Why we need to root against Washington but for Detroit this season

[8516knicks]

Reviving this because the Detroit pick conveyed -- to Minny anyway.

But now it's time for us to get the Wizards pick.

This team isn't tanking no matter what people might say.

C Sarr
PF Coulibaly
SF Whitmore
SG McCollum
PG Carrington
Bench: Middleton, Kispert, Johnson, Champagnie

They could win 35 games this season. And that will be enough to pass Brooklyn, Charlotte, and Chicago. If Boston or Indy decide to tank? Tack them on here too. If Philly has injury woes? Yup. They're back in the lottery too.

Suddenly you have a play-in team and a legit shot at the Knicks getting the 14th pick.

Even if their F.O. goes to Hogwarts over the summer, the Wiz aren't going anywhere. I had to look up who "Bub" Carrington is. Sarr set the record for misses without a make in the SL (15) last year and shoots less than 40% on twos despite being 7'0". Coulibaly isn't much better. Only CJ and Whitmore can score. This team would struggle to make the NCAA tournament.

[spree2kawhi]

Reviving this because the Detroit pick conveyed -- to Minny anyway.

But now it's time for us to get the Wizards pick.

This team isn't tanking no matter what people might say.

C Sarr
PF Coulibaly
SF Whitmore
SG McCollum
PG Carrington
Bench: Middleton, Kispert, Johnson, Champagnie

They could win 35 games this season. And that will be enough to pass Brooklyn, Charlotte, and Chicago. If Boston or Indy decide to tank? Tack them on here too. If Philly has injury woes? Yup. They're back in the lottery too.

Suddenly you have a play-in team and a legit shot at the Knicks getting the 14th pick.

Even if their F.O. goes to Hogwarts over the summer, the Wiz aren't going anywhere. I had to look up who "Bub" Carrington is. Sarr set the record for misses without a make in the SL (15) last year and shoots less than 40% on twos despite being 7'0". Coulibaly isn't much better. Only CJ and Whitmore can score. This team would struggle to make the NCAA tournament.

Yeah they’ll compete for top-3 picks this year, they don’t even need to try to get there on purpose.

[Ghetto Gospel]

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[JayTWill]

https://www.tankathon.com/pick_odds

Either we are going to need a lot of teams to be really bad or for the Wizards to take an unexpected leap for that pick to fall outside the top 8 in protection.

[Polk377]

Wizards put together a team of vets mixed with young players who can compete.

Starters- Carrington-Mccollum-Kispert-Middleton-Sarr
Bench- Smart-George-Whitmore-Coulibaly-Olynyk

If the team is healthy, they are competing for a play-in spot for sure.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

The Wiz are not finishing outside the top 8 next season. Next years draft is loaded and viewed as stronger than this one, they will trade Smart, Middleton and McCollum for more assets in the middle of the season to whoever needs a vet.

[StlHawksFan]

The Wiz are not finishing outside the top 8 next season. Next years draft is loaded and viewed as stronger than this one, they will trade Smart, Middleton and McCollum for more assets in the middle of the season to whoever needs a vet.

Yes, it's loaded and that's why Boston is indicating that they are aiming for a lottery pick this year. Indy, Chicago, and Miami are also probably thinking about it as well.

I really think the 9th and 10th teams will be in the low-30s in terms of win totals.

[Luv those Knicks]

The Wiz are not finishing outside the top 8 next season. Next years draft is loaded and viewed as stronger than this one, they will trade Smart, Middleton and McCollum for more assets in the middle of the season to whoever needs a vet.

Yup.

I'd be very surprised if Washington won 30-35 games. They're pretty much in a Rachel Phelps situation. Losing a whole lot of games is their goal, at least until they lock in their draft pick.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/washington-wizards-reportedly-intend-to-tank-next-season/ar-AA1I45jg?ocid=BingNewsSerp

That said, it would be funny if they did win 35 games and we got a #10 pick or something like that. (I think it's top 8 protected).


As for the Knicks picks:

They still have their 2026 first rounder and 2nd rounder
Presumably the Wiz early 2nd rounder (2026 and 2027)
and a weirdly positioned, worst of Orlando, Detroit or Milwaukee and one of those 3 teams is going to win 50 games, maybe 2 or even all 3.

So, late first, early 2nd and 2 late 2nds next year, barring any trades before then. But that's a long time from now.

[Luv those Knicks]

The Wiz are not finishing outside the top 8 next season. Next years draft is loaded and viewed as stronger than this one, they will trade Smart, Middleton and McCollum for more assets in the middle of the season to whoever needs a vet.

Yes, it's loaded and that's why Boston is indicating that they are aiming for a lottery pick this year. Indy, Chicago, and Miami are also probably thinking about it as well.

I really think the 9th and 10th teams will be in the low-30s in terms of win totals.

Boston has been selling and shedding salary but I don't know how "bad" they'll be. Not making a prediction for them. Indy is in a transition year, and they lost 2 key players, but I don't think they'll be bad. Maybe 40 wins. Chicago could tank.

Miami just added Norm Powell, so I think they're going to compete some. Riley is kind of weird these days, but I respect him for not tanking. Solid add for Miami, I think. 45 wins?

[R-DAWG]

Wizards put together a team of vets mixed with young players who can compete.

Starters- Carrington-Mccollum-Kispert-Middleton-Sarr
Bench- Smart-George-Whitmore-Coulibaly-Olynyk

If the team is healthy, they are competing for a play-in spot for sure.

Seems like a play-in team to me!

In all seriousness - the only way Washington goes for it this year is if one of two of their young guys break out and the play-in is in site.

So big party on Bub Carrington Island! Buy some Coulibaly stock. Double down on Sarr. Hope 5 other teams in the east stink.

