During the net season on rebuilds, the first lottery picks in a decade and a half are almost guaranteed.
And on Wednesday they were beaten by fellow tanking rivals Toronto in a game with all sorts of lottery meaning.
The net and raptors both want coveted top picks and generational talent Cooper flags, but one of the deepest drafts in recent memory is home to plenty of other elite talents that could be the basis for the roster.
And games like Wednesday were essential for jocking positions.
Due to loss, the net was in tune with the 76ers, who lost the lottery.
As a review, the drawings will be held on May 12th at the top four picks.
The fifth record gives Nets a 10.5% chance on the flag and a 42.1% odds for the top four picks.
Sixth, they will be between 9-37.25% and seventh will be 7.5 and 31.9. It assumes there is no bond, and it will distort the odds.
In the fifth seed of the lottery, the net has few opportunities to actually choose there, either their most likely landing point (26.7) or the sixth (19.6).
Sixth, their most likely draft slot still picks the 7th (29.8), but this time it follows the 8th (20.55).
And if they “fall” to 7th place, picking the 8th will be their most likely outcome (34.1), followed by the 7th (19.7) or the 9th (12.9), making it a tough medicine for such a lost season.
Picking in the 4-9 range won't net Flag or Rutgers' Dylan Harper (or perhaps even Lou's Ace Bailey), but it's more talented than most seasons in recent memory.
“I put VJ Edgecombe and Tre Johnson in that mix. Those guys are amazing,” longtime 76ers scout Michael Vandegard told the Post. “[My fifth pick] It must be Tre Johnson. You could also change the order between the two guys, but I'm excited about them. …After that five people, there's a massive drop-off. ”
ESPN's Jonathan Givony is considered the gold standard for Draftniks, and his updated “Big Board” features Edgecombe, Johnson, Kasparas Jakucionis from Illinois, Jeremiah's Fear of Oklahoma, Haman Malhach from Duke, Teammate Conk Noupel and Maryland 4-10 slots.
Edgecombe, a 6-foot-5 freshman, went to Long Island Lutheran. He has an explosive vertical leap and an emotional first step. He is a destructive advocate who asked questions about his attacks.
Edgecombe won Mississippi State in Baylor's NCAA Tournament opening, earning 16 points and 6 boards vs Duke. Johnson improved his shooting as the season progressed.
“Edgecom is one of the strangest athletes I've seen in my life and he put together the strings. [down the stretch] He's just playing his ass,” Vandegard told the Post.
Just 19, Johnson may be the most talented and pure scorer in the draft. Like the tall (6-6) version of Cam Thomas, he both take tough shots.
Texas lost just 19-16 in the first round, but Johnson scored 23 points on that loss, losing 4-7 from the Deep.
He is also a poor defender, averaging 19.9 points at 39.7 percent, and although he is also a capable passerby.
“Tre Johnson is incredible. He starts playing every night, he goes up numbers every night. He can score on all three levels,” Vandegard told the Post. “He's not an extraordinary athlete, but he's good in length and good in size. He was an absolute stud at any age. I really like that kid.”
Jakucionis is a 6-6 point guard and still cuts turnovers (6 in each of the last four games) and becomes a more consistent shooter (24% in the last 10%). His worst game was against Harper, but with only 18 people in size and playmaking chops, he's intrigued by scouts.
