We Finally Win The Lottery!!!!

[Clarity]

If we can get Embiid, then we could trade Monroe (for a solid two/three) and Smith for chump change!!!

Embiid and Drummond controlling the paint for the next twelve years?? That's a dream scenario for us!

until Embiid doesnt somehow become an equal to Drummond's ceiling or something & then the fans miraculously turn on him & say he isnt worth the money.

[HotelVitale]

I haven't been advocating for any particular player and haven't mentioned Parker or Wiggins. All I've said is that BPA>need when our team is as mediocre as it has been for years on end, and the inference that having an actual strength is better than being average or slightly above at each position for the sake of "balance'.
I knew somebody was going to pick on that last sentence, but again, it's presented with a glut as a given...which is why I referenced previously mismanaged logjams that we created with no plan, forward or escape.
But, I agree. I would gladly leverage a big for an equivalent SF if it also brought other prospects along.

I'm usually in favor of BPA, but if you've got a guy that you rate a 95 who plays the same position as your stud, and a guy you rate a 93 who plays your position of need, it's not a huge compromise to take the second guy. It's only a problem when you start reaching on some guys for need, or letting great prospects go because you already have some so-so options at the same slot.

Also, I'm not sure we would have much leverage if we were picking first and ORL second. They'd be aware that us taking Embiid would create a huge problem with us, so they might call our bluff rather than pay us much. Plus they need a 3 and Wiggins would fit them nicely.

[Laimbeer]

I'd consider trading it. Teams like the Celtics, Thunder, or Suns might give a boatload so they could swap it for Love.

[Snakebites]

I still maintain that it makes absolutely no difference if we lose our pick this year or next year. There might be a somewhat better chance at getting a solid player in this draft (though I think this is hard to project), but that's offset by the fact that we could conceivably lose an even better pick next year if the team continues to sputter.

There are only 2 scenarios in which getting the pick this year makes us better off:

1) If we actually move up in the lottery. Obviously this would make risking losing a high pick next year worth it.
2) If we actually manage to improve next year reducing the quality of what we'd give up next year.

Anyone favoring tanking should be doing so because it will improve our chances of moving up somewhat, not because keeping the 8th pick this year makes us so much better off. That's just a stay of execution, the disastrous loss of a lottery pick pick is coming whether we like it or not, whether this year or next year.

The only way to avoid it is to actually get better. I was hoping this would happen this year, but obviously it hasn't. It won't happen next year either unless our roster looks different than it does now, and making meaningful changes is going to be hard with Monroe's contract situation and Smith/Jennings still in the fold.

[ComboGuardCity]

I'd consider trading it. Teams like the Celtics, Thunder, or Suns might give a boatload so they could swap it for Love.

And what exactly is their 'Boatload?' If it had any value, Minny would want this 'boatload'