[Luv those Knicks]

Wizards put together a team of vets mixed with young players who can compete.

Starters- Carrington-Mccollum-Kispert-Middleton-Sarr
Bench- Smart-George-Whitmore-Coulibaly-Olynyk

If the team is healthy, they are competing for a play-in spot for sure.

Seems like a play-in team to me!

In all seriousness - the only way Washington goes for it this year is if one of two of their young guys break out and the play-in is in site.

So big party on Bub Carrington Island! Buy some Coulibaly stock. Double down on Sarr. Hope 5 other teams in the east stink.

I'd love to see it and I'd love to see what Leon does with a high-ish pick, even if it's in the 10-15 range. If the Wiz make and win their way through the play-in and presumably lose to a top seeded team, that's still in the 15-16 range. If they lose the play-in, potentially better, which could go for or against us. Dallas was a play in team last year and got the #1 overall pick.

I'm not thinking it'll happen, but there's a chance we could have a nice pick next year.

[Polk377]

Wizards put together a team of vets mixed with young players who can compete.

Starters- Carrington-Mccollum-Kispert-Middleton-Sarr
Bench- Smart-George-Whitmore-Coulibaly-Olynyk

If the team is healthy, they are competing for a play-in spot for sure.

Seems like a play-in team to me!

In all seriousness - the only way Washington goes for it this year is if one of two of their young guys break out and the play-in is in site.

So big party on Bub Carrington Island! Buy some Coulibaly stock. Double down on Sarr. Hope 5 other teams in the east stink.

I'd love to see it and I'd love to see what Leon does with a high-ish pick, even if it's in the 10-15 range. If the Wiz make and win their way through the play-in and presumably lose to a top seeded team, that's still in the 15-16 range. If they lose the play-in, potentially better, which could go for or against us. Dallas was a play in team last year and got the #1 overall pick.

I'm not thinking it'll happen, but there's a chance we could have a nice pick next year.

Let's hope for some luck on our side

[Kampuchea]

I picture them as one of the worst teams, no pick for us.

[VirginiaKnickFan]

Knicks suck at lottery luck, and I'm expecting this pick won't convey and Washington will tank as planned.

[knicksNOTslick]

Even if Washington surprises and are in the 6 to 10 range in the lottery by midseason, you all know they will start tanking. There are no repercussions as we have seen when Dallas purposely lost games to hold on to the pick that we should’ve gotten. Teams are aware of these things. I'm not even counting this Wizards pick. They never seem to figure it out no matter who they draft or acquire.

[Esq-4]

This is why pick protection is a wild concept. The other team can basically manipulate what they are sending out as part of the return. Conceptually it makes sense, but the reality of it is flawed. Especially how Dallas did it.

[spree8]

We’re already seeing them do it with the Smart buyout rumors. On paper they definitely aren’t bottom 3 in the league, so there was a chance for us to get it, but not now.

Really should be some kind of rule against this blatant tanking especially when you owe a pick. If new CBA rules hurt competitive teams like us, then there should be some that hurt teams tanking on purpose. The newer lotto odds aren’t enough. Dallas in 23’ and now this..

[Luv those Knicks]

Knicks suck at lottery luck, and I'm expecting this pick won't convey and Washington will tank as planned.

I'm just speculating, but I wonder how much influence Dolan has had with the picks. Leon seems to know his stuff and get good value with draft day trades. He got good value for the #11 pick (Ousmane Dieng) in 2022. The #13 went to Detroit in an overpay, but they needed the cap space and used it to sign Brunson, so that was a forgivable overpay.

Not a lottory pick, but Leon good good value for the #19 pick (Kai Jones) in 2021

and he did draft Obi in 2020, but that feels like it could have been Dolan influenced pick. I'm just guessing.

2019 and before is before Leon, so different management. Most teams would have taken Barrett with the #3 pick in 2019. He was the consensus #3.

I'm not sure what to say about Knox (2018) or Frank (2017), both of those were before Leon though. Porzingas was a solid pick and if you don't like what he was traded for, that trade was done before Leon as well.

. . In Leon I trust. A Wizards first round in 2026 feels like a long shot, but I think he'd use it well if he gets it.

[Luv those Knicks]

This is why pick protection is a wild concept. The other team can basically manipulate what they are sending out as part of the return. Conceptually it makes sense, but the reality of it is flawed. Especially how Dallas did it.

Philly did it to the Nets last year too. It's gotten pretty common and I think teams know not to trade for protected picks anymore . . I think, top 2 or 3 protected still makes some sense. When you get into top 8 or 10 protected . . . the team that traded the pick has almost total control.

It's all negotiation though. Teams can ask for or offer whatever they want or are comfortable with.

[Jalen Bluntson]

Knicks suck at lottery luck, and I'm expecting this pick won't convey and Washington will tank as planned.

I'm just speculating, but I wonder how much influence Dolan has had with the picks. Leon seems to know his stuff and get good value with draft day trades. He got good value for the #11 pick (Ousmane Dieng) in 2022. The #13 went to Detroit in an overpay, but they needed the cap space and used it to sign Brunson, so that was a forgivable overpay.

Not a lottory pick, but Leon good good value for the #19 pick (Kai Jones) in 2021

and he did draft Obi in 2020, but that feels like it could have been Dolan influenced pick. I'm just guessing.

2019 and before is before Leon, so different management. Most teams would have taken Barrett with the #3 pick in 2019. He was the consensus #3.

I'm not sure what to say about Knox (2018) or Frank (2017), both of those were before Leon though. Porzingas was a solid pick and if you don't like what he was traded for, that trade was done before Leon as well.

. . In Leon I trust. A Wizards first round in 2026 feels like a long shot, but I think he'd use it well if he gets it.

Obi was Leon. His son is obi's agent.