It Could Have Been Worse

By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)

THE PROCESS GOES NATIONAL. #OneSixEleven pic.twitter.com/665NJThqXC

— Michael Levin (@Michael_Levin) May 19, 2015

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsComcast was filming at a Buffalo Wild Wings to watch literally hundreds of rowdy Sixers fans cheer on the results of lottery balls, while millions more sat in their homes and local watering holes, hoping for multiple picks that would accelerate the rebuild and help regain that long-awaited contender status. Back at BWW, the raucous bunch cheered any time Nerlens Noel or a Sixers graphic was shown, while booing everyone else (puzzlingly with the exception of Vlade Divac, who also earned cheers. I love the big Serbian as much as the next guy, but I’m still not sure why he was exempted from boos).

In the end though, #OneSixEleven became just #Three, as the draft lottery ended up being chalkier than one of Obama’s March Madness brackets. Besides the Lakers and Knicks swapping spots, the only twist on the night was Nerlens revealing the new Sixers uniforms inside his jacket. 

#MadeInPHILA pic.twitter.com/h3rP245xBd

— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) May 20, 2015

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As the 11th pick popped up without the Miami pick being shown, and the same happened at 6 without sight of the Lakers pick, the air gradually escaped from the room. However, there was still the hope of the Sixers pick and as the NBA went to its commercial break for the top-3 without sign of Philadelphia, the buzz grew to a crescendo.

Unfortunately, just like last year, all that anticipation during the break only served as a further dousing of cold water when the Sixers logo was revealed with the third overall pick. The Lakers, with coach Byron Scott in attendance, who doesn’t believe threes win championships, received the second pick. The Timberwolves, after Flip Saunders traded a 1st-round pick for 1 season of Thad Young because he thought his team should make a playoff push, only to end up with the worst record in the NBA, received the first pick. You don’t deserve to be #1, Flip! Sometimes life isn’t fair.

Still, ever the pragmatist, Sam Hinkie said it best:

More Hinkie: ‘Why get your hopes up? There’s all sorts of things I’d like with a 1-in-500 chance, but I don’t tweet about many of them.’

— Tom Moore (@tmoore76ers) May 20, 2015

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Really, the Lakers and Heat picks were low percentage hopes; they’ll still roll over to next year. As for receiving the third overall pick, it’s not at all a bad place to be. Karl Towns might try to push his way to the Lakers, while there are reports that Flip Saunders might prefer Jahlil Okafor anyway. Either way, with Rubio in place in Minnesota, they’re definitely going after one of the two big men. If the Lakers can get Towns, either by having him simply fall to 2 or packaging one of their other picks to move from 2 to 1, that means the Sixers have their pick of the two top point guards on the board, D’Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay.

When it comes down to it, maybe that’s for the best. The team doesn’t have to worry about trying to integrate 3 big men into the rotation, sparking trade rumors and every turn and hurting morale. Slot in your point guard of the future alongside Noel and Embiid and let’s get rolling. Obviously, there’s still plenty that can change and happen between now and next month’s draft (and I’m sure every expects Hinkie to make a move or two, or three, on draft night). For now though, the best case scenario didn’t happen, but neither did the worst. Just be glad you’re not a Knicks fan.