2017 NBA Draft Lottery: 5 scenarios that could impact the Pacers
Scenario #3: The Process gets an upgrade
Now that we’ve discussed the Lakers’ dream outcome, let’s talk about their nightmare scenario. It’s not at all crazy to foresee the Philadelphia 76ers winning the lottery, pushing the Lakers to the fourth slot and taking their pick to top it all off.
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Other than this force multiplying the annoyingness of a fanbase that already borders on insufferable, this scenario would be pretty huge for the next few years of Eastern Conference basketball. At the very least, it would up the entertainment factor of the Sixers next season (though with their luck, both the picks would be declared out for the season in early October).
For the Pacers, this outcome could possibly make things interesting in terms of a Boston trade, but otherwise keep things lukewarm. Philly taking the top spot would push Boston to two, unless another team were to jump them and push them even further. It would certainly be easier for Danny Ainge to part ways with a second or third overall pick instead of a first. Their pick placement doesn’t make Paul George’s contract any longer though, so the same issues still end up presenting themselves.
It’s also hard to foresee the Sixers becoming a George suitor in this scenario, even though they’ll have more prospects than they know what to do with.