Draft Lotto Thread (2025 edition)

[Sherds]

lol De’Aaron is going to get traded this offseason isn’t he?

Truth be told... Leading up to today, my dark side was wishing Sac got first, SA 2nd.

 

[Tetsujin]

Or do they trade Cooper for Giannis?

I don’t think AD/Giannis works as a frontcourt at this point in their careers. They’re also so far over the second apron that I’m not sure how that works financially.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

Or do they trade Cooper for Giannis?

That’s tough they have no young pieces and landing Giannis makes them instant contenders. It’s actually hard to make salaries work without hitting the team they’d only have Giannis, AD, lively, Christie, and dinwiddie left white Kyrie rehabbing

 

[Sherds]

West continues to be an absolute bloodbath

 

[Tetsujin]

The Mavericks’ new starting lineup at some point next season:

Kyrie Irving
Klay Thompson
Cooper Flagg
Anthony Davis
Dereck Lively

Dallas is now set up to compete for a title right now alongside a long-term future with Flagg. pic.twitter.com/4Xlddcfwy4

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 12, 2025

The Mavs would somehow be playing three elite defensive bigs at once while also being terrible at defense because Klay and Kyrie both have no ligaments left in their legs haha

 

[Jdbraver137]

West continues to be an absolute bloodbath

This is why we must tank

 

[Joshyjosh31]

Pelicans also got the first pick after they gave the lakers AD I’m sure that’s a coincidence

 

[SacTownKid]

West continues to be an absolute bloodbath

If San Antonio can make a play with a trade package and Wemby comes back healthy it's over. That top 4-6 is pretty much set.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Yeah. If you believe Dallas got this by pure luck....

 

[Jdbraver137]

I just get depressed seeing every other team being better managed than us

 

[AaronPDX]

Unbelievable. SMH

 

[Joshyjosh31]

This is why we must tank

We’re gonna be the 12th seed next year gunning for the play in ****ing embarrassing

 

[Tetsujin]

The Spurs now have a golden asset with the No. 2 pick to potentially offer the Bucks in a package for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

San Antonio owns a surplus of picks + a compelling core of young talent.

After trading for De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper’s fit in San Antonio isn’t strong. pic.twitter.com/usZM8lvimM

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 12, 2025

I know I know “bird in hand” and whatnot and so on but if the choice is team-controlled Cade-lite for the next decade or De’Aaron Fox coming off of hand surgery and looking for a max deal next summer, I know which one I’m taking.

 

[SacTownKid]

This is why we must tank

The decision is a little more clear than it was yesterday. Really? The freaking Mavs AND Spurs? Really? hahaha. Goodness gracious.

 

[Krunker]

Yeah. If you believe Dallas got this by pure luck....

Yeah very sus

 

[Tetsujin]

The NBA Draft Lottery has run its course. Bad teams have bad luck in getting better.

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 12, 2025

 

[sactowndog]

They honestly should draft Harper and move De’Aaron. Longterm core of Wemby/Harper/Castle probably better financially for them than moving the pick and keeping De’Aaron.

Would laugh if they move Fox to the Rockets for a number of good young forwards.

 

[SacTownKid]

The Spurs now have a golden asset with the No. 2 pick to potentially offer the Bucks in a package for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

San Antonio owns a surplus of picks + a compelling core of young talent.

After trading for De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper’s fit in San Antonio isn’t strong. pic.twitter.com/usZM8lvimM

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 12, 2025

I know I know “bird in hand” and whatnot and so on but if the choice is team-controlled Cade-lite for the next decade or De’Aaron Fox coming off of hand surgery and looking for a max deal next summer, I know which one I’m taking.

Giannis next to Wemby is all the would matter.

 

[iowamcnabb]

I don’t think AD/Giannis works as a frontcourt at this point in their careers. They’re also so far over the second apron that I’m not sure how that works financially.

