If the draft is rigged...

[Shakril]

I find the lack of proper education and critical thinking of some users disturbing.

Too many here cant accept that the Lottery was legit only cause they dont like the outcome.
But at the same time believe that Tanking is the holy grail, despite beeing proven wrong time and time again.

Its like you guys are immune to facts and logical thinking and try to convince everybody else, that your "opinion" is a fact and everbody else is wrong. Even those that actual are involved and say otherwise.

Its like me trying to tell Taylor Swift how to write succesful songs, because i believe my version would sell better.

[Indomitable]

Rejecting the word of a billion dollar business with profit-maximizing motives is not a conspiracy theory.

A conspiracy theory involves the rejection of objective facts.

Saying "I don't believe the NBA when they tell me the draft isn't rigged" is like saying "I didn't believe OJ Simpson when he told me he was innocent". There is no objective truth in this scenario (from the perspective of an outside observer). It's conjecture on both sides of the debate. You either take the word of the NBA or you don't.

There is actually a scientific explanation on what a conspiracy theoriy is. But i wont get too much in the scientific specifics as to not make unnecessary confusing. Thats why i try to simplifiy it.

A Conspiracy Theory at first is just a normal Theory by making a claim that certain events or Situations are manipulated to reach a specific result. It becomes a Conspiracy Theory, in a negative sense, when despite Evidence that clearly debunk that theory are simply dismissed and the own opinion and those that think similar is given more value than actual facts and the comments of People that are actually involved and contradict the Conspiracy. The arguments for the Conspiracy dont have to be true and can be made up as long as it fits the Theory. (for example saying that a former president claimed the moonlanding was false, even though that never was said). Those Arguments are beeing represented as if they were facts, despite it not fulfilling that criteria. Essentially, Opinions, Made-Up Stories, the wrong interpretation of comments from people involved to fit their own narrative.

It doesnt mean, that all Conspiracies are wrong, but those that are true are supported by real evidence that can be actually classified as such (watergate is a good example for it). That evidence usually comes before the claim of a Conspiracy is even made, not the other way round, which is usually the case for Conspiracy Theories that are wrong. The consensus for a Conspiracy to actually exist, is that secrecy is the most important part. And the more people have knowledge about it, the less likely it stays a secret. At some point it wouldnt be a secret anymore, but information and thus render the conspiracy ineffective as the truth is public knowledge by that point.

But for those that believe in Conspiracy Theories, it is completly irrelevant how improbable or even impossible it is for the Conspiracy to actually have happened. The longer someone believes that kind of Theories, the harder is it for that person to acknoledge the truth, cause it also implies to admit to have been wrong. And admitting that you are wrong is one of the hardest things to do for an individual as our society perceives admitting fault or beeing wrong as a weakness (which it is not).


Essentially, we see it happen right in this thread, were people like you are simply not willing to accept Evidence against your claims and just increase the volume of disinformation to murky the discussion.

Aren't the objective facts:

- There is a lottery system in place.
- This lottery system uses balls and a lottery machine like most other lottery draws.
- There is a 3rd party auditor that confirms the machine isn't tampered.
- the lottery odds are known and depend on the finish of the season.
- those odds correspond to the number of winning combinations.
- teams know their combinations beforehand.
- team representatives get to watch live as the draw happens, and know when their combination is eliminated
- Dallas had a 1.8% chance at winning.
- Atl had a similiar chance at winning last year.


Because Dallas made a terrible trade, people think the likelihood of payback went up and that the draft is rigged based on a single result.

These people don't have any narrative to justify the Hawks moving up last year, or the Wizards getting the 2nd pick last year, or Houston getting the 3rd pick from the Brooklyn slot last year, or the Orl winning the 1st pick in 2022, or Det falling to 5th 3 straight years.

This is what randomness looks like.

Could it be when the Bulls got Rose
Could it be when New Orleans got them were willing to trade Davis.

Really weird that happen can happen. But when it keeps happening. You have to question it.

The belief that the NBA is not willing to do anything to keep the money rolling in is naive.

Trading a 25 year old star for a 31 year old player with one draft pick is a joke of a trade.


The Mavs did not open it up to anyone but the Lakers. Who does that?

Either it was rigged or the Dallas GM is loved by God.

To many moving pieces that does not make sense keeps happening.

[metafisical]

People are bringing up the draft lottery is 3rd party audited. Look up who the auditor is and look up their controversies in the last two decades. E&Y was levied a huge fine by the US Government in 2022 when their auditors were found to have cheated on their ethics exams for their CPA. Dozens of staff members were fired for taking more than one online training course at the same time in 2024.

