(04-16-2025, 01:06 AM)omahen Wrote: Of course Phi, Mia and Utah still owe them their FRP next season if they are not settled in this one. Miami unprotected, Philly top4 protected and Utah top9 protected.
While true, it's rarely a path to a great pick. Teams who tank to keep their pick in one year typically get way better the next year when they have no pick protection. The coaching decisions on lineups get smarter. The odd baffling injuries become scarce. The bad losses to tanking teams stop happening. It's almost like magic!!!
PHI should get everyone back healthy, and be a playoff team with a pick in the 20s. MIA will find a way to be much better too after this "baffling collapse" of unexpected losing down the stretch. (Who could have predicted that, with MIA, when they had a pick with full lottery protection? Oh yeah, everyone!) UT will be bad again, of course - because, why not milk it while they can? Look for a really bad year for them. They have top 8 protection next year, and if they land in top 8 with that protection, OKC gets nothing, ever.