16. Brooklyn Nets (38-37)
The Brooklyn Nets have some work to do, but are trending towards earning one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. And barring a collapse in the last handful of games of the season, the Nets are set to make a return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
What’s even more encouraging is the fact that the Nets are barely scratching the surface on the team that they can be this season. They are quite young and will have a ton of cap space to play with during the summer.
Brooklyn will likely make the playoffs this season, but this is only the beginning of a potential next great decade for the franchise.