For the first time in the 14-year history of ESPN’s NBA Future Power Rankings, the Boston Celtics have claimed the top spot. Created by a panel of ESPN NBA analysts that includes Kevin Pelton, Bobby Marks, Andre Snellings, and Tim Bontemps, the crew looked into five categories they believe will help them project the future success of ball clubs relative to their peers in the NBA. These include the players, management, money, market, and their drafting.
“Despite ranking in the top three seven times in FPR, including No. 3 a year ago, this is the first time the Celtics have reached the top spot in the 14-year history of the exercise,” writes Pelton.
“Boston topped the field in the players category, outweighing the second-lowest score in future flexibility after Jaylen Brown signed a supermax extension and Jayson Tatum becomes eligible for one next summer.”
Celtics Lab 222: Boston vs. everyone – assessing NBA over/unders for 2023-24 with Souichi Terada https://t.co/N60pMrp7mh
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 19, 2023
“Eventually, the NBA’s new restrictions on tax-paying teams could break up the Celtics’ core, but not before multiple runs at bringing an 18th championship to Boston,” added the ESPN senior writer.
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