By “Nunnie” Robinson, The Westside Gazette Sport Editor
The NBA introduced the lottery process in 1985, endeavoring to counter accusations that certain teams were purposefully losing in order to gain a chance to participate in the annual coin flip, where the worst team in each division (each conference starting in 1971) flips a coin to see who will receive the first pick in the upcoming draft. Since 2019, the first four picks have been determined by the lottery.
The NBA draft lottery seems intrinsically unfair, because, as set up, it prevents the weakest team in the league from having a decided preferential advantage. The Detroit Pistons had the worst record so why shouldn’t they automatically have the number one selection. Instead, for years the League has chosen the lottery where downtrodden teams’ fortunes are placed at the whim of a coin flip/floating object. I like the way the NFL does it. The teams with the worst records should have priority. The lottery has run its course. If teams are guilty of cheating or colluding, punish them via the draft. Speaking of lottery, one clear winner appears to be the Houston Rockets, who benefited immensely from the James Harden trade to the Brooklyn Nets, receiving the Nets 2024 first round pick, originally selection 9, which became number 3 as a result of how lottery fell. The San Antonio Spurs, on the hills of the Victor Wembanyama number 1 pick last year, hold picks 4 & 8 in ‘24, placing them in advantageous trade position to move even higher. Herein lies my issue with the lottery. Just take a quick glance at the draft lottery results, look at the worst teams record wise and see where they land. The only constant is second place Washington with Detroit falling to fifth in what should have been automatic first and second round picks sans the lottery. It means that without extraordinary draft luck, the bad teams will remain that way for years to come. I don’t think it’s good for the NBA to have consistent losing franchises. What do you say?
Below are the draft results for the 10 picks, many of which have been bad for a long time:
- Atlanta Hawks (first time lottery winner)
- Washington Wizards
- Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets)
- San Antonio Spurs
- Detroit Pistons
- Charlotte Hornets
- Portland Trail Blazers
- San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto Raptors)
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Utah Jazz
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