBA's apron era, front offices need to be smarter than ever.
A failed win-now superstar trade not only depletes draft capital, it comes with the potential for severe roster-building penalties down the line. Repeated stalled playoff runs not only frustrate fan bases, they can create top-heavy teams that lack true avenues to improve. Recent NBA champions now seem to face immediate financial reckonings.
For the following 19 teams, roster-building dilemmas such as these are looming.
We put them into five tiers, ranging from franchises on the cusp of major decisions, to contenders desperate to prolong title windows, to teams whose futures hinge on their stars' next deal.