The NBA Lottery is on May 16th. This is a big lottery- not only is their a franchise player in Victor Wembanyama , but the top of the draft has some players that people are raving about: Scoot Henderson, Brandon Miller, the Thompson Twins. I don't think the lottery is rigged.... but IF it was, here's how I'd book things.
Victor Wembanyama... a franchise player for some team.
Note: There's one NBA franchise that I am fan of (The Cleveland Cavaliers) and a couple I despise (Miami Heat). Outside of that, my rule is to support teams that haven't won the title in a long time, unless I have a reason to support or not support this team
My Crazy Dream Booking: Winners of the lottery- Portland, Indiana, Utah, go 1-3 in some order; Oklahoma City goes 4th
Portland, Indiana, and Utah are all teams that have not won the NBA title since I started following basketball. None of the teams have tried to tank, and they have a stable franchise that should allow a Wembanyama to flourish.
OKC is in the same boat, but OKC is a newer franchise who moved from Seattle, so I have less sympathy for them.
What Should Happen: Winners of the lottery: San Antonio, Detroit, Orlando, Portland
The bottom five franchises all have a 10% chance or more to win the lottery. San Antonio has the worst talent, but they are a model of franchise stability, not to mention the greatest coach of all time (IMHO)
What Will Happen: Winners of the lottery: Charlotte, Houston, Detroit, Chicago
Charlotte is up for sale. If I was the NBA and the lottery was rigged, I'd make sure Charlotte got the franchise player to raise the selling price (and the money the other owners would get from the sale).
Houston is a major market that is in the middle of a rebuild. Detroit has young talent that one more player could elevate. Chicago is a major market with a good team- and owes Orlando their top pick if it's not 1-4.
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Dallas, New Orleans, Charlotte, Washington
Dallas and New Orleans have both drafted franchise players (Luka Doncic and Zion Williamson), and can't make the playoffs. Seems overkill to give either team Wembayana. Charlotte is a bad franchise. Washington is boring and on a treadmill.
This isn't technically possible. But the Lakers have over a 50 year history of getting players they have no business getting.
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