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Our pick is top 13 protected. In either of the two scenarios listed here, our pick will convey to Minnesota.

A) Make the playoffs (either via finishing 6th seed or better or winning one of the last two spots in the play-in after finishing 7th-10th)
B) Are the best team to record-wise to miss the playoffs in either conferance

So, committ now. What do you think will happen? Does our pick convey this year?

For the purposes of this thread, we'll set aside what you'd LIKE to see- it's irrelevant for our purposes here.

I say no but I hope it does. I want to just get it over with and have all our future picks available.

I decided to get uncharacteristically optimistic and voted yes.

A vote with my heart, I'll grant. I do think we need to add another ball handler for that to be realized but am hopeful we'll do it.

All the play-in teams in the West are above .500 right now and I think that continues into the play-in. Right now keeping the pick is pretty close to a coin flip IMO.

45% chance we make the playoffs(top 6 seed or we win the needed play-in game) and don't get to keep our pick
50% chance we make the play-in but lose the game(s) and keep our pick
5% chance we make the play-in but lose the game(s) and have to give away our #14 pick

I continue to think, realistically, we’re a play-in team, and there’s a pretty good chance one of these slacker ass teams with more developed talent is there, too. So we lose there and keep the pick.

I don't think Trajan will make a move to improve the team enough this season, so I voted no.
Playoffs would be cool, but letting the young guys get minutes and improve is more important and I think that's the way Trajan goes.

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I always thought best case we lose in the play in championship and then win the lottery and start our dynasty

SuperBad wrote:I always thought best case we lose in the play in championship and then win the lottery and start our dynasty

I like this result.

But I think we make the playoffs and lose the pick in a great draft year. We sure don’t have good luck w the draft and lottery and it continues…

That west playin competition is pretty stiff. I think all of those teams will have a better record than us.

And I think there is about a 0% chance of us finishing 6th. Orlando is finally getting their guys back healthy , so even if the heat collapse with all the butler saga, I don't see us leapfrogging either orlando or indiana.

So basically this question is , do we win 2 playin games in a row. It's possible, but I don't think it's going to happen. Right now, we are incredibly easy to game plan for. Blitz Cade and force someone else to beat you. I don't think THJ and Harris can make teams pay enough to thwart that strategy for 48 minutes of playoff intensity basketball. I mean, we would have a punchers chance since you never know when a shooter is going to get hot, but Cade needs some consistent help if we want to make noise in the playoffs.

The Pistons will likely be bottom 13 by the end of the year, not what I want but they don't have the horses to stay in this race for the long term above a bottom level play-in team IMO so they keep the pick one more year. I think Philly and Atlanta will pass them.

I voted no. I'd feel a lot better about rendering this opinion if the trade deadline was past, but unless there's marked improvement in the second half of the season I don't think we have the talent. When we play the better teams we look small and overmatched at many positions. There's no doubt the Pistons are better, but they're still a ways from good.