Nets slated to finish eighth in the East by ESPN

It's the middle of August, which means only one thing, the ESPN Summer Forecast is back!

ESPN lists 210 different writers that are connected to their network that they poll on a wide range of different topics about the upcoming season. This event started Monday morning with Eastern Conference Predictions, and the Nets pop up eight on the list, with a predicted record of 39-43. Brooklyn finishes behind (in order): Cleveland, Chicago, Washington, Toronto, Charlotte, Miami, Atlanta. That finish would also mean the Nets and Hawks would have to swap picks.

Chad Ford tweeted out his vote...

My vote: 1 Cavs 2 Bulls 3 Hornets 4 Wizards 5 Raps 6 Heat 7 Hawks 8 Pacers 9 Nets 10 Knicks 11 Pistons 12 Celts 13 Magic 14 Bucks 16 76ers

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) August 12, 2014

For the record, this prediction means nothing. It is ESPN asking their writers what they believe will happen next season. There is no public record of who voted what and how they determined the Nets' forecasted record. For a historical review of how the Nets fared in last year's ESPN forecast, they were predicted to finish 53-29 last season and finish fourth in the East. The Knicks were thought to finish fifth by the panel.

Take this with a grain of salt Nets fans.

• NBA: 2014 Summer Forecast -- East standings - ESPN
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