This is the auditing firm that people feel is upholding the integrity of the draft?

[douggood]

People are bringing up the draft lottery is 3rd party audited. Look up who the auditor is and look up their controversies in the last two decades. E&Y was levied a huge fine by the US Government in 2022 when their auditors were found to have cheated on their ethics exams for their CPA. Dozens of staff members were fired for taking more than one online training course at the same time in 2024.

This is the auditing firm that people feel is upholding the integrity of the draft?

and they have been caught, fined etc, why havent the nhl auditors, nba auditors, now mlb auditors etc been caught and fined.

i keep coming back to there is so much money involved for each individual owners, that they would not agree to be part of a cabal of conspiracy. you dont think the portdlant trailblazers who are up for sale would get 500mil if not more if they had flagg on thier team, but they agreed to be part of the consipiracy.

[mad-man]

I find the lack of proper education and critical thinking of some users disturbing.

Too many here cant accept that the Lottery was legit only cause they dont like the outcome.
But at the same time believe that Tanking is the holy grail, despite beeing proven wrong time and time again.

Its like you guys are immune to facts and logical thinking and try to convince everybody else, that your "opinion" is a fact and everbody else is wrong. Even those that actual are involved and say otherwise.

Its like me trying to tell Taylor Swift how to write succesful songs, because i believe my version would sell better.

lol, you brining up critical thinking is hilarious. Our brains have our pattern recognition machines (well maybe not yours).

You’re having trouble connecting the very obvious dots. Things that are supposed to happen what 0.00008% isn’t “random”, it’s statistically impossible basically.

[M3tro]

People are acting like the entire circus would have to be in on the magic act.
The magician performs his trick and everyone else in the audience is left in awe, save for the few in the tent who know the trick.

If you're going to commit a crime you don't go around bragging about it or doing it in numbers. Only stupid criminals do that.

[Badonkadonk]

I find the lack of proper education and critical thinking of some users disturbing.

Too many here cant accept that the Lottery was legit only cause they dont like the outcome.
But at the same time believe that Tanking is the holy grail, despite beeing proven wrong time and time again.

Its like you guys are immune to facts and logical thinking and try to convince everybody else, that your "opinion" is a fact and everbody else is wrong. Even those that actual are involved and say otherwise.

Its like me trying to tell Taylor Swift how to write succesful songs, because i believe my version would sell better.

It's truly wild, but also explains a lot about the state of the world when the mind becomes so lazy, it readily accepts "connections" between things because of a specific, reasonable sounding idea in lieu of any amount of contradictory ideas or even evidence.

[mad-man]

I find the lack of proper education and critical thinking of some users disturbing.

Too many here cant accept that the Lottery was legit only cause they dont like the outcome.
But at the same time believe that Tanking is the holy grail, despite beeing proven wrong time and time again.

Its like you guys are immune to facts and logical thinking and try to convince everybody else, that your "opinion" is a fact and everbody else is wrong. Even those that actual are involved and say otherwise.

Its like me trying to tell Taylor Swift how to write succesful songs, because i believe my version would sell better.

It's truly wild, but also explains a lot about the state of the world when the mind becomes so lazy, it readily accepts "connections" between things because of a specific, reasonable sounding idea in lieu of any amount of contradictory ideas or even evidence.

Is this post self-descriptive lol

[NinjaBro]

It's 100% rigged no doubt about it. Can't believe there's so many insane people here who actually thinks the nba is a legit clean company smh.

I think this is where the disconnect is. I doubt anyone here thinks the NBA wouldn’t do this. They would do this and worse if they could get away with it.

People think they aren’t doing it. There are too many levels of checks and balances and too many people would have to be in on it, most with competing interests. There’s no chance Utah agrees to a scenario where they tank all year, alienating their fans, to get the 5th pick. If they thought the process was questionable, they would raise hell. That goes for every team.

I also don’t think we’ve even mentioned the players, but more specifically their agents. Yeah, Flagg and his reps are probably fine going to Dallas instead of Utah, but there’s plenty examples where that wouldn’t be the case. I’m sure Zion would have preferred New York to being the repayment in an Anthony Davis trade.

I pretty much believe every billionaire is evil to at least some extent, but that’s actually a reason why the draft is more likely to be legit. They’re not letting another billionaire get one over on them, leaving money on the table.

I look at it like this, the same way I view the coverup of PED use in professional sports. Everyone knows that the use of PEDs is rampant in professional sports. The owners know it, the players/coaches know it. The broadcasters know it, the media knows it. They just don't talk about it because it's their livelihood and they know that deep down inside it's good for the league. In a way it's implicit collusion.

