ESPN recently released its latest NBA future power rankings and has the Oklahoma City Thunder 24th.
The rankings were decided by a panel of ESPN Insiders Kevin Pelton, Bobby Marks, Andre Snellings and Tim Bontemps.
The article projects how the team will perform in the following three seasons, in this case, that would mean how the Thunder will look like for the 2022-23 season, 2023-24 season and 2024-25 season. The rankings are determined by five key components: players, management, money, market, and draft outlook.
The Thunder’s ranking represents a four-spot jump from its October 2021 ranking.
“If the FPR was based solely on draft picks and the front office, Oklahoma City would be in the top 10. Unfortunately, because the rankings are weighted heavily toward how the existing roster will project out, the Thunder sit at No. 24. The positive is that Oklahoma City has 19 first-round picks in the next seven years and up to $32 million from the end of the season to June 30 to use in a trade. The downside is that outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Josh Giddey and Tre Mann, the roster is filled with development projects and average role players. — Marks”
In terms of where the Thunder ranked when it came to the five categories used to create the power rankings, the franchise was 30th in players, tied for sixth in management, second in money and 28th in market and first in the draft.
Which makes sense — outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, the team really doesn’t have a whole lot of star potential. It’s not surprising to see the front office ranked so highly. Thunder general manager Sam Presti is regarded as one of the best in the league. The team’s payroll is filled with nothing but rookie contracts and small veteran deals sans Gilgeous-Alexander’s impending extension. Oklahoma City being a small market has been a point beaten to death over the years. And the Thunder own an historic number of draft picks, so it being first is not shocking.
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