I’m holding onto the slightest hope for the pick this year.
27 games left for the Lakers. 6 teams exactly 5 games back in the win column, 1 at 4, 1 at 3, with 2 teams tied the the Lakers. Let’s say the Lakers finish 6 and 21, and 4 of the teams below them finish something like 11 and 16 it will make things interesting. An average of these teams picking up a game every 5 games roughly. The Lakers have to start playing very bad again though, but their March schedule will get tougher again.
I know very unlikely but you never know. I wonder if any of the Lakers expirings like Lopez and Pope will ask for buyouts. Losing Nance is underrated loss for their front court depth.