The NBA is no different. Once in a while you will see a low level star like Bobby Portis get caught for using PEDs and get suspended. You never hear the big superstars get caught. It's fairly obvious that PED use is rampant in the NBA but the owners, coaches, broadcasters don't talk about Dwayne Wade's jaw growing 3 times the size since he's been in the league as a rookie. Or you may be real naive and think that Lebron got those mutton chops because he thinks it's a good look.....don't know what to tell ya.

[pilkoids]

Read on Twitter

?t=9tRqbjFVcz9JefBsen2xyA&s=19

Sent from my SM-S918W using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Senbonzakura]

No matter who wins the lottery people will always find a way to justify it being rigged. I mean I could literally do that for any team in the lottery getting #1:

Dallas - Traded Luka and Silver does them a solid to get them Flagg
Spurs - Get a superstar talent to pair with Wemby to create another dynasty and draw eyes to that team again
Sixers - One of the long-term NBA teams and hasn't won a title in a long time, get a star talent to help fuel them back to the top
Charlotte - Keeps Flagg in North Carolina where he's already got an established fanbase, revives this franchise a bit after the sale
Utah - Great white hope in the Mormon state like Stockton
Washington - Brings eyes back to the nation's capital
New Orleans - Running mate for Zion, get more eyes on this market since it's struggling
Brooklyn - Major market team, needs a star
Toronto - Get more eyes on Toronto with the WNBA team launching next year as well
Phoenix - Help KD and Booker to make this a championship threat

And so on...

[Shakril]

There is actually a scientific explanation on what a conspiracy theoriy is. But i wont get too much in the scientific specifics as to not make unnecessary confusing. Thats why i try to simplifiy it.

A Conspiracy Theory at first is just a normal Theory by making a claim that certain events or Situations are manipulated to reach a specific result. It becomes a Conspiracy Theory, in a negative sense, when despite Evidence that clearly debunk that theory are simply dismissed and the own opinion and those that think similar is given more value than actual facts and the comments of People that are actually involved and contradict the Conspiracy. The arguments for the Conspiracy dont have to be true and can be made up as long as it fits the Theory. (for example saying that a former president claimed the moonlanding was false, even though that never was said). Those Arguments are beeing represented as if they were facts, despite it not fulfilling that criteria. Essentially, Opinions, Made-Up Stories, the wrong interpretation of comments from people involved to fit their own narrative.

It doesnt mean, that all Conspiracies are wrong, but those that are true are supported by real evidence that can be actually classified as such (watergate is a good example for it). That evidence usually comes before the claim of a Conspiracy is even made, not the other way round, which is usually the case for Conspiracy Theories that are wrong. The consensus for a Conspiracy to actually exist, is that secrecy is the most important part. And the more people have knowledge about it, the less likely it stays a secret. At some point it wouldnt be a secret anymore, but information and thus render the conspiracy ineffective as the truth is public knowledge by that point.

But for those that believe in Conspiracy Theories, it is completly irrelevant how improbable or even impossible it is for the Conspiracy to actually have happened. The longer someone believes that kind of Theories, the harder is it for that person to acknoledge the truth, cause it also implies to admit to have been wrong. And admitting that you are wrong is one of the hardest things to do for an individual as our society perceives admitting fault or beeing wrong as a weakness (which it is not).


Essentially, we see it happen right in this thread, were people like you are simply not willing to accept Evidence against your claims and just increase the volume of disinformation to murky the discussion.

Aren't the objective facts:

- There is a lottery system in place.
- This lottery system uses balls and a lottery machine like most other lottery draws.
- There is a 3rd party auditor that confirms the machine isn't tampered.
- the lottery odds are known and depend on the finish of the season.
- those odds correspond to the number of winning combinations.
- teams know their combinations beforehand.
- team representatives get to watch live as the draw happens, and know when their combination is eliminated
- Dallas had a 1.8% chance at winning.
- Atl had a similiar chance at winning last year.


Because Dallas made a terrible trade, people think the likelihood of payback went up and that the draft is rigged based on a single result.

These people don't have any narrative to justify the Hawks moving up last year, or the Wizards getting the 2nd pick last year, or Houston getting the 3rd pick from the Brooklyn slot last year, or the Orl winning the 1st pick in 2022, or Det falling to 5th 3 straight years.

This is what randomness looks like.

Could it be when the Bulls got Rose
Could it be when New Orleans got them were willing to trade Davis.

