http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=FuturePowerRankings-3-091110 They only have our players rated 25th in terms of future potential, but management (rating of front office, ownership, and coaching) is 2nd best. [rquoter] 14. Houston Rockets | Future Power Rating: 522 PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT 122 (25th) 156 (2nd) 124 (7th) 62 (10th) 59 (11th) "In Daryl We Trust" might be Houston's motto going forward. The Rockets didn't get high scores in a lot of other categories, but the Rockets' management came in second on our list despite the fact that GM Daryl Morey has been at the helm for only three years. The reason? His ability to find quality role players on the cheap, as he's masterfully done this season while $40 million in star power sits on the sidelines with injuries. Alas, Houston's roster going forward is not among the league's elite, ranking just 25th in our survey. Yao Ming is 29, and his future durability is a major question, and while youngsters Trevor Ariza, Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry and Kyle Lowry seem to be keepers, nobody expects them to turn into major stars. Houston's cap situation is a positive, though. The Rockets could potentially have some money in 2010, and perhaps a bit more in 2011, although the latter scenario works only if Yao becomes a free agent. In any case, ownership's willingness to pay the luxury tax works in the Rockets' favor. Houston's market is a plus. Several NBA players stay there in the offseason -- apparently miserable, spirit-breaking heat and humidity is considered desirable among ballers -- and Texas' lack of a state income tax means players can keep more of what they earn. Houston finished in the middle of the pack in the draft tables, based partly on the expectation that they might be a lottery team this year. But we might need to revise that assumption if they keep playing well. [/rquoter] RANK PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT 1 Orlando San Antonio New York LA Lakers New Jersey 2 Portland Houston Miami Miami Memphis 3 LA Lakers Portland New Jersey New York Sacramento 4 Cleveland Orlando Chicago Orlando Milwaukee 5 Utah Boston LA Clippers Phoenix Utah 6 Okla. City Detroit Okla. City Chicago LA Clippers 7 Chicago Utah Houston Boston Minnesota 8 Denver LA Lakers Minnesota Dallas Golden State 9 LA Clippers Okla. City Boston San Antonio Indiana 10 Miami Dallas Dallas Houston Okla. City 11 Philadelphia Denver Indiana LA Clippers Houston 12 Atlanta Miami San Antonio Portland Charlotte 13 New Orleans Chicago Atlanta New Jersey Philadelphia 14 San Antonio Toronto LA Lakers Detroit Miami 15 Toronto Indiana Toronto Cleveland Chicago 16 Golden State New York Phoenix Denver Detroit 17 Boston Cleveland Portland Atlanta Toronto 18 Memphis New Jersey Detroit Toronto New Orleans 19 Washington Philadelphia Utah Washington Washington 20 Detroit New Orleans Cleveland Indiana New York 21 Minnesota Washington Milwaukee Utah Atlanta 22 Indiana Sacramento Memphis Philadelphia San Antonio 23 New Jersey Atlanta Denver Okla. City Portland 24 Dallas Milwaukee Orlando Golden State Phoenix 25 Houston Phoenix Washington New Orleans Cleveland 26 Phoenix Minnesota Golden State Sacramento Boston 27 Sacramento LA Clippers Sacramento Charlotte Orlando 28 New York Charlotte Philadelphia Minnesota Denver 29 Milwaukee Memphis Charlotte Milwaukee Dallas 30 Charlotte Golden State New Orleans Memphis LA Lakers
In all my years as a Rockets fan I never paid much attention to anything but the players/team (how they did). But ever since DM took over I've become a huge fan of management. Hip Hip Hooray, hip hip Hooray for the man Daryl Morey!
Here's the overall rankings: 1. Portland 2. Orlando 3. LA Lakers 4. Oklahoma City 5. Miami 6. Utah 7. Chicago 8. San Antonio 9. Cleveland 10. Denver 11. LA Clippers 12. Boston 13. New Jersey 14. Houston 15. Detroit 16. Toronto 17. Dallas 18. Atlanta 19. Philadelphia 20. Indiana 21. New Yoyk 22. Minnesota 23. New Orleans 24. Washington 25. Memphis 26. Golden State 27. Phoenix 28. Sacramento 29. Milwaukee 30. Charlotte
Some of those rankings are a bit ridiculous. The L.A. Clippers rank #5 in money despite having an owner known for being a tightwad. Just because he overpaid for Kaman and Baron Davis doesn't mean their money situation is good. If overpaying a couple of players gets you a good spot on this list, why isn't Orlando (Rashard Lewis) higher? Houston is ranked behind Phoenix and San Antonio in market. WTF?
Its not just about willingness to spend money. Its the combination of that and having lots of cap space.
Maybe I misunderstood the way "future potential" for players is defined, but who exactly does the Lakers have on its roster besides Bynum, and to a lesser extent, Josh Powell and Shannon Brown, with any future potential? Gasol is in his 8th year, and the remaining 4 in the starting lineup have been in the league at least 10 years. I guess "future" means until Kobe breaks down or retires.
Can't speak to Phoenix, but I would guess San Antonio is ahead because they have no other competing sports.
I'd be interested to know what the criteria were for ranking management. Given what the Lakers have achieved, I'd have expected them to be ranked higher than eighth. That said, it's not surprising Memphis and Golden State ranked lowest in that category.
I agree with you and it bugged me to see they have us in 11th for the draft. There's alot of teams that they have below us I think we are better than. But who cares!!!!!
Survey doesn't necessarily mean they polled other people for their opinion. –noun 6. an act or instance of surveying or of taking a comprehensive view of something: The course is a survey of Italian painting. 7. a formal or official examination of the particulars of something, made in order to ascertain condition, character, etc. 8. a statement or description embodying the result of this: They presented their survey to the board of directors. 9. a sampling, or partial collection, of facts, figures, or opinions taken and used to approximate or indicate what a complete collection and analysis might reveal: The survey showed the percentage of the population that planned to vote.
I'm laughing at San Antonio being ahead of Houston in the market list. Detroit and Cleveland should be last also.
