Official 2014-15 Lotto/Heat/Laker/Thunder Pick Watch Thread

[Embiid P]

Since we did this last year and will likely be even worse this year, I might as well start a thread for it. Also, we get the Heat's pick this year unless it falls within the 1-10 range so we might as well keep track of that too like we did for the Pelicans pick last year. Also we've acquired the Lakers pick (top 5 protected this year) and the Thunder pick (top 18 protected this year) so we can now watch them as well.

UPDATE: As of the end of 3/7, the Knicks have 12 wins the Sixers and T-Wolves have 14 each and the Lakers have 16 (4th).

The Heat beat the Kings to improve to 28-34 on the season and are currently holding on to the 8th seed in the East which is good for the 15th pick overall.

The Thunder lost to the Bulls to fall to 34-28 on the season and are currently holding on to the 8th seed in the West which is good for the 18th pick overall. They are a half-game behind the Wizards for the 19th pick which would ultimately be conveyed to the Sixers.

[Whealy86]

I have to admit last year was painful and tough to watch but like I thought, this year would be a lot more exciting too watch. 80 % of this roster are just fill gaps until Embiid,Saric,2015 picks and future free agents are added to this team. The beauty about this years team is it's all about evaluation and unlike last year we now have a clearer vision on the organizations thinking, Even if we had wiggins or Parker or even a healthy Embiid, this team still won't make the playoffs, so the media and former coaches hating on the Sixers rebuild and losing ways don't see the clearer picture that this young trio of MCW,Noel,and Embiid is very much there and with addition of a few more guys the Sixers have a team I believe could contend every year.

Now to the play , it's still way early but as of now the guys I see on this teams future core will be MCW,Noel,Mcdaniels,Thompson,and maybe a few more but that's the beauty about this year, zero pressure just go play and gives the organization a better evaluation of the players. Wroten I'm hoping will be traded for a pick come deadline. Good player but his play just won't fit in Browns system. We're all excited for Noel , after his first two games he's averaging 10pts,10 rb, 3 blocks after two games. Great stats, but even the stats don't show how quick he is, and when his conditioning gets back WOW.. He might actually be able to guard the 3,4, and 5 I've never seen a 7 footer as quick and athletic as him and with a little more muscle and experience he could be DOY year in and year out in the future. Just think next year Embiid and Noel playing next to one another, true big man and a swat machine , offenses will have some task going at those two.

Anyways I couldn't be more excited to be a Sixers fan , I could care less what people think about the rebuild but I think they forget the Sixers have been mediocre for 15 years and with all the stars teaming up these days how do you expect a team to get Stud players. What does it matter anyways the Draft is fixed that's why they don't show it live and Having less then 2% percent shot at the first pick , Cleveland miraculously landed it. For the Sixers a top 3 pick, Miamis I'm guessing will be between 18-24, all the 2nd picks and Embiid coming in 2015 will be a huge offseason. Not to mention we have loads of cash to spend but I'm guessing we wait another year where will add more picks and Saric. Man in 2016 we will be looking at MCW,Noel,Embiid,Saric,2015 top 3,Miamis 2015 pick, 2016 1st(could be a lottery , I'm guessing late seed), then you have mcdaniels,Thompson,grant,all the seconds to compete for spots, and we still have loads of cash .

[BoomBap]

Man in 2016 we will be looking at MCW,Noel,Embiid,Saric,2015 top 3,Miamis 2015 pick, 2016 1st(could be a lottery , I'm guessing late seed), then you have mcdaniels,Thompson,grant,all the seconds to compete for spots, and we still have loads of cash .

duuude staaahhhppp, i can't handle this right now. It's way too good.

#sixersdynasty

[LeonJordanJr24]

I disagree on the premise that Wroten is not a good fit. A 6'6 guy who can get to the rim at will is exactly what you want in a sixth man. Remember how valuable Lou Williams was for us? Wroten is still young. He has to learn to kick out to shooters. He will be a awesome 6th man. Add him to the core . Even Jamal Crawford , Vinnie Johnson, Jason Terry would struggle running point with turnovers on this terrible team.

KJ Mcdaniels to me should be a role player like a Hollis Thompson as a key reserve . Guys come in play defense, hustle and knock down 3's . They have shown they are capable of that . We need a very strong bench . I want to utilize this year to establish our bench. I like Sims as well but as a back up . He has a nice touch and can be productive in limited mins . Very valuable with Embiid being our potential cornerstone at C.

I can see Hinkie grabbing another foreigner with one of our 1st's and stashing him "Hezonja" . who maybe the best all around scoring wing in the upcoming draft.

