Warriors, Bucks and Pelicans projected to become NBA’s bottom three teams

Warriors, Bucks and Pelicans projected to become NBA’s bottom three teams originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Three franchises that entered the decade with championship ambitions could occupy the bottom of the NBA by 2030.

The Golden State Warriors ranked 28th, the Milwaukee Bucks 29th and the New Orleans Pelicans 30th in The Sporting News’ future NBA power rankings.

Each franchise arrived at its bleak projection differently. Golden State maximized one of the greatest dynasties in basketball history. Milwaukee exhausted its resources trying to extend the Giannis Antetokounmpo era. New Orleans repeatedly failed to build stability around Zion Williamson. By 2030, all three could be searching for new identities.

Stephen Curry will be 41 during the 2029-30 season and is not expected to remain on Golden State’s roster. Jimmy Butler will be 40, Draymond Green 39, Kristaps Porzingis 34 and Al Horford 43. The Warriors’ current veteran core will have aged out, leaving Brandin Podziemski and Yaxel Lendeborg as the only players listed as likely to remain.

Golden State has protected its upcoming first-round selections, giving the franchise a chance to begin rebuilding through the draft. The timing is problematic because the 2027 and 2028 draft classes are not expected to contain an abundance of franchise-changing talent. The Warriors received a C-minus asset grade and could be in the earliest stage of a rebuild by 2030.

Milwaukee’s outlook is similarly discouraging. The Bucks received a D-plus asset grade and do not control a first-round pick capable of directly improving their roster until 2030. Dead money created by Damian Lillard’s stretched contract also will continue restricting the team.

Brayden Burries, Nate Ament, Jaime Jaquez and Kasparas Jakucionis provide some young talent. The larger concern is that none currently projects as the centerpiece of a future contender. Milwaukee should create cap space in 2027, but spending it effectively will be difficult without a foundational star already on the roster.

The decisions made to chase another title alongside Antetokounmpo carried understandable logic. The bill for those decisions eventually had to arrive.

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New Orleans landed last because its roster could be completely dismantled over the next three seasons. Williamson can become a free agent in 2028. Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy also could be traded if the Pelicans continue struggling.

That would leave Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen as the probable faces of the franchise. Both displayed talent during inconsistent rookie seasons, but neither has established himself as a future superstar. The Pelicans received a B asset grade and could benefit from a valuable 2027 pick through their swap rights with Milwaukee. Their future nevertheless depends heavily on lottery luck.

Golden State and Milwaukee can point to championships as justification for their difficult futures. New Orleans cannot make the same argument. The Pelicans’ failure to create a winner around Williamson could leave them behind two franchises entering unavoidable post-dynasty rebuilds.

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