The only teams that I am not counting on at all to pass the Nets are Orlando and Sacramento.
The combination of youth, no true go to developing star, and no true system/good coach on either roster make me feel like although they might get closer to the Nets, they will ultimately be the worse two teams in the league.
I absolutely count on Utah, Chicago, Memphis, and Charlotte continuing to separate upwards from the Nets.
So that leaves a big cluster of Nets, Lakers, Mavs, Hawks, and Suns to battle for the 3-7 slots. I think, barring major injuries or talent dumps at the trade deadline, those teams will all revolve around each other all the way to the end of the season. Of those 4 other teams, I see the Mavs(good coach) and Lakers(good young talent) as the two most likely to pass the Nets by the end of the year.
Final 4-8 games, we could see teams intentionally tank and the Nets without motivation to will at least make an effort in their games. Doesn't mean they'll win though.
Final prediction, at just past the mid point of the season, is that the Nets end up with the 4-5 slot in the lottery and on lottery night we all hold our breathe and hope like hell they shoot into the top3