The Celtics’ fortunate situation is highlighted in ESPN’s NBA Future Power Rankings.

Boston is in first place prior to the 2023–2024 season.

The Boston Celtics still have a lot of time to win a title.

Before the 2023–24 season, the Celtics boast perhaps the most skilled group in the NBA. In addition, they have a solid foundation that should allow Boston to challenge for the championship for the upcoming few years, lead by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, of course.

ESPN reinforced this notion Wednesday when it released its annual NBA future power rankings, a projection of the on-court success expected for each team over the next three seasons. The Celtics ranked No. 1.

“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,” ESPN’s Kevin Pelton wrote. “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. 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.”

 

 

Pelton rated clubs in five categories—players, management, money, market, and draft—and ranked them in relation to the rest of the NBA in order to create the future power rankings together with other ESPN analysts Bobby Marks, Andre Snellings, and Tim Bontemps.

With an abundance of young talent, draft picks, and salary cap room, the Oklahoma City Thunder leapt 20 positions to the No. 3 spot, and the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets secured the No. 2 spot, losing to the Celtics. The Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies completed the top five.

Of all, if the Celtics are unable to realize their full potential, these rankings mean absolutely nothing. Even though they have been among the top teams in the NBA for a number of years, they still need to win Banner 18.

Maybe Boston needs an offseason shakeup, and trading for Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday is just what the doctor ordered.