It’s often said that teams can either sell their fans winning or hope. Today, more than half the NBA can now tell their partisans that they stand a mere 16 victories from holding a parade and getting some gaudy rings.

What about the other 14 teams? How well can those franchises sell the hope that they too will soon be a handful of wins from raising a banner?

The off-season has begun for those teams, and it figures to be a pivotal one for many of them. Some teams have clear agendas. Portland, Seattle, the Knicks, and Golden State need to get pointed in the right direction before they can start marketing hope. Philadelphia’s decline phase is about to deepen as it tries to sort out its expensive veteran roster. In Minnesota, GM Kevin McHale has to find more talent with which to surround Kevin Garnett.

In contrast, Houston needs to build a better supporting cast around superstars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, but as long as those two don’t miss 60 games between them, the Rockets will contend again, even if the rest of roster isn’t overhauled.

Here’s a forecast for the other seven lottery residents.

UPWARD BOUND The playoff qualifiers usually change by four teams each year. Some of the new entrants are moderately surprising, like the L.A. Clippers. Others, like the Bucks, could be easily forecast. This off-season includes a draft long on complimentary players and short on breakout star potential, and a free agent market short on elite talent. This means that few teams will radically remake their lineups, so the teams already moving quickly in the right direction are more likely to escape lotteryville and join the 2007 postseason party.

It doesn’t take great vision to see Orlando as a future power. This season the Magic solidified a nucleus for the future with power forward Dwight Howard, point guard Jameer Nelson, and center Darko Milicic, who was acquired in February from Detroit. After the Serbian center began getting steady burn, the Magic went 17-11 (last night’s game not included). They will be able to build on this momentum with a first-round pick likely to be late in the lottery, and whomever they choose to take with their midlevel exception. With the most important positions on the floor filled, the Magic look like a lock to enter the playoff picture next year and move into ranks of the championship contenders in the seasons to follow.

Utah Jazz fans have reason to feel almost as optimistic, and they feel Rockets fans’ pain. Power forward Carlos Boozer missed 50 games and weak side forward Andrei Kirilenko missed another 13. With a better run of health, they might have edged either the Lakers or Kings out of the final playoff spot. Utah’s future depends on how well it develops the young talent already on the roster. If Deron Williams and C.J. Miles progress, the Jazz will have a solid backcourt to pair with their playoff caliber front line.

In Boston, a year of good health will also result in a return to the playoffs. Paul Pierce is a superstar, but the best members of his supporting cast, guards Tony Allen and forward Al Jefferson, missed lots of time with injuries or played hurt. With Delonte West and Gerald Green developing into major talents and Kendrick Perkins emerging as a competent pivotman, the Celtics could improve by 10 wins or more.

MAJOR QUESTIONS MARKS Some teams need more roster work before we can count on them to contend.

One can only assume, public pronouncements notwithstanding, that both Oklahoma City and New Orleans will share the Hornets for the next few years. The rebuilding effort in New Orleans will take several years, and the Hornets have an enthusiastic following in Oklahoma City. Fans in both cities should feel optimistic entering the offseason given the emergence of rookie of the year lock Chris Paul, and forward David West. But they and free agent guard Speedy Claxton are the only Hornets who play above league average.

West and Paul are likely to improve, but the Hornets will need to add substantially to their talent base before they can claim a Western Conference playoff spot.

Atlanta and Toronto are in a similar position; both are building nice collections of young talent, but lack key players to complete their starting lineups. The Hawks need a point guard and may take a long look at Raptors free agent Mike James. Toronto lacks a center, and both teams lack depth. Each has improved but both are at least two drafts and two offseasons away from contending.

EXCEPTION TO THE RULE Charlotte enters its third off-season needing to show progress because the expansion honeymoon with its fans is about to end. So far, the Bobcats have filled their starting roles nicely with players like forward Gerald Wallace and guard Raymond Felton, but they need depth (and better health from power forward Emeka Okafor, who missed two thirds of the season). The Bobcats are still a year or two away from contending, but they will have to start showing progress this off-season or the fans will get impatient. Even fans of an expansion team need to feel hope amid the losses.

mjohnson@nysun.com