The race to the bottom for 2025

[Luv those Knicks]

With the draft and many free agent signings/trades done and it's not too soon for the NBA power rankings and I thought it'd be fun to look at the bottom 5

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/nba-power-rankings-2024-where-knicks-thunder-76ers-mavericks-more-stand-after-draft-free-agency/ar-BB1pubHx?ocid=BingNewsSerp

Bulls (they probably trade DeRozan, Nets, Blazers, Wizards, Pistons.

I'm quietly hoping that the Wiz will win enough to transfer the pick to us, but it seems unlikely. Maybe next year. Those are the 5 teams most likely to lead the lottory in terms of percentages.

Thoughts? Will any other teams compete with them for being that bad?

Will the Pistons be worst over-all again?

[FrozenEnvelope]

Is Cooper Flagg worth tanking for?

[Luv those Knicks]

Is Cooper Flagg worth tanking for?

Teams have tanked for less. I would say, yes. Tanking is totally worth it if a team is stuck in mediocrity, or in the middle of a rebuild (which, it seems, the Pistons have been in for going on 5 years, . . .. or is it 10?)

As for how good a top prospect Flagg is? I have no idea.

[DaGawd]

Is Cooper Flagg worth tanking for?

Teams have tanked for less. I would say, yes. Tanking is totally worth it if a team is stuck in mediocrity, or in the middle of a rebuild (which, it seems, the Pistons have been in for going on 5 years, . . .. or is it 10?)

As for how good a top prospect Flagg is? I have no idea.

i’ve been watching his tape since about junior year and saw his first duke scrimmage. he legit looks like the next great white american. excellent size for a wing at 6’9 and has good athleticism to go with great skill. sure fire stud in the nba i’m calling it

[Polk377]

With the draft and many free agent signings/trades done and it's not too soon for the NBA power rankings and I thought it'd be fun to look at the bottom 5

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/nba-power-rankings-2024-where-knicks-thunder-76ers-mavericks-more-stand-after-draft-free-agency/ar-BB1pubHx?ocid=BingNewsSerp

Bulls (they probably trade DeRozan, Nets, Blazers, Wizards, Pistons.

I'm quietly hoping that the Wiz will win enough to transfer the pick to us, but it seems unlikely. Maybe next year. Those are the 5 teams most likely to lead the lottory in terms of percentages.

Thoughts? Will any other teams compete with them for being that bad?

Will the Pistons be worst over-all again?

I don't think either Washington or Pistons finish bottom 5 next year. Right now I see Portland, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Bulls, Spurs and Jazz(Once they find the right packages for Markkanen and Walker) to be the bottom 5. Detroit brought in quality vets to surround the youth with a coach who gives a damn. Washington will be hella big with Brogdon and Valenciunas added and should be tough enough to win some extra games.

[Knicks365247]

Hornets resigned Miles Bridges, I could see them flirting with the play-in pending health of their roster.

[Luv those Knicks]

I don't think either Washington or Pistons finish bottom 5 next year. Right now I see Portland, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Bulls, Spurs and Jazz(Once they find the right packages for Markkanen and Walker) to be the bottom 5. Detroit brought in quality vets to surround the youth with a coach who gives a damn. Washington will be hella big with Brogdon and Valenciunas added and should be tough enough to win some extra games.

I think you're low on the Spurs. Wemby is pretty good. You might be right about the rest though.

I'd love to get a pick next year, but I don't think it's likely. 2026 we might get the Wizards pick if things break right for them. I think Detroit plans on winning fewer than 25 games for the next 6 or 7 seasons before they turn things around. I think they like being bad.

[Reign23]

Wizards and Nets absolutely in their own tier.

[Luv those Knicks]

I was looking at the pistons, because it feels like they've been bad forever

The last 5 years:

20 wins
20 wins
23 wins
17 wins
14 wins

The first 20 win season was 66 games, and the 5th worst record in the NBA, so maybe not too bad
and the second was 72 games and the 2nd worst record in the league. That still looks like a historically bad stretch.

Does anyone remember the last time a team had that bad a stretch over 5 or more years? The Wolves had a couple ugly 5 year stretches, but I don't think any were quite that bad. The Clippers had ugly stretches, but usually limited it to 3 years of being really bad.

The Knicks never had a stretch that bad for that long. The closest they came was 24, 23 and 24 wins in the 80s (years 2 and 3 were Ewing's first 2 years with the team).

[StlHawksFan]

With the draft and many free agent signings/trades done and it's not too soon for the NBA power rankings and I thought it'd be fun to look at the bottom 5

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/nba-power-rankings-2024-where-knicks-thunder-76ers-mavericks-more-stand-after-draft-free-agency/ar-BB1pubHx?ocid=BingNewsSerp

Bulls (they probably trade DeRozan, Nets, Blazers, Wizards, Pistons.

I'm quietly hoping that the Wiz will win enough to transfer the pick to us, but it seems unlikely. Maybe next year. Those are the 5 teams most likely to lead the lottory in terms of percentages.