Both can play the 4 or 5. I’m sure it will be a conversation at the very least. 5 years of Giannis prime might be tough to pass up.

If Giannis ends up in San Antonio, gross

 

[Tetsujin]

If I were the Jazz I would already be on the phone with San Antonio

— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) May 12, 2025

Hmmm Lauri + 5th overall for the 2nd overall pick and matching salary might actually be a good move for the Spurs.

 

[SacTownKid]

If I were the Jazz I would already be on the phone with San Antonio

— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) May 12, 2025

Hmmm Lauri + 5th overall for the 2nd overall pick and matching salary might actually be a good move for the Spurs.

That would be a good get for SA but dropping to 5th is a pretty big cliff from the looks of this draft on the surface. They could then spin the 5th out somewhere else maybe but nah, this is the Giannis package if there is one.

 

[Tetsujin]

Since the NBA changed its lottery system in 2019, the team with the league’s worst record has never won the lottery and picked first overall.

This marks the third straight year that the team with the league’s worst record will pick 5th overall.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 12, 2025

So yeah, I know they did this to prevent teams from just tanking like the process Sixers but as a result, we’ve now seen random play-in teams move up to first overall twice in a row.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

They honestly should draft Harper and move De’Aaron. Longterm core of Wemby/Harper/Castle probably better financially for them than moving the pick and keeping De’Aaron.

Man i don’t know trading for Gianni’s and they compete for a championship starting next year. Giannis/Wemby is absolutely filthy especially with Fox fixing his hand and being a passable shooter

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1922074443448213992

Bron going to sign on for the vet minimum? That’s literally all the Mavs can afford.

 

[iowamcnabb]

That would be a good get for SA but dropping to 5th is a pretty big cliff from the looks of this draft on the surface. They could then spin the 5th out somewhere else maybe but nah, this is the Giannis package if there is one.

To me the best Giannis move is Houston for Sengun, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore plus a pick or two. That would be a great way to jumpstart a new era for Milwaukee.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

All y'all folks talking conspiracy, but I love this result! I love it because it's a giant double bird to the tanking teams. I don't care about Dallas one way or the other, but I love the fact that a team that was fighting to make the playoffs until the very end got the #1 pick, and the two teams that raced each other to the bottom both ended up out of the Top 4.

**** tanking.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

If San Antonio can make a play with a trade package and Wemby comes back healthy it's over. That top 4-6 is pretty much set.

I think the top 8 is set OKC, Denver, Houston, Lakers, Spurs, GSW, and Minnesota won’t miss the playoffs.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

All y'all folks talking conspiracy, but I love this result! I love it because it's a giant double bird to the tanking teams. I don't care about Dallas one way or the other, but I love the fact that a team that was fighting to make the playoffs until the very end got the #1 pick, and the two teams that raced each other to the bottom both ended up out of the Top 4.

**** tanking.

Moral of the story send your superstar to LA and get rewarded rinse repeat every 5-10 years

 

[PurpleHaze]

Dallas Mavericks go from being in NBA Final last season to this season trading 26 year old superstar for another one age 32, injured repeatedly throughout his career. Then they lose another superstar point guard to injury, with rehab presumably ready upcoming season. Then Dallas somehow gets #1 pick in 2025 NBA draft to win the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes. Is this real or a bad dream for all the other teams in the Western Conference?

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Since the NBA changed its lottery system in 2019, the team with the league’s worst record has never won the lottery and picked first overall.

This marks the third straight year that the team with the league’s worst record will pick 5th overall.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 12, 2025

So yeah, I know they did this to prevent teams for just tanking like the process Sixers but as a result, we’ve now seen random play-in teams move up to first overall twice in a row.

It will probably kill this team for all time but I don't care, lottery draw the entire lottery and end tanking forever.

Have all the lotto teams send a rep and each team gets one ball in a secure box. The 16 seed rep reaches in and pulls a ball for pick 16 down the line.