17. Charlotte Hornets (27-29)
The Charlotte Hornets failed to pull off the big blockbuster deal for Marc Gasol (who ultimately ended up with the Raptors), and I can’t help but think how bad the front office might feel at the moment.
They were that close to coupling Kemba Walker with a star, for the first time ever, in almost the perfect time – as he prepares to hit the free agent market this summer. Nevertheless, the Hornets are still one of those teams vying for one of the final two playoff spots in the East.
If they can continue to play .500 basketball for the remainder of the season, there’s no question that the Hornets will make a return to the playoffs this season. With how this season has gone for Charlotte and Kemba, it would be really disappointing if this team didn’t qualify for the post-season.