Each week, we will take a look at the NBA and the standings–particularly the bottom of them, to rank teams based on their odds to land the number one pick in the draft. They are not necessarily ranked by who is making the most or who should tank the most, but rather the highest odds of landing the top draft pick in the lottery, based on lottery odds.
TANK Power Rankings (based on chances to finish with No. 1 lottery odds)
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Los Angeles Lakers (would keep pick if they finish 1-3 in the lottery)
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Brooklyn Nets*
- Sacramento Kings
- Minnesota Timberwolves*
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Denver Nuggets
- Phoenix Suns
- Portland Trailblazers
- Washington Wizards
** = Does not have a first round pick
Notes:
- What a wild, strange past few days for your 76ers. The most tank-worthy thing though was the fact that Jerry Colangelo declared he doesn’t like tanking, nor the idea of it. Well Jerry, when the Sixers win with a core of players acquired via tanking, you do not get a championship ring.
- If there is a team among the 11 I’d most be confident in escaping the tank, I would actually pick the Bucks, given the state of the East, being so bunched up.
- I know the Kings hired George Karl, but it seems like they STILL play without a coach. Particularly with Rajon Rondo out, they play very loose, wild, undisciplined basketball. This is a team (and coach) that seems prime to quite/explode at any second.
- It’s time to welcome the Washington Wizards into the tank mix. I was reluctant to include them for a while because I did not think that losing Paul Pierce would cause THIS big of a drop-off, but something has. To his credit, Otto Porter is playing at a pretty productive clip.
