I have a question for all those obsessed with tanking for draft position. What's more important for the Kings to lose to improve our pick, bearing in mind if it gets too good we lose it to Philly, or for the Kings to beat New Orleans to improve the pick we get from them? I'm always curious and amused by the machinations of strategic thinking.
Hm. Good question. I don't think, realistically, the Pelicans are making the playoffs, as Portland has a clearer path, and Denver is still fighting. I don't worry about the first premise, because I don't think we can "get too good", since it probably won't be a swap unless we hit top 3. If we hit top 3, then it was due to the way the balls bounced, which was beyond our control. Similarly, we could win out, and still magically hit a combination that gets us into the top 3, so, I guess I'm not worried from that perspective.
Also, NO could hit that magic combination and get into the top 3, meaning we won't be getting that pick. Basically there are two teams now we don't want in the top 3, us and NO. Because of the magic of the lotto balls, we can't control the result. Sucks, right? That said, I say you go with your gut. A loss for NO increases our chance for their non-top 3 pick, which would still be a very good pick, so, we should want to beat NO. HOWEVER, a win for NO increases our own chance for a non-top 3 pick, which, again, would still be a very good pick.
The moral of the story? Cheer for whomever you want. Personally, I want Boogie to singlehandedly demolish the Kings. Also, I want AD to do well because I'm in a fight for the league championship, and that would be good money coming my way if I pull it off.