Chances of getting the lakers pick?

[cman88]

The lakers obviously improved this summer. But In a loaded west they are not a playoff team. The question then becomes, what are the chances that they are still bad enough to net us 2-5 pick next year?

[tarheelsxxiii]

As of today, 52.74%

[footey]

Probably dropped a little with signing of Pope.

[aefgogreen]

If we had the right to turn down the back end of the protection, would people take it?  For example, if they ended up with the 6th pick, would people take the pick if they had the option.  Part of me really likes the bird in the hand...

[droopdog7]

I guess it all hinges on how much Ingram improves, how good Ball is, and Lopez.  I would say they've definitely improved and would put the odds of us getting their pick at less than 50%.  Would not be surprised if they ended up in the 6-8 range.

[trickybilly]

I guess it all hinges on how much Ingram improves, how good Ball is, and Lopez.  I would say they've definitely improved and would put the odds of us getting their pick at less than 50%.  Would not be surprised if they ended up in the 6-8 range.

I wouldn't be surprised either... That being said:

Sac has significantly improved with Hill, Zbo and Vince. Not to mention Hield being legit and Fox looking like he'll give great minutes

Pels will be better. They just will.

I've heard a few NBA heads say Phoenix are gunning for playoffs this year

Only really Dallas who are challenging them for awful...

In the east. Well I guess the sixers will suck, but could improved.

Indy, Knicks, Nets, Orlando, pistons all in for a tough year..

Yeah, 8 is my prediction..

[CELTICSofBOSTON]

I would say 50/50.

[rondofan1255]

35%

[johnnygreen]

Since Lavar Ball hasn't and simply can't shut his mouth, I can see players from around the league being highly motivated to finally face and beat the Lakers again. The best way to bring Lavar back to reality, is for the rest of the league to beat the Lakers and his son like a drum. I'm pretty confident they'll stay in the 2- 5 range.

[jbpats]

I'm not sure I can name 5 teams worse?

These are my worst teams in no particular order at least by my measure
Nets - improved
Hawks - significant decline
Pacers - Signficant decline
Magic - about same as last year
Lakers - Slightly improved

4 of those teams play in the east, so they'll get wins by default. I just don't see the Lakers keeping pace with the rest of the West. I also see the other West lottery teams improving this year, Suns, Kings, Pelicans, Nuggets.
You always have to take into account under achieving teams that tank on purpose AKA rest starters.. Which LA has no incentive to do.
I think 50/50 is accurate.

[JHTruth]

They will be the worst defensive team in the league, a team that generally wins less than 25 games. I'd say they'll be battling for 2nd or 3rd worst team in the league. One X factor is if Phoenix/Sac go into full on tank mode to finish the season although I live here in Phoenix and the fan base seems sick to death of tanking at this point. It's time for those teams to start building a culture.

[Irish Stew]

I guess it all hinges on how much Ingram improves, how good Ball is, and Lopez.  I would say they've definitely improved and would put the odds of us getting their pick at less than 50%.  Would not be surprised if they ended up in the 6-8 range.

I wouldn't be surprised either... That being said:

Sac has significantly improved with Hill, Zbo and Vince. Not to mention Hield being legit and Fox looking like he'll give great minutes

Pels will be better. They just will.

I've heard a few NBA heads say Phoenix are gunning for playoffs this year

Only really Dallas who are challenging them for awful...

In the east. Well I guess the sixers will suck, but could improved.

Indy, Knicks, Nets, Orlando, pistons all in for a tough year..

Yeah, 8 is my prediction..

While I agree with you that most of the worst dumpster fire franchises are in the East, the Lakers have not improved as much as the Western Conference has. I just think that the Lakers will get hammered on a nightly basis in their conference games while the bad Eastern Conference teams have a significantly easier schedule and get a number of games against each other. I'm hoping to slip into the 4 or 5 spot.

[Sophomore]

I'm not sure I can name 5 teams worse?

These are my worst teams in no particular order at least by my measure
Nets - improved
Hawks - significant decline
Pacers - Signficant decline
Magic - about same as last year
Lakers - Slightly improved

4 of those teams play in the east, so they'll get wins by default. I just don't see the Lakers keeping pace with the rest of the West. I also see the other West lottery teams improving this year, Suns, Kings, Pelicans, Nuggets.
You always have to take into account under achieving teams that tank on purpose AKA rest starters.. Which LA has no incentive to do.
I think 50/50 is accurate.

Agree that there aren't too many teams worse than the Lakers of last year. But we have to factor in that the Lakers pulled a legendary tank job last year; they sat their mediocre players, who gave them at least some chance to win, and put bad players on the court who gave them no chance. That will end this year. Even without new players, I would expect them to win more games. And they do have some new, better players to throw into the mix. While I'll be very surprised if  they make the playoffs, I expect mid-high lottery. I don't think we'll get the pick unless they win (lose) the lottery by having their number come up 2d or 3d.

Honestly, I think Danny would prefer to get the Kings pick one more year out, but if the Lakers' pick was 2-5, it would be too good to pass up.

[dreamgreen]

I would say 50/50.

Me2

[JHTruth]

I'm not sure I can name 5 teams worse?

These are my worst teams in no particular order at least by my measure
Nets - improved
Hawks - significant decline
Pacers - Signficant decline
Magic - about same as last year
Lakers - Slightly improved

4 of those teams play in the east, so they'll get wins by default. I just don't see the Lakers keeping pace with the rest of the West. I also see the other West lottery teams improving this year, Suns, Kings, Pelicans, Nuggets.
You always have to take into account under achieving teams that tank on purpose AKA rest starters.. Which LA has no incentive to do.
I think 50/50 is accurate.

Agree that there aren't too many teams worse than the Lakers of last year. But we have to factor in that the Lakers pulled a legendary tank job last year; they pulled the mediocre players they had, who gave them some chance to win, and played terrible players who gave them no chance. That ends this year. Even without new players, we should count on them to win more game. And they have some new, better players to throw into the mix. I'll be very surprised if  they make the playoffs, but I don't think we'll get the pick unless they win (lose) the lottery by having their number come up 2d or 3d. 15%

Honestly, I think Danny would prefer to get the Kings pick one more year out, but if the Lakers' pick was 2-5, it would be too good to pass up.

They really don't have better players. They lost Young and Lou Williams, their two best offensive players. Unless Ball makes them incredible offensively to offset what will be horrific defense, they will be terrible again..