Knicks, Lakers, Bulls Top Forbes' List of NBA's Most Valuable Teams

On-court success is the ultimate goal for every NBA team, but as evidenced by Forbes' latest listing of the league's most valuable franchises, winning and profitability don't necessarily go hand in hand.

According to Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes, the New York Knicks are the NBA's most valuable team with a net worth of $3 billion, while the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls trail closely behind at $2.7 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively.  

Here is a look at the rest of the top 10, which features the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the No. 6 spot at $1.9 billion:

Rank	Team	Value
1	New York Knicks	$3 billion
2	Los Angeles Lakers	$2.7 billion
3	Chicago Bulls	$2.3 billion
4	Boston Celtics	$2.1 billion
5	Los Angeles Clippers	$2 billion
6	Golden State Warriors	$1.9 billion
7	Brooklyn Nets	$1.7 billion
8	Houston Rockets	$1.5 billion
9	Dallas Mavericks	$1.4 billion
10	Miami Heat	$1.3 billion

Per Badenhausen, the Knicks moved up from No. 2 to No. 1 due largely to a new television contract. They were far from the only ones to receive a bump since last year, though, as the average NBA franchise is currently worth $1.25 billion, which is a 13 percent increase from the 2014-15 campaign.

The Knicks currently boast a record of 21-22, and they are coming off a season in which they won just 17 games. The Lakers are the Western Conference's worst team this season at 9-34, and they haven't enjoyed a winning season since 2012-13.

While the third-ranked Bulls and fifth-ranked Los Angeles Clippers have enjoyed some regular-season success in recent years, they have fizzled in the playoffs.

The No. 4 Boston Celtics did qualify for the postseason in 2014-15; however, their last winning record came in 2012-13.

When looking at the NBA's most valuable franchises, the size of the media market clearly rules the day more so than wins and losses.

That isn't to say a team's on-court success doesn't matter, since Golden State is on the rise from No. 7 last year to No. 6 this year after winning the NBA title, although Badenhausen credits an upcoming new arena with the leap.

Many factors contribute to franchise value, and there is little doubt that fielding a winning product can contribute to the cause, which is good news for teams like the Knicks and Lakers.

While neither organization is likely to compete for an NBA title in the near future, the Knicks are on the rise thanks to the combination of Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis, while the Lakers have a talented young core with another high pick potentially on the way.

Considering how the Knicks and Lakers have maintained their value through some of the worst seasons in franchise history, they figure to have a stranglehold on the top of the list for years to come.

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