Sometimes, it’s not a matter of where you are. It’s more a matter of which direction you’re heading in. NBA teams can be viewed in the same light.

If you’re trending upward, you’ve got reason to hope. That’s a better situation than one where you’re trending downward – even if you’re on a higher level, to begin with. 

For NBA teams, it’s not always a matter of where they are in the standings. Observers also look at where they expected them to be and how old their roster is. 

For example, look at the Orlando Magic. At 16-28, they may not be playoff hopefuls – but they are trending upwards.

By contrast, the 19-24 Toronto Raptors are heading in the wrong direction. 

Could the two sides make a trade this season?