Would you rather make the playoffs or keep the pick?

[dkbldev]

Make the playoffs this year and keep the pick next year. Use next years pick to trade for the missing complementary piece for our championship runs

 

[dms]

There's want and there's reality. I want them to win a ring. Realistically, given the way they've played since 2022 began they are an easy out for whatever team they end up playing. In December I figured they'd be a tough out in the first round. Now I'm not sure we'd win a 7 game series against the Pistons even with Mobley and Allen.

 

[Derek]

Maybe we should tank next year, too. Then, we won’t lose a first round pick at all.

Seriously, it’s time to root for winning. Winning is good! Don’t be afraid!

 

[Rich]

Always would rather make the playoffs.

Because here's the thing: Every bad team gets a lottery pick. So to root for a lottery pick means to root to be bad, and that's kinda the opposite of what we want. Or at least what I want.


Next year if we suck, we'll have this same conversation.

It's not something to root for. It's merely a consolation for having a Not Good team.

 

[Dr No]

Maybe we should tank next year, too. Then, we won’t lose a first round pick at all.

Seriously, it’s time to root for winning. Winning is good! Don’t be afraid!

Unless we are committed to sucking next year, we are going to lose the 1st round pick either this year or next. Lets instill a culture of winning right now, get into the playoffs, and then get essentially the same pick in 23. Teams usually need to get in and take their lumps in the playoffs before they succeed in the playoffs. The sooner we get in them the better.

 

[Derek]

Unless we are committed to sucking next year, we are going to lose the 1st round pick either this year or next. Lets instill a culture of winning right now, get into the playoffs, and then get essentially the same pick in 23. Teams usually need to get in and take their lumps in the playoffs before they succeed in the playoffs. The sooner we get in them the better.

The team is going to try to win. I can’t imagine not rooting for them to do so regardless of who steps on the floor.

They’re going to leave it all on the floor, and I hope like hell they get rewarded for it with a win.

 

[Cement]

Late lotto picks have value, both as a trade chip or as a young, controlled player with upside.

Not just value, but these picks have a decent chance at becoming very important players on potential championship teams.

Just take a look at the few years at the #13 pick -

2021 - Chris Duarte
2020 - Kira Lewis
2019 - Tyler Herro
2018 - Jerome Robinson
2017 - Donovan Mitchell
2016 - Georgios Papagiannis
2015 - Devin Booker
2014 - Zach Lavine

So about half of those #13 draft picks of the last 8 years have turned into All-Stars or borderline All-Stars, plus Chris Duarte who has shown he will stick in this league (I'd rather have him than Okoro).

Now I know a lot of you will say, "but what about those years like 2016 and Geogias Papagiannis?" To which I retort - that's where scouting and front office competence plays a roll.

But yes, teams can absolutely get a very good player at the end of the lottery. There will be very good players available - we would just need to pick the right one.

 

[Cavatt]

I really want to make the playoffs, but it feels like it isn't going to be fun anymore. Bummer

 

[ice cream man]

If Mobley and Allen are healthy for the playoffs then for sure we need to get the majority of our core playoff experience. It will be a rude awakening, but it is needed sooner rather than later.

 

[buzzdog]

Preferring the pick to making the playoffs is loser talk.

I understand thinking of keeping the pick as a silver lining if things go poorly, but the goal should 100% be to win as much as we can.

The whole concept of how fans root or what their preference is has no bearing on what actually ends up happening. What you prefer or what I prefer will have zero effect on the end result.

The team is not going to try to lose. The team is not going to try to tank. If a player, a coach, or a front office person was in any way talking about losing to keep a pick, then that would be "loser talk". Coming from a fan it is meaningless.

The team is most likely not good enough to make the playoffs but they have an outside shot at this point. And if they do manage to get into the first round they're likely to get trounced in 4 or at best 5 games. I'll be rooting for them to win every single game regardless of what I think their chances are.

But if the team loses the play-in round and fails to make the playoff round, they sure as hell won't refuse to use their pick either. Whether any fan preferred for one outcome or the other. But I'm not going to be nearly as upset about it as I would if I felt we had any actual chance to make real noise in the playoffs (which, I had thoughts of before the wheels cam completely off with the injuries).

So in that regard the whole question is a moot point. It's nothing more than a sports talk exercise with no bearing on anything whatsoever. And I won't be disappointed in the least if we end up making our pick this year. I'll still think we outperformed every reasonable expectation.

 

[buzzdog]

The team is going to try to win. I can’t imagine not rooting for them to do so regardless of who steps on the floor.

They’re going to leave it all on the floor, and I hope like hell they get rewarded for it with a win.

Like they left it all on the floor last night against Orlando?

 

[buzzdog]

Not just value, but these picks have a decent chance at becoming very important players on potential championship teams.

Just take a look at the few years at the #13 pick -

2021 - Chris Duarte
2020 - Kira Lewis
2019 - Tyler Herro
2018 - Jerome Robinson
2017 - Donovan Mitchell
2016 - Georgios Papagiannis
2015 - Devin Booker
2014 - Zach Lavine

So about half of those #13 draft picks of the last 8 years have turned into All-Stars or borderline All-Stars, plus Chris Duarte who has shown he will stick in this league (I'd rather have him than Okoro).

Now I know a lot of you will say, "but what about those years like 2016 and Geogias Papagiannis?" To which I retort - that's where scouting and front office competence plays a roll.

But yes, teams can absolutely get a very good player at the end of the lottery. There will be very good players available - we would just need to pick the right one.

Yes, I have a problem with people who scoff at that pick as though it is worthless and has no chance to be something of value. It's an indefensible argument.

 

[Derek]

Like they left it all on the floor last night against Orlando?

Do you actually think this team doesn’t grind and play tough? Or are you just nitpicking a single game where we played Moses Brown 28 minutes?

 

[mds]

You can find a giannis in the middle of the draft.

Pretty sure all MVPs were the 15th pick.

 

[mds]

I'll echo a few thoughts I agree with: How I feel/what I want has zero bearing on anything. Making the playoffs would be good for our current guys, especially if Mobley and Allen can play. Getting the pick as a consolation prize is cool too. These are all fine outcomes.