NBA Preview: Part 1 - Eastern Conference Lottery Teams

I'm too excited about this year's NBA season. The solution? A three-part preview.
This week: Eastern Conference Lottery Teams
Next week: Western Conference Lottery Teams
2 weeks from now: Playoff teams and playoff predictions

So... let's do this!

15-Milwaukee - It's really easy to put them on the bottom when they just let everyone walk away for nothing (Villaneuva, Sessions) when they had the time to do sign-and-trades. The reason they let both players walk? The economy and its vengence! They didn't have the money to accept any players in return! Michael Redd's contract is $17 million this year, another $18 next year still. Bogut seems like he'll be getting paid forever. On the bright side, they have Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.
14-Knicks- At least David Lee and Nate Robinson can still cash in next year on free agency!
13-Charlotte - I just think they are going to end up dumping out Gerald Wallace, Diop, and basically any other player once they realize they have no hope this season. They actually have some nice pieces, but the East is just too competitive and too good this year for the Bobcats to squeak in.
12-Nets- I still say this is the #1 destination for free agents w/ the core of PG Devin Harris, SG C. Lee, C Brook Lopez, and the rookie from Louisville (Terrence Williams).
11- 76ers- I just don't see a smooth transition for the new PG (Louis Williams) who's replacing Andre Miller and I can't expect Elton Brand to be healthy anymore.
10- Pacers - I actually kind of like the roster this year, if they were ever healthy. The addition of SG Dahntay Jones is amazing, as he was a great defender last year on the Nuggets and will really help. They still have young All-Star Danny Granger, and some players who never are healthy (TJ Ford, Dunleavy, Troy Murphy).
9- Pistons - Wow. I can't believe I'm doing this, but I don't think the Pistons can make the playoffs. They have no rebounding and no defense. An over-the-hill Ben Wallace is not going to help the situation very much or make up for the loss of McDyess and Rasheed Wallace. They will score a lot (thanks to Villaneuva and Ben Gordon) but it won't matter. The real reason they can't make it: I don't see them overtaking Toronto/Washington/Miami, as I consider Orlando/Cleveland/Boston/Atlanta/Chicago to be locks at this point. In regards to Toronto/Washington/Miami, Toronto gets back a healthy PG Calderon and added Turkoglu. Washington added extra players (PG Randy Foye, SG Mike Miller) and the best regular season coach (Flip Saunders) in recent NBA history. In addition, Flip Saunders is able to adapt to relate to his players - he even provides his players with i-pod touch devices with "the entire 750-page playbook and video clips on how each play should be run." Miami has D-Wade. With all of the improvements by these other bubble teams (Toronto, Washington, Miami), I just don't see the Pistons making it. Sorry Pistons.