I know it's a pipe dream and I don't advocate signing a big name free agent over building a team through draft but you have to be intrigued by drafting a guy like Kelly Oubre with his 7'2 wings span and signing Kawhi Leonard 7'3 wings span. The length on the perimeter would be ridiculous .

[roma258]

I'm not sure tracking the Heat is going to be all that fun this year. They're a solid 6-7 seed and that's that. For us, we're either the worst or second worst record, guaranteed. Once MCW comes back, I think we can sneak up on some teams, but we're just going to have a real hard time scoring enough points.

[the_process]

The Heat will not be fun to track, but it is something we should do to see where the Sixers other pick will end up and to have an idea who will be available at that pick. This is easier than tracking that Pelicans pick anyway, there is really no danger of losing it.


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[Embiid P]

I'm not sure tracking the Heat is going to be all that fun this year. They're a solid 6-7 seed and that's that. For us, we're either the worst or second worst record, guaranteed. Once MCW comes back, I think we can sneak up on some teams, but we're just going to have a real hard time scoring enough points.

Deng was a solid pick-up for them to replace LeBron, but don't forget that they also have Flash who isn't exactly Flash anymore so I expect him to miss a good portion of games. If we are lucky, they will just miss the playoffs as a late lotto team.

[LeonJordanJr24]

I have a strong feeling in two years this team will be composed of 100% of players drafted by Sam Hinkie. Hinkie has been drafting and stashing a wide range of players in which I definitely see as pieces for his future well balanced roster. I think Hinkie is going to bring in as many prospects that resemble NBA players as possible such as Tony Wroten, Hollis Thompson,Henry sims , Shved and Brandon Davies and trade them to acquire addition picks or move up during draft night. Looking at the players Hinkie has drafted and stashed I see him gradually bringing them over once he establishes the talent he already currently drafted on the roster such as MCW, Noel, Mcdaniels and eventually Grant, Embiid, Pierre Jackson. I see the stashed prospects Jordan McRae , Vasilije Micic, and Kasemi all filling the future roster as designed role players.

Hinkie has glaring needs with scoring talent on the wing in which he will address in this upcoming draft with trading out of the top 3 to acquire more assets to package with the Miami pick to move up for a additional lottery pick. I predict Hinkie zeroing on this top 2 or 3 wing prospects in next years draft on definitely being sharpshooting Mario Hezonja. Also I could definitely see him targeting Kelly Oubre because of his Kawhi Leonard potential. I think year 3 with Embidd in the picture will be the end of the tank.

All Hinkie draft picks
Embidd ( Center piece - low post - anchor)
Noel. ( defensive anchor)
***** ( scorer - defender)
*****. ( shooter - defender)
MCW. ( floor general)
---------------
Saric. ( sixth man scoring combo forward)
Mcdaniels ( 3 and D)
Grant. ( hustle defender - combo forward)
McRae ( slasher- defender)
Micic ( back up point guard)
Jackson ( speedy scoring combo guard )
Arsalan Kazemi ( servicable big reserve)

[Skates]

Back to the topic at hand, the Heat are 3-0 and in the 'we'll show them'' post-Lebron, early season mode, but the team isn't deep, it is old and has a number of key guys who have injury histories in Wade and Deng. Bosh will be carrying a much larger load and playing with a target on his back, which will wear him down over time. The biggest concern isn't how good the Heat will be, they will cool off a lot from now, but how strong the rest of the East behind Chicago and Cleveland will be to determine where that pick will fall.

It won't be as much fun as watching NOP last year because it is nearly impossible for a competent team to miss the playoffs in the East, but the pick is ours to use or trade, I am guessing in the 16-19 range. Might be a good spot to grab a shooter as the top of the upcoming draft looks bereft of them, but specialists usually start filling up the draft ranks at about that point in the draft.

[BullyKing]

Heat get their first loss of the season.

[TigerInYourTank]

Back to the topic at hand, the Heat are 3-0 and in the 'we'll show them'' post-Lebron, early season mode, but the team isn't deep, it is old and has a number of key guys who have injury histories in Wade and Deng. Bosh will be carrying a much larger load and playing with a target on his back, which will wear him down over time. The biggest concern isn't how good the Heat will be, they will cool off a lot from now, but how strong the rest of the East behind Chicago and Cleveland will be to determine where that pick will fall.

It won't be as much fun as watching NOP last year because it is nearly impossible for a competent team to miss the playoffs in the East, but the pick is ours to use or trade, I am guessing in the 16-19 range. Might be a good spot to grab a shooter as the top of the upcoming draft looks bereft of them, but specialists usually start filling up the draft ranks at about that point in the draft.

Man, 16-19 range sounds optimistic. I would think that's the probable best case.

[Embiid P]

So the Heat lost but so did the Magic and Lakers to remain winless. While I expect Orlando to start winning games when Dipo comes back, tomorrow night is a pretty big game for the tank at this early stage of the season.

