NBA looking to change Draft Lottery; 76ers say no

[snoopdogg88]

If your in awe of the Sixers tanking , I'd love to know your thoughts on last years Bucks who actually finished with a worse record?

The Bucks were an absolutely terrible basketball team, but I got the sense they were actually trying. Which, in a way, is sadder, but still. Philly was actively trying to be the worst basketball team of all time, and Hinkie just seems downright gleeful at the thought of making fans want to gouge out their eyeballs. Totally different situation.

No I think Hinkies "gleeful" at the prospect of having multiple top draft picks on his roster and max cap space and flexibility to make moves

I'm glad he's not gleeful at adding the likes of Ramon freaking Sessions to make fans of other teams feel better

[Snotbubbles]

It has been proven that MCW/Noel and Embiid are the best players in their respective drafts? News to me. I didn't know you could go without playing a single NBA minute and be proven to be the best in your draft class.

You could argue that MCW is the best in the 2013 draft but when is a rookie of the year award proof of that? Tyreke Evans won the 2009 ROY award, but does anybody think he's better than James Harden, Blake Griffin or Stephen Curry? No way.

Using advanced analytics, Noel and Embiid were the top guys in their respective drafts.

They still haven't played a second of NBA basketball and for the time being they will have that "when healthy" asterisk over their heads. It doesn't matter what advanced analytics say about a guy when they are on the bench in a suit.

Fair enough. Then looking at players who have played NBA basketball, at this moment in time MCW is the best player from the 2013 draft. Either way, the original hypothesis is correct until proven otherwise.

[d0nk]

The NBA is a league driven by star power. Making it less probable for the worst team(s) to by get better by drafting the best available player(s) should only further polarize rosters between teams with talent and those without.

If you are the commissioner of the NBA and believe that the league is benefited by this - sure go ahead. But you can't just implement change the rules in the middle of the game. Teams made draft decisions in 2014 and signed free agents with the expectation that the league would continue to follow an established set of rules.

Imagine you are playing poker, you've decided to play a certain hand only because you know your opponent will fold on the River. Now after investing most of your chips on this bluff on the turn your opponents suspect you may be bluffing and decide that effective immediately there will be a rule change and no more river cards/betting will be allowed in poker. If you want to change the rules before the next hand begins, thats fine - but jumping the shark after draft/free agency is entirely unfair.

[OrlandoNed]

No one ever wants to admit it, but it partly comes from jealousy.

LOL fans jealous of losing, now I've heard everything.

I'm actually just kind of in awe of the lengths the Sixers are going to be an embarrassing on court product. The Cavs tanked the past few years (not last year, but still). The Sixers are almost bad basketball as performance art. It's incredible.

I know, it's crazy how committed the Sixers are to sucking ass. I understand their logic, but man they are completely unashamed of putting out the most embarrassing collection of players out on the floor. Last year was such an ugly intentional train wreck of NBA basketball. I admire their commitment to the plan however long they plan on tanking.

I can't believe anybody could possibly be jealous of the Sixers tank. Yes, Sixer fans we get you are sucking on purpose but nobody is going to pat you on the back for it. Yeah, your plan might work out and you might be good someday but don't act like you've accomplished anything yet. Your team's plan has no guarantee of being successful, so if it does, congrats. If not, sucks to be you guys. Your plan is very high-risk, high-reward. If Embiid or Noel end up being busts due to injuries or not being any good or MCW is just empty stats or Saric never comes over or is any good or none of your hundreds of second round picks will turn out to be anything special, nobody is going to be jealous of your Sixers.

[wickedwrister]

If your in awe of the Sixers tanking , I'd love to know your thoughts on last years Bucks who actually finished with a worse record?

The Bucks traded "FOR" a starting PG in Ramond Sessions, and then two starters in Mayo and Sanders were hurt all year. They didnt trade away their pieces. They couldnt play them for health reasons. Its not the same.

The Bucks actually sucked. They tried but had no talent. The 76ers gave their talent away. Its not the same. Last year, probably anyone on the 76ers starting unit before the trades wouldve started in milwaukee.

Its not the same.

What talent did the Sixers give away?

They traded Jrue Holiday and a 2nd round pick for 2 first round picks which subsequently turned into Noel, Saric, Pierre Jackson, a 2015 2nd and a 2017 1st.

They traded Hawes for Henry Sims and 2 2nd rounders (Jerami Grant and a Rubio-ish clone draft and stash PG). Hawes was leaving in free agency so they got something for him instead of keeping him around for April games versus the Pistons that didnt matter at all.

They traded Turner and Allen for a draft pick is the only thing that could be considered a slight giveaway and how was the market for those 2 studs on the free agent market? Turner couldnt even get a full mid level deal and both of those guys were going to walk in free agency too. Is it better to have a low 2nd round pick or nothing?

