Knixkik wrote:I don’t buy the conspiracies as I’m not into conspiracy theories in general. But I do think there’s some sort of world order that will keep teams like Charlotte, Washington and Utah away from top prospects/ picks, and allow the teams like Dallas, Philly and San Antonio to be consistently given the opportunities to build up their teams.
When players like JR Reid, Adam Morrison, Kwame Brown, Anthony Bennett (Cavs), just to name a few off the top of my head go in the top or near of a draft and bust, it sets a franchise back. Utah recently had a 60 win season with Donovan Mitchell who at 14th pick proved amazing.
Washington history is also mixed. John Wall was not a bust but his injuries and full max contract was. Bradley Beal was a nice player, but also maxed and habitually hurt.
Cavs hit pay dirt with Lebron and Kyrie, but Bennett was a huge miss. Did not kill them but if you look over the years top picks are not always the one.
Back to Charlotte, Lamelo Ball is not a bust, but his salary and injury frequency is an issue.
Remember Greg Oden goes no. 1 to Portland who vacillated between him and Durant. One becomes a trivia question and the other an all time great. Portland in 1970 drafted no. 1 a guy named Larue Martin, Again in the 1980s they take Sam bowie a center rather than Jordan who went 4th I believe having already had Clyde Drexler. Granted, nobody saw Jordan as the GOAT. Seems Portland is snake bit taking centers? They did hit with Bill Walton and won a chip with him as MVP in 1977, but his injuries limited his ability to stay not he floor.
In 1968 expansion Milwaukee Bucks won coin flip to draft Lou Alcindor who was Kareem as we all know. 2nd pick Suns take Florida Center Neal Walk. Had a hell of an NCAA career but also a trivia question. Some drafts are deeper than others but top pick does not necessitate automatic success.
It does seem like some teams are lucky vs others, but some teams don't get the years with players that can change history either. Really SAS got very lucky with Timmy in a year David Robinson went down and they tanked (you could then). But the key was drafting Parker and Manu who were not high picks.
Philly tried with Hinkie to get as many picks as possible for a number of years and squandered the opportunities often. Maxy was not a lottery pick. Taken in the teens if I recall. GSW did incredible for a while with Steph, Klay and Draymond but then not with Wiseman and Kuminga who did not step up as hoped.
Its not doubt easier to think conspiracies instead of the mathematical anomalies that occur at times.
Is it a conspiracy when teams wiff on picks? Of course not. Yet those teams were "Granted" them also?
Im not here to talk anyone out of believing in conspiracy. If one wants to believe in Santa Claus who is Nalod to tell you otherwise. Not like Adam Silver crawls down the chimney and leaves me gifts.
6/20/2025 11:01 AM
