NBA Draft thread

[JackReacher]

http://deadspin.com/the-cavs-are-willing-to-trade-the-first-overall-pick-509262668

Hey, look! The GM of the team that won the NBA Draft lottery the night before says he's weighing all his options and someone runs with that and creates a "They're willing to trade the pick!!!!" story. Pretty surprised it's Deadspin, though, since we all know Deadspinners are way smarter than all of us.

 

[Chef2]

 

[LongTimeListener]

No way LeBron opts out. He's way too loyal to do something like that. He'll definitely retire as a member of the Miami Heat. I mean, he loves it there. It's just like home!!

I'm fully prepared for him to go to the Lakers, who will probably then turn around and hire Phil back before winning five of the next seven titles... The thought of this makes me want to vomit, but that's the way things usually work out for the Lakers...

The Bel-Air Boys And Girls Club is going to get a hefty donation, though. Can probably put in a tanning bed.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

No way LeBron opts out. He's way too loyal to do something like that. He'll definitely retire as a member of the Miami Heat. I mean, he loves it there. It's just like home!!

I'm fully prepared for him to go to the Lakers, who will probably then turn around and hire Phil back before winning five of the next seven titles... The thought of this makes me want to vomit, but that's the way things usually work out for the Lakers...

The Bel-Air Boys And Girls Club is going to get a hefty donation, though. Can probably put in a tanning bed.

Oh, they've been doing spray tans there since 2008, where have you been?

 

[jackfinarelli]

I would like to pose a different question here:


Does the NBA still need a lottery to determine its draft order?


Yes, I recall that teams surely seemed to be tanking a season to get a high draft pick 30 years ago. Nevertheless, is this a solution to a problem whose time has come and gone?

 

[Bodie_Broadus]

No way LeBron opts out. He's way too loyal to do something like that. He'll definitely retire as a member of the Miami Heat. I mean, he loves it there. It's just like home!!

I'm fully prepared for him to go to the Lakers, who will probably then turn around and hire Phil back before winning five of the next seven titles... The thought of this makes me want to vomit, but that's the way things usually work out for the Lakers...

The Bel-Air Boys And Girls Club is going to get a hefty donation, though. Can probably put in a tanning bed.

Oh, they've been doing spray tans there since 2008, where have you been?

I kinda want to go look at all the expensive homes in Bel-Air sometime.

I did like the area around Griffith Observatory when I went up there one day. I've only been in LA for a month and a half, so much more exploring to do.

BTW, I hope Anthony Bennett can do something in the NBA, my alma mater hasn't had anyone drafted since I think Marcus Banks.

 

[heyabbott]

I would like to pose a different question here:


Does the NBA still need a lottery to determine its draft order?


Yes, I recall that teams surely seemed to be tanking a season to get a high draft pick 30 years ago. Nevertheless, is this a solution to a problem whose time has come and gone?

I wonder if the ratings for the lottery were as high as the SA/Memphis game

 

[LongTimeListener]

I would like to pose a different question here:


Does the NBA still need a lottery to determine its draft order?


Yes, I recall that teams surely seemed to be tanking a season to get a high draft pick 30 years ago. Nevertheless, is this a solution to a problem whose time has come and gone?

Hell no. If you remove the draft lottery, you will see a team go 0-82 next season in pursuit of Andrew Wiggins. There is no other sport where one player can change fortunes so instantaneously and dramatically.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I would like to pose a different question here:


Does the NBA still need a lottery to determine its draft order?


Yes, I recall that teams surely seemed to be tanking a season to get a high draft pick 30 years ago. Nevertheless, is this a solution to a problem whose time has come and gone?

Hell no. If you remove the draft lottery, you will see a team go 0-82 next season in pursuit of Andrew Wiggins. There is no other sport where one player can change fortunes so instantaneously and dramatically.

Exactly. Just ask the Rockets if tanking games helps.

I hate the lottery. But I hate teams tanking even more... Amazingly, the NFL avoids this. I don't know how, but they do, even when a franchise QB could be available only if they lose their last game...

 

[Stoney]

I would like to pose a different question here:


Does the NBA still need a lottery to determine its draft order?


Yes, I recall that teams surely seemed to be tanking a season to get a high draft pick 30 years ago. Nevertheless, is this a solution to a problem whose time has come and gone?

Not only do I think they still need it, but I wish they'd dump the weighting system and go back to a straight lottery with each participant's odds being equal.

 

[Bodie_Broadus]

I would like to pose a different question here:


Does the NBA still need a lottery to determine its draft order?


Yes, I recall that teams surely seemed to be tanking a season to get a high draft pick 30 years ago. Nevertheless, is this a solution to a problem whose time has come and gone?

Not only do I think they still need it, but I wish they'd dump the weighting system and go back to a straight lottery with each participant's odds being equal.

When did they change it? It used to be just 12 ping-pong balls, each with a team logo in the hopper right?

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I think after Orlando got Shaq and Webber in consecutive years.

 

[Bodie_Broadus]

I think after Orlando got Shaq and Webber in consecutive years.

That'd do it.

Imagine if those two had actually played together. That's a helluva front line.

 

[Stoney]

I would like to pose a different question here:


Does the NBA still need a lottery to determine its draft order?


Yes, I recall that teams surely seemed to be tanking a season to get a high draft pick 30 years ago. Nevertheless, is this a solution to a problem whose time has come and gone?

Not only do I think they still need it, but I wish they'd dump the weighting system and go back to a straight lottery with each participant's odds being equal.