Thad Young has been asking to be traded for a year but they have so far refused to do so because no one has met their asking price. If it gets to the trade deadline the price will go down because its better to get something for the player instead of losing them for nothing.

The illusion is that the Sixers had a talented team and blew it up. They had a utterly awful roster prior to blowing it up. How much 2012 Sixers did any of you watch? I'm guessing none because I barely watched and I love the Sixers. How much 2016 Sixers will you watch with Noel and Embiid getting 6 blocks a game? I plan to watch a ton and my guess is you'll tune in here and there too.

[Vides990]

Yes, Sixer fans we get you are sucking on purpose but nobody is going to pat you on the back for it. Yeah, your plan might work out and you might be good someday but don't act like you've accomplished anything yet. Your team's plan has no guarantee of being successful, so if it does, congrats. If not, sucks to be you guys. Your plan is very high-risk, high-reward. If Embiid or Noel end up being busts due to injuries or not being any good or MCW is just empty stats or Saric never comes over or is any good or none of your hundreds of second round picks will turn out to be anything special, nobody is going to be jealous of your Sixers.

[biggestbullsfan]

I think the question on everyones mind is, if the 76ers dont end up with a top pick this year or even the top prospect(Similiar to this years draft situation), will they tank again the following year?

No one wants to see a team not even try. Its one thing to try and fail, but its only so much you can tank.

[omerome]

I think the question on everyones mind is, if the 76ers dont end up with a top pick this year or even the top prospect(Similiar to this years draft situation), will they tank again the following year?

No one wants to see a team not even try. Its one thing to try and fail, but its only so much you can tank.

Bingo.

[Snotbubbles]

LOL fans jealous of losing, now I've heard everything.

I'm actually just kind of in awe of the lengths the Sixers are going to be an embarrassing on court product. The Cavs tanked the past few years (not last year, but still). The Sixers are almost bad basketball as performance art. It's incredible.

I know, it's crazy how committed the Sixers are to sucking ass. I understand their logic, but man they are completely unashamed of putting out the most embarrassing collection of players out on the floor. Last year was such an ugly intentional train wreck of NBA basketball. I admire their commitment to the plan however long they plan on tanking.

I can't believe anybody could possibly be jealous of the Sixers tank. Yes, Sixer fans we get you are sucking on purpose but nobody is going to pat you on the back for it. Yeah, your plan might work out and you might be good someday but don't act like you've accomplished anything yet. Your team's plan has no guarantee of being successful, so if it does, congrats. If not, sucks to be you guys. Your plan is very high-risk, high-reward. If Embiid or Noel end up being busts due to injuries or not being any good or MCW is just empty stats or Saric never comes over or is any good or none of your hundreds of second round picks will turn out to be anything special, nobody is going to be jealous of your Sixers.

Why change the draft rules if what the Sixers are doins is such a high-risk, high-reward proposition that teams would have to be committed to lost profits for multiple seasons to even try to attempt. That in itself would be a bigger deterrent than changing the draft.

[BullyKing]

This is effing hilarious, you call someone clueless yet in 1997 Elliot was 29, while Robinson was 32 and both were coming off the worst injuries of their careers. While Elliott was an all-star in 1996 he was diminishing quickly and was about to be blessed with his horrible kidney condition while Robinsons best days were behind him as well. Know what the heck you're talking about before trying to correct someone else.

Wow. I mean just wow. How does the fact that Sean Elliott was unknowingly going to be diagnosed with a kidney condition a couple years later have any impact on the fact that the Spurs tanked the 96-97 season?

Did they go into the season planning to tank? Let me answer that for you, NO. They made that decision when their team was decimated by injuries. They did hold Robinson out and not let him return for the last month, month and half of the season, and guess what happened, the media ripped them apart for it.
Edit, it did work because they got Duncan, but there's no Timmy coming in 2015.

No one cares if the media rips the Sixers. The point is that the league didn't change the rules as a result of what the Spurs did and all the other teams mentioned. Doesn't change the fact that your point about Sean Elliott is ludicrous.

[Notanoob]

I really hope that they don't change it.

People do realize that the lottery was originally introduced to counter tanking, right? Even though it really makes no sense not to do the draft in reverse record order like the NFL? The idea is that you can't guarantee that you'll have the #1 pick no matter how hard you try.

Everyone wants to counter tanking, but the reality is that doing so only hurts teams that are legitimately awful and prevents them from being able to get better.

Front offices across sports are realizing that this is the best way to run a team-bottom out and get picks. That what the Browns did last year and the Astros have been doing for years. Just accept the fact that this is the best way to do it.

