Post-NBA Lottery Thoughts

NBA Post-lottery draft thoughts:

• I’m a Cleveland Cavaliers fan, so obviously I wished the Cavs had moved up instead of down.  But #5 is still good enough to get a starter, even in a ‘weak’ draft.  I’m hoping for Jarrett Culver, but it’s up to the front office to make the right choice
• Last year, the Western Conference received the top four picks in the NBA draft.  This year, they have… three of the top four.  I don’t see the talent gap between the Western and Eastern Conference shrinking.
• If I’m AD, I hire a PR firm to work on restoring my reputation to New Orleans.  Him AND Zion, with Jrue Holiday and a good GM?  That is a scary team.  If he insists on a trade… well, New Orleans should listen.  But I’m not sure what the best deal for them would be now
• I think Morant will be a great pick for Memphis
• The reformed lottery worked, in that tanking is not rewarded as much

NBA Lottery Predictions

My Crazy Dream Booking: 

1. Charlotte Hornets- Zion Williamson
2. Cleveland Cavaliers- Ja Morant
3. Atlanta- RJ Barrett
4. Memphis- Cameron Redish

Last year, the Western Conference ended up with the top 4 picks in the draft.  This year, the Eastern Conference gets the clean sweep. 

Charlotte gets a franchise player in Zion, Kemba has a good reason to stay with the team, and Zion both stays close to his college AND starts his career with a great point guard

Cleveland gets the second piece of their rebuild to creating a fast team

Atlanta gets Barrett to join Trae Young

Memphis (like Charlotte, a good organization that is due for some luck) get an outside shooter to help with their rebuild.

 
What Should Happen: 

1. Philadelphia (via SAC)- Zion Williamson
2. Chicago- Ja Morant
3. New Orleans- RJ Barrett
4. Cleveland- Jarrett Culvert

There are three teams that break the internet if they win the lottery:  The Lakers (see ‘If I was Booking This and I Hated You’), New Orleans (Now does Davis try to come back, or does New Orleans then trade Davis knowing they have Zion?), and Philadelphia.  Besides breaking the heart of Sacramento fans… what would Philadelphia do?  I can’t see a frontcourt of Embiid AND Simmons AND Zion working, so someone needs to be traded….

What Will Happen: 

1. New York- Zion Williamson
2. Cleveland Cavaliers- Ja Morant
3. Atlanta- RJ Barrett
4. Chicago- Darius Garland

New York starts their trio of KD, Kyrie and Zion, which on paper looks great and would be a potential train wreck.  I still love Morant to Cleveland.  Barrett goes to Atlanta, and the Bulls get their Point Guard

What I’m Terrified Will Happen: 

1. Phoenix- Zion Williamson
2. Washington- Ja Morant
3. Minnesota- RJ Barrett
4. Los Angeles Lakers- Cam Reddish

Phoenix gets their new frontcourt star to team with… their other frontcourt #1 pick.  Washington, stuck for years because of Wall’s injuries, get a new point guard.  Minnesota gets the new Andrew Wiggins to go with the existing Andrew Wiggins.  The Lakers get a shooter.  The West get three of the first four picks

If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: 

1. Los Angeles Lakers- Zion Williamson
2. Boston (via Sacramento)- Ja Morant
3. Miami- RJ Barrett
4. Phoenix- Cam Reddish

The Lakers have been in a three way race (with the Knicks and Phoenix) over the worst-run franchise in the NBA this past decade.  But their luck or deal with the devil continues to allow them to have things go their way.  It would be perfectly in line with the last 50 years for the Lakers to luck into the #1 pick and have Zion come to join this team. 

Boston gets their new point guard, because of course their trades work out for them.

The hot markets continue to hog all of the best players.  Reddish goes to one of the worst run organizations in sports.