Is the Lottery Rigged?

Catchall · Post #61 » by **Catchall** » Fri Apr 18, 2025 11:53 pm

I've said this before. I think some picks are rigged in advance, and I think some picks are random. These franchise-altering #1 picks are simply too valuable to allow their allocation to be left purely to chance. At the same time, the league can say, "Lottery picks are left to chance," and they'd be correct, as technically many of them are.

The Pelicans getting Zion Williamson to rebuild with after imploding with the Anthony Davis trade demand and suspension, while the Lakers concurrently move up to get a #4 pick they can use to complete the Anthony Davis trade, is just too wonderful a coincidence for the league and both franchises involved. It stabilized the Pelicans franchise and pushed Lebron and the Lakers into contention. The mathematical probability of both these events occurring was miniscule.

Also, I remember Kyrie Irving's dad was quoted as saying that Kyrie was going to "run the show up in Cleveland" before that draft lottery.

cocktailswith_2short · Post #62 » by **cocktailswith_2short** » Fri Apr 18, 2025 11:57 pm

Catchall wrote:I've said this before. I think some picks are rigged in advance, and I think some picks are random. These franchise-altering #1 picks are simply too valuable to allow their allocation to be left purely to chance. At the same time, the league can say, "Lottery picks are left to chance," and they'd be correct, as technically many of them are.

The Pelicans getting Zion Williamson to rebuild with after imploding with the Anthony Davis trade demand and suspension, while the Lakers concurrently move up to get a #4 pick they can use to complete the Anthony Davis trade, is just too wonderful a coincidence for the league and both franchises involved. It stabilized the Pelicans franchise and pushed Lebron and the Lakers into contention. The mathematical probability of both these events occurring was miniscule.

Also, I remember Kyrie Irving's dad was quoted as saying that Kyrie was going to Cleveland before that draft lottery.

this is correct . Take last years draft clearly not rigged . This year however with Flagg the NBA will be choosy where he goes .

ChiTownHero1992 · Post #63 » by **ChiTownHero1992** » Fri Apr 18, 2025 11:58 pm

I lean on the not always but every so often yes it is, its probably the easiest thing to rig in terms of NBA cheating. Just like fixing games, hush-hush deals/trades, these things all "probably" happen, not super often though.

Catchall · Post #64 » by **Catchall** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 12:04 am

If I'm the league, I'm tempted to send Cooper Flagg to Brooklyn to see if I can awaken another major-market, east-coast franchise for the sake of TV ratings. I'd send him to Chicago too, but the Bulls just aren't a well-run franchise. Don't underestimate the potential of an American-born white prospect to draw the interest of casual fans.

If I'm the league, I'm also interested in seeing Philadelphia keep their top-6 pick, one way or another, so as to prevent OKC from getting another high lottery talent. OKC is already positioned to go to the Finals for the next 3-4 seasons, and they've got a bag full of assets.

Catchall · Post #65 » by **Catchall** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 12:10 am

cocktailswith_2short wrote:
Catchall wrote:I've said this before. I think some picks are rigged in advance, and I think some picks are random. These franchise-altering #1 picks are simply too valuable to allow their allocation to be left purely to chance. At the same time, the league can say, "Lottery picks are left to chance," and they'd be correct, as technically many of them are.

The Pelicans getting Zion Williamson to rebuild with after imploding with the Anthony Davis trade demand and suspension, while the Lakers concurrently move up to get a #4 pick they can use to complete the Anthony Davis trade, is just too wonderful a coincidence for the league and both franchises involved. It stabilized the Pelicans franchise and pushed Lebron and the Lakers into contention. The mathematical probability of both these events occurring was miniscule.

Also, I remember Kyrie Irving's dad was quoted as saying that Kyrie was going to Cleveland before that draft lottery.
this is correct . Take last years draft clearly not rigged . This year however with Flagg the NBA will be choosy where he goes .

The league will probably ask Cooper what his preference is and if he'd be okay with a few franchises. They need Cooper to be in a good situation, and they need him to be happy about where he's going. Reading between the lines, it sounds like something similar may have happened with Wembanyama, that his camp was happy for him to land in San Antonio.

BigGargamel · Post #66 » by **BigGargamel** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 12:14 am

What would the NBA gain by sending Wembanyama to the Spurs? Why would the NBA care about New Orleans of all places? When the Knicks were right there, and Zion clearly wanted to go to New York. Why give that NBA mecca that is Minneapolis another first overall pick after they traded for Wiggins?

You guys realize how silly you all sound, right? The NBA doesn't care about sending rookies to particular destinations. Not when these small market teams are basically minor leagues for the Lakers of the world to poach from for pennies on the dollar when the original team develops them. That's where the coercion comes from. Looking at you, Nico Harrison.

BigGargamel · Post #67 » by **BigGargamel** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 12:15 am

Catchall wrote:
cocktailswith_2short wrote:
Catchall wrote:I've said this before. I think some picks are rigged in advance, and I think some picks are random. These franchise-altering #1 picks are simply too valuable to allow their allocation to be left purely to chance. At the same time, the league can say, "Lottery picks are left to chance," and they'd be correct, as technically many of them are.

The Pelicans getting Zion Williamson to rebuild with after imploding with the Anthony Davis trade demand and suspension, while the Lakers concurrently move up to get a #4 pick they can use to complete the Anthony Davis trade, is just too wonderful a coincidence for the league and both franchises involved. It stabilized the Pelicans franchise and pushed Lebron and the Lakers into contention. The mathematical probability of both these events occurring was miniscule.