Thoughts? Will any other teams compete with them for being that bad?

Will the Pistons be worst over-all again?

Pistons have the talent to be a playin team in 2 years. I think that pick conveys. As for the Wiz... better hope they get Flagg. 9th worst team usually has 35-37 wins. Right now they are a 20 win team at best.

[seren]

It is amazing to me the bottom five of East is already determined months before the season started.

[StlHawksFan]

A few quibbles.

Knicks > Mavericks

Losing DJ Jr is going to impact the team more than the writer thinks. Marshall isn't the same player. And Klay looked cooked last year. Why is everyone expecting him to go back to being a top3 3&D wing?

Also, Hartenstein was amazing for us after Randle and Mitch went down. But we're adding a DPY runner up, and a 2-time all-nba player to a core that was a win away from the conference finals.

Randle+Bridges > Bogie+Hartenstein

[ZKnicks]

Is Cooper Flagg worth tanking for?

Teams have tanked for less. I would say, yes. Tanking is totally worth it if a team is stuck in mediocrity, or in the middle of a rebuild (which, it seems, the Pistons have been in for going on 5 years, . . .. or is it 10?)

As for how good a top prospect Flagg is? I have no idea.

I saw him play in person once. He’s the real deal.
Have to say two of his teammates also seriously impressed. Liam McNeeley and Derrik Queen.
I also got to see VJ Edgecomb play a bunch this year and he is going to be a star in the league. 100% believe that.

[nykballa2k4]

Is Cooper Flagg worth tanking for?

Teams have tanked for less. I would say, yes. Tanking is totally worth it if a team is stuck in mediocrity, or in the middle of a rebuild (which, it seems, the Pistons have been in for going on 5 years, . . .. or is it 10?)

As for how good a top prospect Flagg is? I have no idea.

i’ve been watching his tape since about junior year and saw his first duke scrimmage. he legit looks like the next great white american. excellent size for a wing at 6’9 and has good athleticism to go with great skill. sure fire stud in the nba i’m calling it

Perfect Jazz tank target. They should double down and offer the Pistons Lauri for their pick unprotected

[nykballa2k4]

A few quibbles.

Knicks > Mavericks

Losing DJ Jr is going to impact the team more than the writer thinks. Marshall isn't the same player. And Klay looked cooked last year. Why is everyone expecting him to go back to being a top3 3&D wing?

Also, Hartenstein was amazing for us after Randle and Mitch went down. But we're adding a DPY runner up, and a 2-time all-nba player to a core that was a win away from the conference finals.

Randle+Bridges > Bogie+Hartenstein

I think Mavs are too high in general, also think that until we solve the back up C position, we are probably ranked here too high as well.

Denver is too low - KCP loss will be felt in the playoffs, but they clearly feel comfortably with how they develop wings and there are still
some names on the board such as Malik Beasley, Saddiq Bey, Reggie Bullock, Covington, Croweder, and that's just looking the first few letters in alphabetical order.

Just as it relates to the Knicks - I need to see confirmation that we have a lead guard for when Brunson is injured.

[Jadoogar]

With the draft and many free agent signings/trades done and it's not too soon for the NBA power rankings and I thought it'd be fun to look at the bottom 5

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/nba-power-rankings-2024-where-knicks-thunder-76ers-mavericks-more-stand-after-draft-free-agency/ar-BB1pubHx?ocid=BingNewsSerp

Bulls (they probably trade DeRozan, Nets, Blazers, Wizards, Pistons.

I'm quietly hoping that the Wiz will win enough to transfer the pick to us, but it seems unlikely. Maybe next year. Those are the 5 teams most likely to lead the lottory in terms of percentages.

Thoughts? Will any other teams compete with them for being that bad?

Will the Pistons be worst over-all again?

I don't think either Washington or Pistons finish bottom 5 next year. Right now I see Portland, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Bulls, Spurs and Jazz(Once they find the right packages for Markkanen and Walker) to be the bottom 5. Detroit brought in quality vets to surround the youth with a coach who gives a damn. Washington will be hella big with Brogdon and Valenciunas added and should be tough enough to win some extra games.

Washington's best player is....Kuzma? Poole? i would be shocked if they aren't bottom 5. I also see them trading both Brogdon and JV at the deadline.
Nets, Washington, Blazers, Jazz, Pistons are my picks for bottom 5. Charlotte should be better, full year of Bridges and Ball, growth from Miller. Bulls are the type of the team that strives for mediocrity, they still have Lavine and Vuc.

[Luv those Knicks]

If this kid is as good as some people think he is, there's going to be a ton of talk about him this year.

Watch on YouTube

What I hate about playing the lottery is, even with the worst record, your team is more likely to miss than hit, so it's a crap shoot. Knicks haven't won the lottery since Ewing, and that was like 80 years ago. Still, somebody is going to be very happy next May, or whenever they spin the ping pong balls.