OKC Thunder: NBA Draft – Tank wars heat up in week 17
While most teams are invested in gearing up for the playoffs the OKC Thunder have other priorities. Namely, losing games. Intentions can sugarcoat the fact the team is using this as a period of development and evaluation — which it is. But make no mistake the franchise priority through the final 17 games is to improve their draft position.
The hope was OKC would make three selections in the first round. However, the Golden State Warriors pick has 1 through 20 protections. It was a long shot the Dubs would finish in the top ten overall given their current placement. And with rookie James Wiseman tearing his meniscus this past weekend it’s a safe bet their final seeding will fall well short of the top 10.
Golden State will still convey a pick this season to the Thunder although it will come in the second round. The good news is that pick will be conveyed by GSW via the Timberwolves. Based on their current 30th seeding Minnesota has one of the three best shots to nab the top draft pick.
Similarly, the Wolves’ second-round pick would correspond to where the lottery balls fall. For example, if Minnesota won the first pick their second pick would be the first (31st overall) in the second round. In a deep draft class that’s valuable.
OKC Thunder embrace tanking to finish the season
In terms of picks, OKC will make selections based on the two most favorable of their own, Miami Heat and Houston Rockets’ first-round picks. However, the Rockets pick will only enter that equation if they land a pick outside the top four. It’s not as simple as Houston finishing the season seeded 26th or higher. Rather, it will be determined based on where the ball bounces in the draft lottery.
At the moment it seems likely the Rockets will retain their pick but as evidenced in recent years those ping pong balls have a mind of their own. With the revamped lottery method the bottom-seeded teams aren’t guaranteed the top pick.
For example, in the inaugural year of the new format (2019), the three teams with the worst records and equal 14 percent shot of the top pick shifted upward with only one team getting a top-three pick. Specifically, the Knicks, Cavaliers, and Suns landed the third, fifth, and sixth picks respectively.
The Pelicans had a six percent shot and were seeded ninth of the 14 teams and pole-vaulted to the top pick. Likewise, the Grizzlies jumped from eighth to second and the Lakers from 11th to fourth.