If I had to guess the playoffs next year I would say the top teams will be New Orleans, Lakers, and Utah (winning their divisions). Teams that have a chance to make the playoffs are Houston, Portland, Denver, San Antonio, Dallas, Golden State, and Phoenix. There is ten teams right there.
Teams moving on up:
Portland is obviously on the way up because of the pick this year, and adding Oden to the mix.
Lakers as long as they have Gasol, Kobe, and Bynum are going to be a power.
Utah - Jazz have the "other" young PG phenom in Williams. The team isn;t the youngest, but they have the base, and the right coach for him.
New Orleans - Hornets have arguably the best PG in the NBA, and a young PF. Chandler, and Peja are still young enough to make excellent role players for years to come.
Vultures could be circling:
San Antonio - How long can they ride Duncan before it's all over?
Phoenix - Will Shaq last the whole season? How long will Nash hold up?
Denver - Camby? Iverson? How long will those two last? Carmello can't do it on his own.
Dallas - Kidd might not have been the best trade, and now they are stuck with him.
Golden State - What if the W's lose Baron to free agency?
Houston - without that 20+ game win streak they would have had trouble making the playoffs this year.
Teams looking up at the ten teams above looking to take one of the spots:
Sacramento - Kings have one of the best SG/SF rotations in the league and a good young center.
Improved this year record wise even though the competition got better.
Clippers - Clippers have Brand back, and Livingston, but will they be the same? Brand isn't that young, and who knows if Livingston can make a full recovery? BUT Thorton, and Kaman are great starts to a good team.
Cellar teams next year:
Seattle or Oklahoma? - Kevin Durant, and Green are good starts, but it's obvious they are a few years away from contention.
Minnesota - T-Wolves have Jefferson, and a top pick this year. They played well late in the season, but are going to be at best a 30 win team next year.
Memphis - heh.... no way.. Conley is going to be good, and Gay is already, but they need to make some personnel changes because the team doesn't mesh very well. Warrick is not a PF either so I wish they would stop playing him there. Also, it's safe to say Milicic is a bust