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Predictions For The Atlantic Division In The 2016-17 Season

By Carter Johnson

Mar 18, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) looks to shoot as Boston Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk (41) defends in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) looks to shoot as Boston Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk (41) defends in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 18, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) reacts as the Nets lose to the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Nets 112-100. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) reacts as the Nets lose to the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Nets 112-100. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Brooklyn Nets

2015-16 Record: 21-61 (4th in Atlantic Division)
2016-17 Prediction: 15-67 (last in Atlantic Division) 

It’s hard to picture a scenario where the Brooklyn Nets don’t end up being the worst team in the NBA this upcoming season.

The franchise finds itself in a barren land in 2016, having all the cap space in the world but none of the attractive assets to lure stars that they could potentially spend it on.

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    • They’re also absolutely devoid of draft picks for the foreseeable future as a result of a trade with the Boston Celtics for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett that now looks like a complete misfire to say the least.

    Although they have a talented anchor in Brook Lopez, the pieces around him are mediocre at best, even with Jeremy Lin joining the team after a resurgent season with the Charlotte Hornets and role players like Trevor Booker and Luis Scola having proved their mettle on better teams.

    While bringing on former Atlanta Hawks assistant Kenny Atkinson as head coach and a member of the prestigious San Antonio Spurs front office/coaching fraternity in Sean Marks as general manager is a step in the right direction, this roster just doesn’t boast enough talent to be a success in the immediate future.

    It’s hard to imagine things getting worse for a team that went 21-61 and had to give up their top-3 pick to a playoff team last season, but it looks like it’s about to.

    Next: No. 4