For those advocating the usage of the Brooklyn picks to move up now in fear that their value will drop after this year because they could make the playoffs in a weaker Eastern conference, consider the following. Here's the teams that finished with a similar record to the Nets and some reasonable expectations for what will happen
NO - last team to make the west. they'll be improving. may not make the playoffs in the west but will have a better record than the Nets.
OKC -- missed the playoffs in the West. Getting a pick in this draft and getting Durant back. easily better than the Nets
MILW - made playoffs in East. Will be getting a decent pick this year and getting Parker back.
CELTICS - made playoffs in East. picked up win pace after trading deadline. adding 2/3 decent prospects even without trade but figure to be active in trades to improve. no reason to expect step back. will finish ahead of Nets
PHX - likely to slide back in standings. probably not as much as Nets though
NETS -- losing Young. Probably Brook. no $ to chase free agents. no top pick for missing playoffs this year. expecting a drop of 7-8 wins next season putting them around 30.
INDY - finished with same record. getting Paul George back and likely to make a move to improve by moving Hibbert. will finish better than Nets
UTAH - finished with same record. adding another young player (or vet in a trade for the pick) and their youth is improving. will finish better than Nets
MIAMI - one game behind Nets. full season of Dragic (expect to resign), Bosh and Whiteside. Will finish with better record.
CHARLOTTE - ended mess with Lance. chemistry figures to be better and adding another lotto pick. could very well pass Nets--I would expect it to be close
DETROIT - another high pick added to team. improved chemistry with Monroe leaving. could very well pass Nets - another close call
DENVER - full tank. should remain worse
SAC -- another high pick added to team or a couple of veterans that should improve team. better coach. figure a close call with the Nets
ORL - another high pick and improvement from their youth. probably still worse than Nets, barely
LA - Kobe's back, likely to add a good FA or a couple of solid ones. add a top pick or a good vet in a trade for that pick. figure them to finish better than Nets if Kobe comes back close to his usual self
PHILLY - they suck and will suck next year too no matter who they draft. Embiid and a top pick won't fix this trainwreck
NY - getting Melo back. could sign good FA. add top pick or good player in trade of pick. should improve to be close to Nets
MINNY - adding Towns to already solid young core. probably worse than Nets but if Wiggins, Lavine and rest of youth movement make the leap, they could be looking at .500 record and giving us their first rounder.