Game Thread NBA Draft Lottery - May 12, 2025

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I know! Push all "generational" prospects to San Antonio, Cleveland, New Orleans and Orlando! That would certainly maximize the revenue.

Cleveland and New Orleans were situations where the local team was in meltdown and needed immediate help.
San Antonio was allegedly a preferred destination by Wembanyama's camp.
The Orlando pick probably wasn't rigged.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

NBA owners would know about it and not stand for it.

NBA owners don't need to be in the know at all. Just a few people in the league can handle it. As long as the league is healthy and a rising tide raises all boats, the owners will go along with it, whether or not they have suspicions. They know what business they're in. And sure, there's some plausible deniability.

 

[rippimpc]

Why would not want Tre?

I get we are sad cuz no Flagg/Harper, but Tre is 6'6 with a 6'10 wingspan and has elite markers for shooting w/ flashes of playmaking. He's an all-star caliber prospect.

I’m kind of worried tre won’t be there

 

[jom2003]

Maybe just some anger in the moment, but flattening the odds didnt solve tanking and now we just get more random BS like this.

Doesn't matter if it's working as intended or not, this current system needs to go. Not just the public backlash. For Silver to legalize sports betting, this is the last thing he wants. I mean for Cleveland or NOLA to win it multiple times over a short span is one thing. But for Dallas to win it this year, after all the media coverage and conspiracy theories surrounding the Luka trade, is a complete different story. Why would you ever put your bet on something if you think it's rigged? This is gonna cost then so much money.

The notoriety of this year's lottery will be remembered, even by the non NBA fans or non sports fans.

 

[The Midnight]

Adam Silver: “Yeah but Ernst & Young over-see everything”

Ernst & Young my ***.

 

[infection]

There is no "system". There are actual, physical lottery balls - 14 of them.

Go and ask a physicist if 14 identical balls mixed for 20 seconds can be programmed to come up in a certain order.

Not sure why you think there are 14 lottery balls.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Doesn't matter if it's working as intended or not, this current system needs to go. Not just the public backlash. For Silver to legalize sports betting, this is the last thing he wants. I mean for Cleveland or NOLA to win it multiple times over a short span is one thing. But for Dallas to win it this year, after all the media coverage and conspiracy theories surrounding the Luka trade, is a complete different story. Why would you ever put your bet on something if you think it's rigged? This is gonna cost then so much money.

The notoriety of this year's lottery will be remembered, even by the non NBA fans or even non sports fans.

Uhhh, he doesnt want a random odds event happening for betting? That sounds like exactly what betting wants.

 

[Coach Ellis]

Maybe just some anger in the moment, but flattening the odds didnt solve tanking and now we just get more random BS like this.

Looking at the NHL lottery, I actually think that’s a better lottery system now. Do it live and only two teams move up, with a maximum of 10 spots you can improve by. Worst teams still get the best odds for the top players and you don’t fall dramatically if the lottery luck goes elsewhere.

 

[TheGoldStandard]

For a NBA owner, from an investment standpoint only, with the current revenue sharing model, they would want as high as ratings as possible, and ratings have been down. They want high ratings with the new tv deals. Flagg in Utah would not move ratings up at all.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Trading Luka to the Lakers for a sub-par return was already improbable and suspicious.
Dallas then getting THE star player in the ensuing draft is also improbable and suspicious.

So that's double improbable and suspicious, even if you don't believe in conspiracies.

 

[Sean]

Maybe this is why you tell Mitchell and Gobert to cowboy up and continue to build around them? Instead, we’re going to be at the bottom of the league for a generation. With increased alternatives for people to spend their money, I’m unsure if fans have the patience to waste decades waiting for this franchise to piece together another decent team.

I was a proponent of running it back for at least a couple seasons to see what we could get out of it. But everyone wanted to cut ties and maybe long-term, in a decade, we'll be better off for it. But right now? The Jazz are looking a lot like the Sacramento Kings circa 2007.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I’m kind of worried tre won’t be there

There's a chance that Ace is underwhelming and falls to 5.