Well I think we should frame this by pointing out exactly how unlikely it is that we will end up with the #1 and #2 picks in next years draft:
Even if the regular season plays out perfectly and we end up in a scenario that gives us the greatest likelihood of landing #1 and #2. (i.e. Brooklyn has the worst record, LAL has the second worst). And ignore for a moment that this scenario has its on likelihood of not happening at all. Just pretend it already has for the sake of context.
I've taken general stats in college to get my degree. I'm pretty sure i've done this math correctly. Others might know stats better, so I will lay out how i've done my math:
Going into draft night BKN is 25% chance at #1, LAL has 18.8% chance at #2.
BKN is #1:
25% chance of happening. But if it did it takes their lotto balls out of the equation for #2 or #3. This actually increases the probability of LAL getting #2, given it has already happened. You calculate this by subtracting the probability of BKN getting #2 (21.5%) from 100.
100 - 21.5 = 78.5
Then you divide 100% by 78.5%.
100 / 78.5 = 1.274
And multiply that number (1.274) by LAL's original chance at #2 (18.8%).
18.8 x 1.274 = 23.95%
So that's the good news! Given that BKN gets #1 overall our odds at landing #2 with the LAL pick actually increases under any scenario that both teams are in the lottery. However here is where the math takes a turn for the disheartening. In order to calculate the odds of this happening we have to multiply these two percentages against each other (25% at BKN #1, 23.95% LAL at #2 given that BKN already has gotten the #1).
.25 x .2395 = .06 (6%)
So even in the scenario where it is the most likely we receive #1 and #2 (BKN is dead last, LAL is second to last) we only have a 6% chance actually getting both 1 and 2. Those odds drops quickly in other scenarios. Say BKN is second to last, LAL is third to last, the odds of getting 1 and 2 drops to 4%.
And these are the percentages given that the regular season has worked out very well for our lottery chances. The likelihood of which cannot be calculated. In any scenario, the likelihood of us losing the #1 pick to the 76ers due to protections will be higher than the likelihood of us landing both #1 and #2
For all these reasons, i think it would be unfair to the NBA to claim that we were not allowed to receive #1 or #2.