Really weird that happen can happen. But when it keeps happening. You have to question it.

The belief that the NBA is not willing to do anything to keep the money rolling in is naive.

Trading a 25 year old star for a 31 year old player with one draft pick is a joke of a trade.


The Mavs did not open it up to anyone but the Lakers. Who does that?

Either it was rigged or the Dallas GM is loved by God.

To many moving pieces that does not make sense keeps happening.

You could spin this with EVERY draft. Why did the cavs had so many #1 Pics, Why did detroit always ended up 5th? Why did Doncic fall to Dallas in the first place. I could go on and on and on. Thats how conspiracy theories are born. Not because there is a fact, but because someone just think it is.

[garbagnani]

People are bringing up the draft lottery is 3rd party audited. Look up who the auditor is and look up their controversies in the last two decades. E&Y was levied a huge fine by the US Government in 2022 when their auditors were found to have cheated on their ethics exams for their CPA. Dozens of staff members were fired for taking more than one online training course at the same time in 2024.

This is the auditing firm that people feel is upholding the integrity of the draft?

and they have been caught, fined etc, why havent the nhl auditors, nba auditors, now mlb auditors etc been caught and fined.

i keep coming back to there is so much money involved for each individual owners, that they would not agree to be part of a cabal of conspiracy. you dont think the portdlant trailblazers who are up for sale would get 500mil if not more if they had flagg on thier team, but they agreed to be part of the consipiracy.

The owners make most of their money from media rights. Ratings are down, funnelling Luka to the lakers is in the best interest of the league.

Im sure lakers vs Celtics is best for espn/abc. Hence it’s good for the entire league.

[Raps in 4]

I find the lack of proper education and critical thinking of some users disturbing.

Too many here cant accept that the Lottery was legit only cause they dont like the outcome.
But at the same time believe that Tanking is the holy grail, despite beeing proven wrong time and time again.

Its like you guys are immune to facts and logical thinking and try to convince everybody else, that your "opinion" is a fact and everbody else is wrong. Even those that actual are involved and say otherwise.

Its like me trying to tell Taylor Swift how to write succesful songs, because i believe my version would sell better.

Blind trust in unaccountable elites is the real problem with society. Kids are taught to be obedient servants who don't question what they're told. Billionaires are revered as gods. Questioning a billionnaire's word is sin. Abuses of power occur daily, and the masses accept it. It's how the Epsteins and their friends get away with their crimes for so long. Just as one didn't question their king or queen in centuries past, one doesn't question their billionnaire overlords today.

[YogurtProducer]

I find the lack of proper education and critical thinking of some users disturbing.

Too many here cant accept that the Lottery was legit only cause they dont like the outcome.
But at the same time believe that Tanking is the holy grail, despite beeing proven wrong time and time again.

Its like you guys are immune to facts and logical thinking and try to convince everybody else, that your "opinion" is a fact and everbody else is wrong. Even those that actual are involved and say otherwise.

Its like me trying to tell Taylor Swift how to write succesful songs, because i believe my version would sell better.

Blind trust in unaccountable elites is the real problem with society. Kids are taught to be obedient servants who don't question what they're told. Billionaires are revered as gods. Questioning a billionnaire's word is sin. Abuses of power occur daily, and the masses accept it. It's how the Epsteins and their friends get away with their crimes for so long. Just as one didn't question their king or queen in centuries past, one doesn't question their billionnaire overlords today.

Man, take off the tin foil hat.

[Raps in 4]

I find the lack of proper education and critical thinking of some users disturbing.

Too many here cant accept that the Lottery was legit only cause they dont like the outcome.
But at the same time believe that Tanking is the holy grail, despite beeing proven wrong time and time again.

Its like you guys are immune to facts and logical thinking and try to convince everybody else, that your "opinion" is a fact and everbody else is wrong. Even those that actual are involved and say otherwise.

Its like me trying to tell Taylor Swift how to write succesful songs, because i believe my version would sell better.

Blind trust in unaccountable elites is the real problem with society. Kids are taught to be obedient servants who don't question what they're told. Billionaires are revered as gods. Questioning a billionnaire's word is sin. Abuses of power occur daily, and the masses accept it. It's how the Epsteins and their friends get away with their crimes for so long. Just as one didn't question their king or queen in centuries past, one doesn't question their billionnaire overlords today.

Man, take off the tin foil hat.

Conspiracies require denial of fact. Questioning a society's elites isn't denying any facts. It's questioning the assumptions that society is built upon. We live in a fundamentally unequal society. You can accept that there is no malpractice among those not accountable to anyone, or you can question their actions when it seems appropriate.