[babyjax13]

This won't lead to a more competitive league, just one where teams that can draw free agents dominate a bunch of mediocre teams that couldn't build through the draft. OKC never happens without our current system.

[snoopdogg88]

I'm not sure why this needs to be explained. (It should be self explanatory)

With Embiid, Noel, MCW, Saric+ 2015 pick, the idea is that they shouldn't need to continue tanking. They should actually be pretty talented plus they will continue to have max cap space

Even if we don't get a top 5 pick in 2015, there should be enough talent to not need to "tank" anymore.

You work with the hand your dealt and make the best of it. If they don't pan out, so be it. You try again next year.

[GallagherArt]

I think the question on everyones mind is, if the 76ers dont end up with a top pick this year or even the top prospect(Similiar to this years draft situation), will they tank again the following year?

No one wants to see a team not even try. Its one thing to try and fail, but its only so much you can tank.

We did end up with the top prospect according to most, he happened to be injured hence why we're tanking again this season. To reiterate, Sixers have tanked a single season.

[Vides990]

Wow. I mean just wow. How does the fact that Sean Elliott was unknowingly going to be diagnosed with a kidney condition a couple years later have any impact on the fact that the Spurs tanked the 96-97 season?

Did they go into the season planning to tank? Let me answer that for you, NO. They made that decision when their team was decimated by injuries. They did hold Robinson out and not let him return for the last month, month and half of the season, and guess what happened, the media ripped them apart for it.
Edit, it did work because they got Duncan, but there's no Timmy coming in 2015.

No one cares if the media rips the Sixers. The point is that the league didn't change the rules as a result of what the Spurs did and all the other teams mentioned. Doesn't change the fact that your point about Sean Elliott is ludicrous.

Thats because they were still trying to compete in general. The Sixers unforunately are not. The point about Sean Elliott was made because the poster I quoted made it seem as if Elliott was a 25 yr old up and coming all-star when in reality he was 12 months away from being done, its a called correcting perspective.

[d0nk]

I think the question on everyones mind is, if the 76ers dont end up with a top pick this year or even the top prospect(Similiar to this years draft situation), will they tank again the following year?

No one wants to see a team not even try. Its one thing to try and fail, but its only so much you can tank.

Did you want to see andre iguodala lead the 76ers to 40 wins and a first round defeat for the better part of the last decade? Did you really watch a lot of that fun / exciting / 'competitive' 76ers team?

Or do you think maybe you'll spend more time watching / a relevant 76er squad featuring Embiid, Noel, Saric, MCW, and a top 5 2015 pick?


But again none of this is the point. There are rules to a game, if the 76ers have made a rational decision that they believe to be optimal given the conditions of the game, and are doing so at the personal loss of millions of dollars per year in loss ticket sales - they should be given fair warning if the rules of the game are going to be changed.

[BullyKing]

Did they go into the season planning to tank? Let me answer that for you, NO. They made that decision when their team was decimated by injuries. They did hold Robinson out and not let him return for the last month, month and half of the season, and guess what happened, the media ripped them apart for it.
Edit, it did work because they got Duncan, but there's no Timmy coming in 2015.

No one cares if the media rips the Sixers. The point is that the league didn't change the rules as a result of what the Spurs did and all the other teams mentioned. Doesn't change the fact that your point about Sean Elliott is ludicrous.

Thats because they were still trying to compete in general. The Sixers unforunately are not. The point about Sean Elliott was made because the poster I quoted made it seem as if Elliott was a 25 yr old up and coming all-star when in reality he was 12 months away from being done, its a called correcting perspective.

How is purposely holding out your best players trying to compete in general? And its not called correcting perspective, its called 20/20 hindsight, which doesn't exist in the real world.

[babyjax13]

I don't understand why everyone accuses Philadelphia of tanking, they went BPA with both of their high picks, and Saric (IMO) was BPA as well.

[BullyKing]

I don't understand why everyone accuses Philadelphia of tanking, they went BPA with both of their high picks, and Saric (IMO) was BPA as well.

Because they have all of this unused cap space - except no one can ever say what they realistically should do with it.

[LloydFree]

LOL fans jealous of losing, now I've heard everything.

I'm actually just kind of in awe of the lengths the Sixers are going to be an embarrassing on court product. The Cavs tanked the past few years (not last year, but still). The Sixers are almost bad basketball as performance art. It's incredible.

This.

Does anybody else find it absolutely amazing that its the Cleveland, Orlando and Charlotte fans that seem to be the loudest critics of the 76ers tanking? The three most recent franchises to use the exact strategy. Hilarious.

If your not a Pacer, Piston, Knick, Mavericks or Lakers fan, you really can't throw stones at the 76ers. Because all of the rest have tanked multiple seasons to different levels of success.