When did they change it? It used to be just 12 ping-pong balls, each with a team logo in the hopper right?

A loong ass time ago.

I believe they first switched to the weighting system after some teams whined and cried about Orlando getting lucky and winning two years in a row in the early 90s (ushering in the Shaq/Penny era). And they later increased the weights in subsequent tweaking. The current odds distribution still leavse a nice incentive to tank.

 

[sgreenwell]

I would like to pose a different question here:


Does the NBA still need a lottery to determine its draft order?


Yes, I recall that teams surely seemed to be tanking a season to get a high draft pick 30 years ago. Nevertheless, is this a solution to a problem whose time has come and gone?

Hell no. If you remove the draft lottery, you will see a team go 0-82 next season in pursuit of Andrew Wiggins. There is no other sport where one player can change fortunes so instantaneously and dramatically.

Exactly. Just ask the Rockets if tanking games helps.

I hate the lottery. But I hate teams tanking even more... Amazingly, the NFL avoids this. I don't know how, but they do, even when a franchise QB could be available only if they lose their last game...

At least on The Trenches podcast, Ephraim Salaam gave two reasons - 1) If you go half speed or let up as an NFL player, you put yourself at severe risk for getting injured as a 300-pound lineback or lineman plows over you and 2) Because cuts are much more frequent and contracts usually aren't guaranteed, you're ALWAYS kind of auditioning for your next team. Also, think of all the crap guys like Randy Moss got for being on tape as obviously taking plays off.

I guess if you're a head coach or management, you could try to tank, by putting a bunch of guys on IR or not playing them for "injury" reasons. But I think the NFL has less roster rigidity than other sports, so it's not like you'd be able to put scrubs in at each position without having to cut loose a guy you might want to keep for next season.

 

[sgreenwell]

I would like to pose a different question here:


Does the NBA still need a lottery to determine its draft order?


Yes, I recall that teams surely seemed to be tanking a season to get a high draft pick 30 years ago. Nevertheless, is this a solution to a problem whose time has come and gone?

Not only do I think they still need it, but I wish they'd dump the weighting system and go back to a straight lottery with each participant's odds being equal.

When did they change it? It used to be just 12 ping-pong balls, each with a team logo in the hopper right?

A loong ass time ago.

I believe they first switched to the weighting system after some teams whined and cried about Orlando getting lucky and winning two years in a row in the early 90s (ushering in the Shaq/Penny era). And they later increased the weights in subsequent tweaking. The current odds distribution still leavse a nice incentive to tank.

The incentive is still there, but as you mentioned they've weighted it decently enough. Like if you really want a shot at the No. 1 pick, you basically have to be bad enough to be far out of playoff contention. And if you're THAT far out of playoff contention, it's probably going to have a pretty horrid effect on the box office.

 

[heyabbott]

Could the Wizards get Amar'e Stoudemire for a 2nd round draft choice?

Should they?

It would allow them to draft Porter, Oladipo or Bennett and get a presence in the middle they need.
The Knicks want to dump his salary and seperate him from carmelo

 

[sgreenwell]

Could the Wizards get Amar'e Stoudemire for a 2nd round draft choice?

Should they?

It would allow them to draft Porter, Oladipo or Bennett and get a presence in the middle they need.
The Knicks want to dump his salary and seperate him from carmelo

Why the **** would they want a guy with one of the league's most toxic contracts who can't play defense? I mean, it's the Wizards, so sure anything is possible. But Stoudemire isn't going anywhere unless the Knicks take back a similarly awful contract. Like maybe in a couple years, they can get Rudy Gay for him.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I would like to pose a different question here:


Does the NBA still need a lottery to determine its draft order?


Yes, I recall that teams surely seemed to be tanking a season to get a high draft pick 30 years ago. Nevertheless, is this a solution to a problem whose time has come and gone?

Not only do I think they still need it, but I wish they'd dump the weighting system and go back to a straight lottery with each participant's odds being equal.

When did they change it? It used to be just 12 ping-pong balls, each with a team logo in the hopper right?

A loong ass time ago.

I believe they first switched to the weighting system after some teams whined and cried about Orlando getting lucky and winning two years in a row in the early 90s (ushering in the Shaq/Penny era). And they later increased the weights in subsequent tweaking. The current odds distribution still leavse a nice incentive to tank.

The incentive is still there, but as you mentioned they've weighted it decently enough. Like if you really want a shot at the No. 1 pick, you basically have to be bad enough to be far out of playoff contention. And if you're THAT far out of playoff contention, it's probably going to have a pretty horrid effect on the box office.

Well, most of those tickets are sold before the season, so unless they're one of the teams that relies heavily on walk-up ticket sales, the impact would be minimal.

I don't think teams would tank every year, but if it's a year where a Olajuwon or a Ewing or a Shaq or a Duncan or a David Robinson or a LeBron... A no-brainer No. 1 choice who will almost certainly make an immediate impact, then, you're going to see teams tank to get those guys.

 

[Pancamo]

Could the Wizards get Amar'e Stoudemire for a 2nd round draft choice?

Should they?

It would allow them to draft Porter, Oladipo or Bennett and get a presence in the middle they need.
The Knicks want to dump his salary and seperate him from carmelo

Why the **** would they want a guy with one of the league's most toxic contracts who can't play defense? I mean, it's the Wizards, so sure anything is possible. But Stoudemire isn't going anywhere unless the Knicks take back a similarly awful contract. Like maybe in a couple years, they can get Rudy Gay for him.

Don't doubt Ernie.....