Last week, we unveiled the 2015 version of our annual NBA Future Power Rankings. While our methodology has been carefully honed, I think we all know that reading the future, no matter how rigid your method, is an uncertain exercise. This year's rankings look a lot different than last year's rankings.
And you know what? Next year's ranking will look different as well. Things move fast in the NBA, and one major injury or one disgruntled player forcing a trade can create havoc.
Beyond our lack of knowledge about which players will get hurt or which have already been hurt and won't return to full productivity, the biggest uncertainty around the league stems from next year's rocket-like ascent in the salary cap. Since the players' union declined to accept a gradual increase of the cap, next summer, teams will be looking at a cap line of an estimated $88 to $92 million. Even at the lower end of that range, we'd be looking at a salary floor of more than $79 million.