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Evaluating the Dallas Mavericks’ Lottery Competition

By Isaac Harris
Feb 15, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) gestures after a three point basket during the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center. Milwaukee won 129-125. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) gestures after a three point basket during the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center. Milwaukee won 129-125. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets
NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets /

Bank On It

-Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets are the worst team in the league, and it really isn’t that close.

What makes it even worse, is the fact that they don’t want to be bad. Brooklyn STILL does not own their first round draft pick for the next two years due to the dreaded trade with Boston for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry.

The Nets will end the year with a top 4 pick (possibly the first) in the draft that will be sent to Boston.

-Los Angeles Lakers

For the Lakers and tanking, it’s simple; if they don’t land the top 3 pick in the draft, they send it to Philadelphia do to the prior Steve Nash trade.

Currently sitting at a 19-39 record, the race to the bottom is on for the young Lakers team. Making the playoffs is out of the picture, so losing a potential top 10 pick would be huge for the rebuilding Lakers team.

-Philadelphia 76ers

Sam Hinkie went from villain to superhero really quick in Philadelphia, but he isn’t around to reap the benefits. Joel Embiid finally made his stamp on the league this season as he has given the whole city something to be excited about for the future.

But Embiid can’t play every position and it still looks like the organization is taking a cautious approach with the budding star. The Sixers aren’t making a playoff push this season, so getting another top pick in the draft should be the priority.

-Orlando Magic

The Magic were destined to make a trade deadline deal and they did that by sending Serge Ibaka to Toronto for Terrence Ross and a first round pick. But this could just be the beginning to another potential rebuild in Orlando.

They currently sit with the second worst record in the Eastern Conference, but everything depends on their approach at the deadline. If they decide to trade off veterans for younger assets and picks, then we can expect them near the top of the draft.

Before the Ibaka trade, I had Orlando in the ‘On the Brink’ category, but now you can bank on them in the top 5.

Next: On the Brink

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