2013-14 Eastern Conference Forecast (slideshow)

The “We Want Wiggins!!!” group (in no particular order):

BOSTON CELTICS: It will be a different NBA season with the Celtics as a lottery team, but the front office made the tough decision to move on and they’ll be hoping for a high draft pick. A Rondo trade could put them even higher in the lottery while adding another 1st round pick.

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS: Jordan made some decent moves, and the soon-to-be Hornets are no longer the worst team in the NBA.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS: They slipped into the 8th seed last season, then replaced Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis with Brandon Knight and O.J. Mayo. That’s not a recipe for success.

ORLANDO MAGIC: They will play their butts off, Oladipo will be fun to watch, but there’s just not enough talent there yet.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: They’ll be so bad it’s not funny, but they may be the ones laughing 5 years from now.

TORONTO RAPTORS: Head Coach Dewayne Casey is a sitting duck in my opinion, but better days are on the horizon with new and improved management. How will this group respond if they lose early?

WASHINGTON WIZARD: This is the group that will be the most disappointed, but a high draft pick and another year for Wall and Bradley Beal to get better probably means a playoff appearance in 2014-15.

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These are my gut feelings on the East this season. I wouldn’t be surprised if teams like Toronto or Washington found a way to knock Detroit and Cleveland out of the 7 and 8 spots, but I think the top 6 are locked into the playoffs barring major injuries.

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