Despite high hopes, Lakers fans must temper their expectations and realize that keeping the 2016 draft pick is far from a sure thing
The Los Angeles Lakers just finished their worst season in franchise history, the Kobe Bryant era has come to an end and Byron Scott is still the coach of the team. In the eyes of many, that combination is one destined for failure.
However, the light at the end of the tunnel, the Lakers’ saving grace, is found in the belief that if Los Angeles indeed keeps their top three protected draft pick come May 17, the rebuild process would be greatly expedited.
An addition of either LSU power forward, Ben Simmons, or Duke small forward, Brandon Ingram, would be welcomed with warm arms — discussion of who would actually be a better pick will be saved for later.
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The incoming draft class may be top two, maybe three, heavy and fall off sharply from there, but for the Purple and Gold that doesn’t apply to them all things considered.
Finishing the season with an abysmal record of 17 wins and 65 losses, the Lakers locked up the second worst record, trailed only by the Philadelphia 76ers who paid homage to the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, but in the wrong way, going 10-72.
By only halfway tanking, the Lakers now sit with a 55.83 percent chance of their pick landing in the top three, as opposed to the 64.28 percent chance that the Sixers currently possess.
Next: Simulating the Lakers Lottery Odds in Late April
More over, that additional 8.45 percentage points was the difference between a bit of security and what is now practically a slightly weighted coin toss.