The Brooklyn Nets are off to a 3-7 start and, well, they're a mess to start the 2013-14 season.

Forgive Celtics fans if they're taking great amusement in Brooklyn's struggles. The Nets owe Boston their 2014 first-round drat pick as part of the summer blockbuster and some see possible ping-pong balls with each Brooklyn loss.

One thing to keep in mind: As part of the deal that delivered Joe Johnson from Atlanta, Brooklyn gave the Hawks the ability to swap first-round picks in 2014. That means Celtics fans should be rooting against both Brooklyn and Atlanta if they want a quality draft pick. At the moment, the Hawks are 6-4 and would be in position to request the swap. That would mean Atlanta's draft pick would be the one coming to Boston.

Plenty can change between now and the end of the regular season, but you get the feeling that both the Nets and Hawks will be competing for a spot int he top half of the Eastern Conference playoff ladder by April. Don't get too excited about that additional first-round pick yet, but every asset does help for teams in transition.

BOSTON'S OWED FIRST-ROUND PICKS

2014: Nets (potential Hawks swap)

2015: Clippers

2016: Nets

2018: Nets

Note: The Celtics have the ability to swap spots with the Nets in 2017.

(h/t: RealGM future picks)