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NBA Predictions: December 21st updated 2020-21 NBA win total projections

By Duncan Smith

December 25, 2018; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 25, 2018; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /

Brooklyn Nets

Projected wins: 44 (+2)

Eastern Conference standings: 3rd (previously 4th)

What changed: Kevin Durant is back and looks as good as ever.

Other than re-signing Joe Harris to a four-year, $72 million contract, the Brooklyn Nets didn’t actually do much in the offseason. They were, however, the center of all the rumors focused on James Harden getting away from the Houston Rockets via trade. Much hinges on what actually comes of that noise, to the degree that some sportsbooks have the Nets’ win totals off the board. If the Nets trade for Harden, they might be the best team in the NBA. If they don’t, well, they’re probably one of the top 3-to-5 teams in the Eastern Conference.

Related Story. Heat: Creating a trade proposal for James Harden. light

Charlotte Hornets

Projected wins: 23 (-3)

Eastern Conference standings: 13th (previously 12th)

What changed: Gordon Hayward has been day-to-day with a fractured finger, and while he may be back in time for the season opener, he likely won’t be at full strength for some time.

The Charlotte Hornets thought they were going for it this offseason but really didn’t do much outside of short-circuiting their own rebuild. They signed Gordon Hayward to a ridiculous three-year, $120 million contract and had to waive and stretch the final year (worth $27 million) of Nicolas Batum’s equally ridiculous contract to do it. The Hornets have LaMelo Ball, and that’s nice, but Michael Jordan’s team won’t accomplish much by trying to be competitive this way. They think they’re going to be good, but they’re going to be pretty bad. And that makes everything about this so much worse.