The Philadelphia 76ers were among the favorites to win the title before the season began. But then, injuries plagued their season. Now, instead of a championship, they are competing for a higher draft pick. For the Sixers, the biggest reward for the awful season would be a chance to draft Cooper Flagg. Can that happen?
Raptors Can Help 76ers Land Cooper Flagg
At the trade deadline, the Sixers didn’t give any indication that they were moving into tanking mode. At the time, they were still trying to trade and upgrade their roster. But then Joel Embiid was shut down for the season. Paul George is out for the season with an injury. It seems like the Sixers can’t catch a break, but Cooper Flagg would be a worthy reward. Philly fans have had to endure so much losing this season.
Since the 2017-18 season, the team has won 40+ games in each season. Two seasons before that, they had their second-worst season, winning only 10 games. Fun fact: the reward for that season was the ability to draft Ben Simmons. That No.1 pick didn’t turn out great after a promising start. Sixers fans sure hope their first-round pick this year can turn out better.
Here is how the Raptors can help. As of March 24th, the Sixers will have the fifth-best odds, the Nets the sixth-best, and the Raptors the seventh in the draft. While all three teams are actively losing, the Raptors are in a unique position. They play the Brooklyn Nets two times, and the Philadelphia 76ers once until the end of the season. Someone is going to have to lose. The Raptors and Nets play on March 26th and April 6th. They play the Sixers on March 30th.
Both the Nets and Sixers also play the Wizards once, the worst team in the conference, and the Pelicans, the second-worst team in the Western Conference. Those will be the games that will decide where the Sixers pick in the 2025 draft.
The Difference Between Fifth and Sixth Worst Odds for the No.1 Pick
To be fair, the 76ers will be happy even if they pick fifth in the 2025 draft. Getting a young player on a rookie-scale contract who can contribute instantly is huge for a team trying to compete for a championship. But if the Sixers retain the fifth-worst record in the league, their chances for drafting Flagg increase.
Per NBA lottery odds, the fifth-worst record gives you a 9.8% chance of drafting No.1 and a better chance of getting a top-three pick. The sixth-worst still gives you only a 9.7% chance at the No.1 pick however, there’s a greater chance the Sixers would lose their top-six protected pick. Of course, all that might not matter. Last year, the Atlanta Hawks moved from No.10 to No.1, despite only having a 3% odds to do that. The games between the Sixers, Raptors, and Nets will definitely make a huge difference in where the Sixers pick.
Can the Sixers Lose Their Pick?
The Philadelphia 76ers owe a top-six protected pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Several days ago, the Sixers and Thunder were in a unique situation. The Thunder sit almost their entire starting five to play the Sixers, hoping to improve their odds of getting a lottery pick, and they still won because the Sixers are that bad. While the Sixers have a top-five pick right now, they are just one game behind the Raptors for the seventh pick. That one game can make the difference whether the Sixers get a top-three pick or the No.1 and lose their first-round pick.
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