[LloydFree]

So the Heat lost but so did the Magic and Lakers to remain winless. While I expect Orlando to start winning games when Dipo comes back, tomorrow night is a pretty big game for the tank at this early stage of the season.

I'm out of the wishing for losses mode. That was last year. The losses will come either way.

The 76ers need to beat the Magic tonight. If they can't beat the Magic, at home, without Oladipo, with the Magic playing back-to-back, then the 76ers might go 0-82.

[CoreyGallagher]

So the Heat lost but so did the Magic and Lakers to remain winless. While I expect Orlando to start winning games when Dipo comes back, tomorrow night is a pretty big game for the tank at this early stage of the season.

I'm out of the wishing for losses mode. That was last year. The losses will come either way.

The 76ers need to beat the Magic tonight. If they can't beat the Magic, at home, without Oladipo, with the Magic playing back-to-back, then the 76ers might go 0-82.

No MCW.

[Foshan]

I don't think Mia is oging to be able to look this good all season. Bosh is playing like a beast... but he hasn't done this much work in like 3yrs (or more), he's going to get tired as teams get more physical with him. Wade is going to miss at least 20 games. Aside from Deng the rest of the team sucks. I see them 5-8 seed at best, so with how bad the east is, that's a mid-late teen pick. I can live with that.

[BullyKing]

I don't think Mia is oging to be able to look this good all season. Bosh is playing like a beast... but he hasn't done this much work in like 3yrs (or more), he's going to get tired as teams get more physical with him. Wade is going to miss at least 20 games. Aside from Deng the rest of the team sucks. I see them 5-8 seed at best, so with how bad the east is, that's a mid-late teen pick. I can live with that.

Agreed. I'm sure they were feeding off some we don't need LeBron energy the first couple games. They just lost to the Rockets (coming off a back to back) at home by more than the Sixers did.

[Embiid P]

So the Heat lost but so did the Magic and Lakers to remain winless. While I expect Orlando to start winning games when Dipo comes back, tomorrow night is a pretty big game for the tank at this early stage of the season.

I'm out of the wishing for losses mode. That was last year. The losses will come either way.

The 76ers need to beat the Magic tonight. If they can't beat the Magic, at home, without Oladipo, with the Magic playing back-to-back, then the 76ers might go 0-82.

True but remember there are always those one or two teams that are unexpectedly awful and/or tanking alongside with us. Last year, it was obviously the Bucks. This year there will probably be more teams we have to compete with. I don't want any unnecessary drama this year like we had last year, I just want the worst record and a guaranteed top 4 pick.

[LloydFree]

So the Heat lost but so did the Magic and Lakers to remain winless. While I expect Orlando to start winning games when Dipo comes back, tomorrow night is a pretty big game for the tank at this early stage of the season.

I'm out of the wishing for losses mode. That was last year. The losses will come either way.

The 76ers need to beat the Magic tonight. If they can't beat the Magic, at home, without Oladipo, with the Magic playing back-to-back, then the 76ers might go 0-82.

True but remember there are always those one or two teams that are unexpectedly awful and/or tanking alongside with us. Last year, it was obviously the Bucks. This year there will probably be more teams we have to compete with. I don't want any unnecessary drama this year like we had last year, I just want the worst record and a guaranteed top 4 pick.

I guess I see it diffently this year. There is nobody I specifically see as a future franchise player in this draft, so there is no stress about where they pick. That may change, once I see them play, and pick out a 'must have'. Right now, for me, draft position isn't a concern

[Agnostifarian]

The Heat are a Bosh injury away from the lottery. Wade will show brief flashes of his old game and longer flashes of old.

Hinkie won't be "trading back" with the 76er pick next year. He is still looking for franchise players. More likely, he'll trade up looking for "his guy."

Through four games, the 76er energy has them competitive through 3 quarters but they don't have the personnel or teamwork to execute winning basketball to close quarters, especially the 4th quarter. This was a problem in the "Jrue Era" too and it is the primary difference between teams that win consistently and those that do not.

I see the team playing lots of "Morey Ball" this year. Shoot threes and layups, lead the league in pace and take better care of the ball along the way.

[Ericb5]

The sixers are so bad that winning too many games is not going to be a worry. It isn't about tanking for a specific player. It is just better to have the highest picks because it gives you more options.

I think that there are no Embiid's this year, but Okafor, could be comparable to Parker or Wiggins, and at least Towns and Mudiay are comparable to the Smart/Exum, Randle types.

By the end of the year maybe someone else joins those players. It would be nice if Oubre or Johnson has monster years simply because they fit our team better.

Still, I have always felt that if we end up with the top pick that you just take Okafor and work out the fit later.


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