I don't know about the Lakers. They've played 13 home games and only 2 back to backs and are on their way to hiring their third coach of the year. I don't see why they are a more likely prospect than Minnesota or Houston. I'm not as optimistic as I was a month ago about Portland making the playoffs. But I'm still holding out a little hope. At least more than 4.7 points of hope. If we can get Aldridge back in the post and some starters healthy and fucking anything out of our bench....
I think it's a moral protest by Hollinger. Any team with four future Hall of Famers that can't make the playoffs should NOT be rewarded with a lottery pick - just as a matter of principal. Of course, in Stern's NBA, if they do miss the playoffs, they will magically win the top pick and the the rights to draft a 5th future Hall of Famer to complete the set. BNM P.S. The pick is top 14 protected. Cleveland has a right to swap picks with the Lakers, but the only way that will happen is if the Cavs and Lakers BOTH make the playoffs AND the Cavs finish with a better record than the Lakers.
Yeah, that means we're going to go somewhere between 7-54 and 41-20 the rest of the season. Way to go out on a limb there Hollinger! BNM