[douggood]

There is actually a scientific explanation on what a conspiracy theoriy is. But i wont get too much in the scientific specifics as to not make unnecessary confusing. Thats why i try to simplifiy it.

A Conspiracy Theory at first is just a normal Theory by making a claim that certain events or Situations are manipulated to reach a specific result. It becomes a Conspiracy Theory, in a negative sense, when despite Evidence that clearly debunk that theory are simply dismissed and the own opinion and those that think similar is given more value than actual facts and the comments of People that are actually involved and contradict the Conspiracy. The arguments for the Conspiracy dont have to be true and can be made up as long as it fits the Theory. (for example saying that a former president claimed the moonlanding was false, even though that never was said). Those Arguments are beeing represented as if they were facts, despite it not fulfilling that criteria. Essentially, Opinions, Made-Up Stories, the wrong interpretation of comments from people involved to fit their own narrative.

It doesnt mean, that all Conspiracies are wrong, but those that are true are supported by real evidence that can be actually classified as such (watergate is a good example for it). That evidence usually comes before the claim of a Conspiracy is even made, not the other way round, which is usually the case for Conspiracy Theories that are wrong. The consensus for a Conspiracy to actually exist, is that secrecy is the most important part. And the more people have knowledge about it, the less likely it stays a secret. At some point it wouldnt be a secret anymore, but information and thus render the conspiracy ineffective as the truth is public knowledge by that point.

But for those that believe in Conspiracy Theories, it is completly irrelevant how improbable or even impossible it is for the Conspiracy to actually have happened. The longer someone believes that kind of Theories, the harder is it for that person to acknoledge the truth, cause it also implies to admit to have been wrong. And admitting that you are wrong is one of the hardest things to do for an individual as our society perceives admitting fault or beeing wrong as a weakness (which it is not).


Essentially, we see it happen right in this thread, were people like you are simply not willing to accept Evidence against your claims and just increase the volume of disinformation to murky the discussion.

Aren't the objective facts:

- There is a lottery system in place.
- This lottery system uses balls and a lottery machine like most other lottery draws.
- There is a 3rd party auditor that confirms the machine isn't tampered.
- the lottery odds are known and depend on the finish of the season.
- those odds correspond to the number of winning combinations.
- teams know their combinations beforehand.
- team representatives get to watch live as the draw happens, and know when their combination is eliminated
- Dallas had a 1.8% chance at winning.
- Atl had a similiar chance at winning last year.


Because Dallas made a terrible trade, people think the likelihood of payback went up and that the draft is rigged based on a single result.

These people don't have any narrative to justify the Hawks moving up last year, or the Wizards getting the 2nd pick last year, or Houston getting the 3rd pick from the Brooklyn slot last year, or the Orl winning the 1st pick in 2022, or Det falling to 5th 3 straight years.

This is what randomness looks like.

Could it be when the Bulls got Rose
Could it be when New Orleans got them were willing to trade Davis.

Really weird that happen can happen. But when it keeps happening. You have to question it.

The belief that the NBA is not willing to do anything to keep the money rolling in is naive.

Trading a 25 year old star for a 31 year old player with one draft pick is a joke of a trade.


The Mavs did not open it up to anyone but the Lakers. Who does that?

Either it was rigged or the Dallas GM is loved by God.

To many moving pieces that does not make sense keeps happening.

what if the kyrie didnt get injured,or AD didnt miss games and the mavs made the playoffs, what if they won both the playin games(won 1 of 2).

how would the league "repaid" the mavs?????

[basketballto]

They would have helped them at the next available opportunity most likely a trade.

[douggood]

They would have helped them at the next available opportunity most likely a trade.

ok so now a 3rd team is forced to do a 1 sided trade to help the mavs, then how does the league help the 3rd team. force a 4th team to be involved, and then keep doing this until a team giving up the player is in the lotto and has terrible odds and then bump them up to win the lotto. lets not forget the lotto is only rigged in the years there is "star rookie" player involved, so now the nba will have to make sure the X team makes a 1 sided trade, misses the playoffs and somehow do all this in the year there is a star player available in the draft.

i am still waiting on the magic, pistons, phoenix etc to repay the favor to the league for letting them get the 1st pick.

[WiggOuts]

I hope people realize that the NBA can have people sign confidentiality agreements to protect the "business", simple as that.

The glory of being able to do what they do is evidenced in this thread. People can argue back and forth all they want but there is no evidence to prove either side correct