The Top 10 Next Great Sports Dynasties
Predicting the future is always difficult to do, but us sports fans always seem to try our hand at it—even if we all get let down once the truth comes out years later.
Well, here's another opportunity to prove myself by pretending to be Nostradamus and giving you my very educated guesses for the next great sports dynasties.
While it's possible none of these teams will win a championship, these are the franchises who have set themselves up the best for the future, building around bona fide young stars and surrounding them with complementary parts.
As the Oklahoma City Thunder are proving in the NBA, that's the proper way of doing it—and these teams hope to follow suit.
Edmonton Oilers
1 of 10
It seems that the Edmonton Oilers have been on lists like this for the past five-plus years, hasn't it? That's what happens when a team is fortunate enough to have four No. 1 overall picks in six years—which are expected to deliver a star or two.
This time just feels differently, though, doesn't it?
That's because the Oilers didn't just land last year's top pick, but they landed Connor McDavid, who has been talked about as being the next big thing in hockey since he was a young teenager.
With a once-in-a-generation player in McDavid and those other former No. 1s developing together, Edmonton has as much raw talent as any team in the NHL. It just depends on how they mold it all together.
Should the team be capable of doing that, the rest of the league needs to look out.
Minnesota Vikings
2 of 10
I know, I know, running back and former league MVP Adrian Peterson isn't getting any younger and the team still needs help at various positions, but the Minnesota Vikings are on the right path.
After hosting a Wild Card playoff game this past season, the Vikes showed their fans a little glimpse of the future, relying on the bullish running of Peterson and riding the coattails of a gritty defense.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has the potential to develop into a more than solid dual-threat player, and head coach Mike Zimmer will continue to inspire the entire team, so Minnesota could take another giant leap this next season.
It still remains to be seen if that leap can rival the improvement of the Carolina Panthers, who went from a playoff team to playing in the Super Bowl last season.
Boston Celtics
3 of 10
Forget the fact that the Boston Celtics got bounced in the first round of this year's NBA playoffs, because the future is more than just a little bright in Beantown; it's blinding.
Led by All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, the Celts moved up from the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference in 2015 to the fifth seed this season—proving that they continue to develop under highly touted coach Brad Stevens.
The biggest ace in the team's back pocket, though? That would be the third overall pick in this year's draft, giving Boston flexibility to either select a young star, or dangle to pick out there to another team for veteran help to go with their core.
We all know that general manager Danny Ainge is crafty when it comes to building his roster, so the Celtics are a team to watch over the next couple of seasons as a serious threat to win it all to add to their NBA record 17 titles.
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Cleveland Indians
4 of 10
Everyone in Cleveland may be fully invested in the LeBron James-led Cavaliers and the hope that they can end the city's 52-year title drought, but the Indians have quietly turned themselves into a contender, too.
Unlike other AL Central foes who have handed out massive deals to aging stars—looking at you, Detroit—the Tribe have locked up their young stars before they're eligible for arbitration and/or free agency.
Cleveland still lacks that one power hitter who scares an opposing pitcher—instead relying on balance throughout the lineup—but the pitching staff is full of aces, as Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar all have the goods to dominate.
With manager Terry Francona's experience and laid-back approach, it's the Indians who could become the class of the American League for the next few seasons.
Houston Texans
5 of 10
The Houston Texans have always been that team with talent but not a whole lot of luck. Does that change now that they think they finally have their quarterback, Brock Osweiler, who they signed to a massive deal this offseason?
That's the answer fans and media are asking, because, if so, the Texans could take the next step and become a legit Super Bowl contender for the next several years.
In addition to Osweiler, the team has a stud wideout in DeAndre Hopkins who has emerged as one of the best in the league, and, oh yeah, some guy named J.J. Watt who anchors the defense.
Head coach Bill O'Brien's team was as good as any in the second half of last season. If they can maintain that level for an entire season, the Texans could get over the hump.
Washington Nationals
6 of 10
Nothing to look at here, guys. Just a team that has the best all-around player in baseball who happened to win last year's NL MVP and has stayed red hot in the first two months of this season.
More than Bryce Harper, though, the Washington Nationals have a collective group of solid players who already have experience in the postseason—namely pitchers Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.
After an offseason in which they hired Dusty Baker, one of the more successful managers over the past couple of decades, the Nats have positioned themselves nicely to compete in the wide-open National League.
As long as they lock up Harper with a record-breaking deal soon, expect Washington to compete for multiple titles.
Dallas Stars
7 of 10
A defeat in this year's Western Conference Semifinals may have stung, but Dallas Stars fans shouldn't stay down for too long, because they've got two of the best young players in the game on their roster, Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.
As potent a duo as any in the NHL right now, the Stars will only continue to see the two All-Stars rack up the points and, hopefully, guide their team to a Stanley Cup title soon.
With Seguin being just 24 years old and Benn still 26, Dallas fans should be amped about where these two can lead the franchise for years to come.
Minnesota Timberwolves
8 of 10
If there's one team in the NBA that's loaded with young talent and still has flexibility to build a title contender, it's the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In addition to having the past two NBA Rookie of the Year winners—Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony-Towns—Minny has a bevy of surrounding parts that can ball out as well. That group includes playmaking point guard Ricky Rubio and two-time dunk champ Zach LaVine—with another young piece, potentially, added to the mix via this year's No. 5 overall selection.
Like any young team, though, they need experience to reach the next level. With the recent hiring of former Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, the T-Wolves have positioned themselves nicely to snag a playoff spot next season.
Don't be surprised to see them rise up the Western Conference standings year-after-year moving forward.
Cincinnati Bengals
9 of 10
On so many levels, the Cincinnati Bengals are a Super Bowl contender right now.
Proven franchise quarterback? Check.
Superstar wide receiver? Check.
Dominant defense? Check.
Experienced head coach? Yep.
Unfortunately, just when everyone thought that Cincy would take the next step and seriously compete for an AFC title, the Bengals' passer, Andy Dalton, had a bad-luck injury that derailed that train.
With question marks for both the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos, this is the perfect time for the Bengals to go and snatch the AFC and prove that they're a Super Bowl caliber franchise.
Chicago Cubs
10 of 10
While I've listed other franchises who have set themselves up nicely for future domination, there isn't a team out there who can legitimately say they could win a title right now like the Chicago Cubs.
Wait, what?
Forget the curses, the bad luck, the 100-plus years since their last championship, because the Cubbies are built for the now and later, with young stars at key positions.
Whether it's reigning Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta on the hill or last year's Rookie of the Year, Kris Bryant, progressing as a future star, the bleacher bums in Wrigley Field should be excited about the possibilities.
It could be their time, guys—and that's a far cry from where the Cubs were just two seasons ago.
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