ESPN's Future Power Rankings project a three-season arc for every NBA club. Oklahoma City sits atop thanks to a championship-ready young core, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s extension, and a draft asset avalanche. The Lakers benefit from a Luka Doncic era alignment, while Victor Wembanyama makes San Antonio a legitimate title sleeper within three years. Houston, Cleveland and the rest shape a volatile West and a flexible East, where cap space and asset management drive options.

Rod Higgins wore No. 22 for Golden State, anchoring a long NBA run from 1986 to 1992 and returning briefly in 1994. Drafted by Chicago in 1982 after Fresno State, his career spanned Bulls, Sonics, Spurs, Nets, six seasons with the Warriors, then Kings and Cavaliers to close out in 1994. For fantasy minds, his era-long reliability and defensive versatility across multiple teams offer a blueprint for depth wings who thread value through minutes, durability, and role clarity.

Higgins’ journey underscores how a solid floor player can stabilize a roster across seasons, especially in deeper leagues where multi-team exposure and minutes eaten matter. His jersey history also highlights how veteran wings contribute to team balance, creating nuanced narratives for dynasty rosters and micro-trend analyses tied to era-specific lineups.

The Cavaliers add Larry Nance Jr. as a versatile frontcourt piece off the bench, designed to relieve Mobley and Allen and keep the unit functional when the starters rest. His floor-spreading shooting, hustle deflection, and stable decision-making help Cleveland maintain spacing and energy without a burst star power. Health is a concern, so expect a steady, understated impact rather than game-changing runs.

Lakers No. 9 threads a long, dynamic lineage. Jim Chones arrived in 1979 to shore up the frontcourt and help LA capture the 1980 title, posting 10.7 points and 7.4 rebounds in two seasons. A 1981 swap sent Chones to Washington Bullets as compensation when Mitch Kupchak signed with LA, reshaping the No. 9 legacy. Chones finished in Washington and later broadcast Cavaliers games, keeping the thread alive from Detroit Gems to Showtime.

From the Gems’ NBL roots to Minneapolis and onward, the No. 9 arc illustrates how one digit can echo through eras: frontcourt fits, championship runs, and rosters reshaped by trades and signings that ripple through fantasy value across generations.