2026 NBA Trade Discussion Thread

[NUMBERICA]

I think it suggest how lottery odds work...

What?

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

What?

You can only jump into the top 4, so making it open 5-9 makes it a 50/50 proposition.

The thing that is weird is starting the protections again at 10, but I guess Indy is just safeguarding against other teams getting lucky and out tanking them.

 

[NUMBERICA]

You can only jump into the top 4, so making it open 5-9 makes it a 50/50 proposition.

The thing that is weird is starting the protections again at 10, but I guess Indy is just safeguarding against other teams getting lucky and out tanking them.

Right. I’m referring to the weirdness of having 10-30 being protected.

 

[The Jazz Wonderbra]

I

Could definitely be the case. Although I think I'd still prefer a pick in the 10-13 range in this year's draft over a 2031 pick.

If you believe in the conspiracies then having one of the premier players blow out his Achilles gives you a very likely chance at the top pick. Calling it now beyaches. Just like I did last year after the Luka trade MONTHS before it happened.

 

[tksavis]

Right. I’m referring to the weirdness of having 10-30 being protected.

So what’s the net incentive structure for Indiana then? Either be so bad they’ve got the worst record so they have a 50/50 chance of keeping the pick, or they try to get to the 10th worst record and keep the pick at 10 or below or keep it at 1-4 if they get over lucky?

 

[FalseFlagg K]

Fur what?

an impressive introductory press conference in the offseason

 

[FalseFlagg K]

That better not include this year’s Pacers pick.. they’re dead last currently.

lol why on earth do you think Indiana would've offered a probable top 4 pick this draft for Walker Kessler ?? You've shagged one too many sheep my friend, probably developing Creutzfeld-Jakob disease

 

[NUMBERICA]

So what’s the net incentive structure for Indiana then? Either be so bad they’ve got the worst record so they have a 50/50 chance of keeping the pick, or they try to get to the 10th worst record and keep the pick at 10 or below or keep it at 1-4 if they get over lucky?

1. Get a really good player on a really good contract
2. Have the freedom to play basketball like a normal team
3. Either get the guy they think is underrated later in the draft or land top-4.