I initially had some long-winded question that was way too confusing, because I wanted to try to ask that exact question--which is the lowest seeded WC team that, if they played the schedule of another EC team, would be good enough to make the playoffs?

The fact that the mavericks will likely miss the playoffs has a lot to do with the fact that they'll have to play playoff locks SAS, HOU, as well as fringe playoff contenders NOP and Memphis. Jazz would be top 4 in EC, with or without Hayward, IMO.