NBA: Predicting the 2019 draft lottery teams

SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 15: R.J. Barrett #5 of Montverde Academy dribbles during a game against Mater Dei High School during the 2018 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 15: R.J. Barrett #5 of Montverde Academy dribbles during a game against Mater Dei High School during the 2018 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
4 of 14
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 19: D’Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets looks down the court against the Miami Heat during their game at Barclays Center on January 19, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 19: D’Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets looks down the court against the Miami Heat during their game at Barclays Center on January 19, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

4. Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets roster that ended the year last year will likely be very similar to the one that starts in October. Brooklyn once again owed this season’s first-round pick to another team, this time the Cavaliers. The wait is finally over for the Nets, though, they own all of their own first-round draft picks moving forward. Which now means they actually have the incentive to lose and lose they will.

The front office did manage to pick up a late first round pick which they used on Dzanan Musa from Cedevita in the Croatian League. They also snagged another young 6-foot-9 European forward prospect in Rodions Kurucs, who was considered a first-round pick before he withdrew his name before the deadline. They may be big pieces in the future but for now, they don’t move the needle for them.

They do still have a terrific offensive system in place though, similar to the Houston Rockets they play fast and fire up a lot of 3-pointers. They will still win games in possibly the weakest eastern conference in league history, but it won’t be many.