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5 Teams Who Could Make The NBA Playoffs Next Season

By Carter Johnson

Mar 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Andrew Wiggins (22) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Andrew Wiggins (22) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Now that the 2016 free agency period has died down and rosters for next year have begun to take shape, here are five teams who missed the NBA playoffs last season but put themselves in prime position to make the postseason in 2016-17.

Mar 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Andrew Wiggins (22) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Andrew Wiggins (22) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The NBA is an ever-changing league, with the competitive landscape bound to look different from season to season due to the constant movement of players via free agency, trades and the draft.

This offseason was a perfect example of that fluctuation as several star players and significant contributors changed teams, including a monumental move where the richest of the rich (the Golden State Warriors) got richer.

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Some of these moves unfortunately bumped former playoff contenders into the lottery conversation (we’re looking at you, Miami Heat), but for other teams, the right moves were made to put them in place to contend for a playoff spot.

Some of these teams are young squads that have been growing together for a while and look primed to make the leap this season while others assembled the right group of veterans to improve their standing and make a run at a playoff spot.

While the Eastern Conference is much weaker and easier to maneuver, some teams out West might also have the opportunity to compete in a loaded conference.

Without further ado, here are five teams primed to make the leap back to the postseason in 2016-17.

Next: The Salt Lake Hopefuls