Also, I remember Kyrie Irving's dad was quoted as saying that Kyrie was going to Cleveland before that draft lottery.
this is correct . Take last years draft clearly not rigged . This year however with Flagg the NBA will be choosy where he goes .

The league will probably ask Cooper what his preference is and if he'd be okay with a few franchises. They need Cooper to be in a good situation, and they need him to be happy about where he's going. Reading between the lines, it sounds like something similar may have happened with Wembanyama, that his camp was happy for him to land in San Antonio.

My bad, this is clearly parody. No way an adult actually thinks like this. You got me.

cocktailswith_2short · Post #68 » by **cocktailswith_2short** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 12:23 am

Jazz will waste Flagg too .Even with a million picks they are so far away from contending .

Catchall · Post #69 » by **Catchall** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 12:24 am

BigGargamel wrote:What would the NBA gain by sending Wembanyama to the Spurs? Why would the NBA care about New Orleans of all places? When the Knicks were right there, and Zion clearly wanted to go to New York. Why give that NBA mecca that is Minneapolis another first overall pick after they traded for Wiggins?

You guys realize how silly you all sound, right? The NBA doesn't care about sending rookies to particular destinations. Not when these small market teams are basically minor leagues for the Lakers of the world to poach from for pennies on the dollar when the original team develops them. That's where the coercion comes from. Looking at you, Nico Harrison.

a) Send Wembanyama to the Spurs because they know how to develop him and build around him. The league needs for him to be successful.
b) Care about New Orleans because the franchise was on fire, while league stability, fan engagement and franchise valuation matter for every franchise. Also, you're overlooking the fact that the league needed to grease the skids to get Anthony Davis to LA.
c) Minnesota getting a #1 pick probably wasn't rigged.

Catchall · Post #70 » by **Catchall** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 12:28 am

cocktailswith_2short wrote:Jazz will waste Flagg too .Even with a million picks they are so far away from contending .

Jazz would be a great place for Flagg. They're a really solid franchise with good coaching and a pile of assets, and they're committed to winning.

I just think the league is going to do what it can to protect the value of its TV partnerships. The NBA is really a media product now. I think they want to be able to say: "See Cooper Flagg and the Brooklyn Nets face off against Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics tonight on ABC!"

I guess we'll see how it shakes out.

YogurtProducer · Post #71 » by **YogurtProducer** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 1:24 am

azcatz11 wrote:
YogurtProducer wrote:
Deivork wrote:
Bigger conspiracies have taken place in the world, so...

Such as?

Moon landing is a good one

Jesssssus Christ

So your proof is just another conspiracy with no basis :lol:

Slink · Post #72 » by **Slink** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 1:44 am

I don't think it's rigged today, but in the past the NBA would have gotten away with the lottery being rigged.

Watch on YouTube

FrodoBaggins · Post #73 » by **FrodoBaggins** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 1:58 am

Chicago. That's the team for Flagg or Harper.

manlisten · Post #74 » by **manlisten** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 2:06 am

Catchall wrote:The Pelicans getting Zion Williamson to rebuild with after imploding with the Anthony Davis trade demand and suspension, while the Lakers concurrently move up to get a #4 pick they can use to complete the Anthony Davis trade, is just too wonderful a coincidence for the league and both franchises involved. It stabilized the Pelicans franchise and pushed Lebron and the Lakers into contention. The mathematical probability of both these events occurring was miniscule.

Not only this but the Lakers securing a top 5 and two top 3 protected picks in 3 consecutive years, moving up each time in the process, is mighty suspicious. 2 of those draft picks also were moved for AD. They finished 10th in the west that year they moved up to 4th in the draft. The odds of that are crazy and it's almost beyond lucky, similar to the Cavs hitting 3 #1 picks in 4 years. All of that happening within 7 years and involving teams LeBron was linked to...I mean the odds against it have to be astronomical. LeBron headed to Cleveland, Cavs get 3 #1 picks. LeBron headed to LA, Lakers get 3 #2 picks. I mean yeah, absolutely no way there could possibly be anything fishy happening there.

Roger Murdock · Post #75 » by **Roger Murdock** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 2:14 am

It’s not rigged and the people who think it is rigged are stupid as hell

NBA_is_cringe · Post #76 » by **NBA_is_cringe** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 3:11 am

i already explained why it's rigged, this is a pathetic attempt at damage control

TimberKat · Post #77 » by **TimberKat** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 3:58 am

Is this really a serious conversation? I will start to believe if Dallas gets the number 1 pick.

76ciology · Post #78 » by **76ciology** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 5:27 am

Next thing you know, the lottery is funded by NIH.

Ayt · Post #79 » by **Ayt** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 6:12 am

Humans are hopelessly stupid.

FarBeyondDriven · Post #80 » by **FarBeyondDriven** » Sat Apr 19, 2025 6:41 am

it clearly is. But also clearly not every single pick, draft, game or playoff series is. Just the times they need it to be. I don't why we see these types of threads all the time with the usual posters defending the billionaire owners as if they're above corruption but it never fails to make me laugh. In every one of these threads the same b.s. questions are posed and answered: "if it's rigged why don't big markets like the Clippers or Knicks win?!!", "how could they keep it quiet?", "how would you get 30 owners to agree", etc. etc. It's exhausting. We get it, there are no conspiracies (despite us learning conspiracists are mostly right these past few years) and everything in the NBA is on the up and up. Nothing to see here!!