NBA Future Power Rankings: Every Team's Spot In 5 Years

NBA Future Power Rankings: Every Team’s Spot In 5 Years

By Ti Windisch | Nov 30, 2015

Nov 12, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots in the fourth quarter against Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) at Target Center. The Golden State Warriors beat he Minnesota Timberwolves 129-116. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 20: Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte is a happy surprise at the moment. The team is a few games above .500 and playing fast-paced offensive basketball for coach Steve Clifford. Clifford may be around still five years from now, and some of the Hornets’ young core will be too. There’s just not enough here that solidifies their long-term future.

Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and maybe even Frank Kaminsky are intriguing pieces, but none of them are first banana on a championship team good. Batum might not even be around next season, much less in 2020.

This front office seems capable, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Hornets are a good team in five years. They’re certainly better than they were expected to be thus far this season. But they just don’t have the young core to be any higher on these rankings.

Next: No. 21