PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 7: An overview of the Wells Fargo Center during the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers on December 7, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
You have to wonder just how well the Los Angeles Lakers would play this season if a Top-3 protection remained on their first round pick. For years, the Philadelphia 76ers waited patiently to cash in on that Lakers first. And every year, that pick seemed to fall at two, enuring the Lakers would retain their pick. Oftentimes it was the luck of that infamous NBA Lottery. The same lottery system which delivered the top pick to the Lebron-less Cleveland Cavaliers three of four seasons.
The Lakers happened to land at two in three consecutive years. It happened in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Funny how that worked out, huh? This year, no such protection exists. And suddenly, lo and behold, their team is off to the races at a 29-36 record. That win total already betters any win total of the last four NBA seasons. No more incentive to play poorly for that NBA Draft seems to have inspired their entire organization.
Lakers drafted higher, still rebuilding
But while the Philadelphia 76ers NBA picks frequently landed at three, the Lakers somehow walked out of that NBA Lottery with a two pick, ensuring that they, and not Philadelphia, would select on draft night. But this season is different. That pick is unprotected. If it lands at 2,3,4,or 5, it conveys to the Boston Celtics as final payment for the right to move up in the NBA Draft and select Markelle Fultz.
Right now, it sits at 11. And that all but makes it a lock to the Philadelphia 76ers this season. Consequently, the 2019 first round pick for the Sacramento Kings now looks like the Celtics pick (barring it landing number one in that 2019 NBA Draft). And while the first instinct is to root against the Lakers, this season is complicated. You see, many of the the teams playing the Lakers are competing for a playoff spot with the Philadelphia 76ers. So it's a torn allegiance.
Lakers post All-Star Break wowing NBA
The trade mayhem before the NBA Trade Deadline made headlines, but focused upon a Cleveland Cavalier desperate to remain in the NBA Playoff hunt. One such trade involved the Cavs and the Lakers, and ended up making both teams better in the aftermath.
The key to this trade was Isaiah Thomas, who never truly fit the Cavaliers system. But since his arrival to the Lakers, Los Angeles is running at a 6-2 clip.
NBA schedule may change Lakers final rank
Now, the season is far from decided where that first round pick is concerned. The Lakers stand at 29-36, facing 17 games remaining for their season. Of the remaining 17 games, only three contests match them up with teams eliminated from post-season play. So that record, optimistically, projects at 35-47. But even at that landing spot, the Lakers would end up with a 10 pick .. possibly.
If 76ers fans have any hope of conveying the Lakers pick to Boston, the Lakers must lose all of their remaining games. That, unfortunately will likely not happen. But even for that Lakers pick to land at or better than a top-eight, these Lakers must go into an immediate and long-lasting tailspin. Could it happen? Remotely, yes. Realistically, the Philadelphia 76ers may do no better than 10. In the end, the player available to the Philadelphia 76ers in that 2018 NBA Draft is in the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers. And for the Sixers to land a top-10 pick, the road to the 2018 NBA Playoffs just became that much steeper.
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