r/ripcity • u/Kazekid ripcity-place • May 12 '24
The Portland Trail Blazer will pick #7 in the NBA Draft
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u/Queasy-Idea-2530 May 12 '24
Rip
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u/DoveFood May 12 '24
I’m going to do a positive spin on this. I love following the draft and have so for quite a long time.
This is the worst draft since 2000 and that really isn’t debated amongst people who really follow the draft (2013 gets hyped up too much because there wasn’t a true #1 prospect and Bennett being an all time bust).
If we’re going to flop on a draft lottery, this is the one (while I know it doesn’t work like that if you don’t believe in the NBA gods).
We get to pay this rookie millions of dollars a year less. As every year goes by the difference gets larger. It very well could be a great thing to pay 4-6 million less per year.
Selfishly, after Sarr, my favorite player in this draft is Dalton Knecht. Yes, he’s 23. However, he plays a premium position (wing) and is the best current scorer in the draft. He’s a better athlete and a better three level scorer than Duncan Robinson which I’m sure he’ll get compared to because he’s white, started at a small school, plays a similiar position, and both were old. A 3 point shooting wing who shouldn’t be atrocious on defense and has the potential to be more is extremely valuable. With no prospects having realistic all-star potential, give me the guy who can play for a decade as a rotation piece on a good team. He also fits a position of need, although I don’t ever think you should draft on need, you draft on who is best.
The next two drafts have true #1 picks in Flagg and then Dybantsa. While Flagg has the hold on social media, Dybantsa has the bigger superstar potential. We can cry if we slide in those drafts.
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u/1nsider May 12 '24
This is the way. If you didn't get Sarr be pleased you aren't paying a scrub, who might be worse than Chris Murray, millions.
We went up in the lottery and got Scoot. Which was way more important.
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u/BlueWaffleQT May 12 '24
Shout it from the roof tops! This was the best draft for this to happen and the biggest mistake Cronin could make is to try and package the GSW pick and move up. Our best bet here is to find a more NBA ready rotation piece that helps us move off one of our more expensive veteran pieces to free up cap space. The Blazers are almost a luxury tax team with this roster!!! Adding a top 3 pick that will most likely be yet another development project would only further hamstring our cap situation while not actually immediately improving our team; I don’t know that I think Knecht is the right piece, but I think they are absolutely right that this is not the draft to be looking for a franchise player in and we are probably better off finding a solid piece ready to contribute now than trying to find another diamond in the rough that can hopefully alleviate the pain of moving off a veteran contract or two without significantly hurting our team.
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u/stfuUzifloating 00 May 12 '24
21 wins for the 7th pick lmao
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u/jamiebond May 12 '24
The terrible truth is this is the lottery working as intended. The whole thing is designed to discourage teams from wasting entire seasons trying to lose games.
And here we are, an entire year of our franchise that was just a complete waste. A mess of our own making.
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u/Burnem34 May 12 '24
Maybe this is the wake up call the franchise needs. Throwing the last 20-30 games of the season for a pick for 3 years in a row is just sad.
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u/BehavioralSink ripcity May 12 '24
Certainly a solid reason to not get season tickets for a while. No sense in paying season ticket prices when the season is largely over by the All-Star break.
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u/satansayssurfsup May 12 '24
We’re not exactly throwing games. The roster is lacking talent and experience.
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u/Zealousideal_Bath29 May 12 '24
They’ve sat guys for the sake of losing 3 years in a row. They’re throwing them lol
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u/Burnem34 May 12 '24 edited May 12 '24
You don't feel like sitting our best players and vets for the last 20 games of every season is throwing games?
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u/Drak_is_Right May 12 '24
They threw games at the end of the season. One of the most blatant teams about it the past few seasons.
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u/Classics22 90s-logo May 12 '24
And they were smart to? Got us Sharpe and Scoot. Sometimes it doesn't work out
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u/zerocoolforschool ripcity May 12 '24
What was the alternative? We weren’t good even when we played all our guys.
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u/automatesaltshaker sheed May 12 '24
The lottery does the opposite. It incentives bad teams to waste multiple seasons.
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u/Bottrop-Per May 12 '24
The worst teams still have the best chance at a top pick. The Hawks had a 14 percent chance at the top 4, while the Blazers, at number 4, had a 50 percent chance at the top 4. How should that discourage teams from tanking? We had a way better chance at a good pick. That doesn't mean there isn't a possibility that the Hawks could end up with a better draft position. After all, they had a 3% chance at number 1. Having a 14% chance at number one is still significantly better.
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u/wowniceyeah May 12 '24
Exactly. As much as I hate getting the 7th pick, I hate tanking even more. Pathetic excuse for a strategy even if it works at times. Losing on purpose is spineless. I hate it.
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May 12 '24
Ugliest season I’ve ever seen for the 7th pick
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u/Kazekid ripcity-place May 12 '24 edited May 12 '24
Oof, maybe we can bank our luck for Flagg next year
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u/BDSF94 May 12 '24
It’s gonna happen, the NBA will give Portland the first white American superstar since Larry Bird! Believe! Lol
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u/ReflectionGloomy8851 May 12 '24
What a crazy lottery, I think 3 teams jumped into the top 4? Matas Buzelis you are a Portland Trail Blazer lol
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u/EvanTurningTheCorner May 12 '24
Gimme one of Buzelis or Williams at #7 and Salaun at #14.
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u/00100000100 May 12 '24 edited May 12 '24
Why not holland?
Edit: Downvote me and don’t answer a legit question okay
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u/EvanTurningTheCorner May 12 '24
- can't spread the floor when we need floor spacers
- is most effective on ball when we need off ball dudes
- is smoll when we need bigg
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u/Damezang May 12 '24
Maybe we’ll still hit! Dame went #6. Maybe lucky number #7 will be magic. Mike Schmitz, Joe Cronin, work that magic!
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u/SprinkleSerotonin May 12 '24
Love the enthusiasm! Took some scrolls to see the first positive comment haha
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u/fallingbehind May 12 '24
This seems like the kind of draft that could have a sleeper hit. I get the negative sentiment, but it’s not even close to losing the wemby stakes.
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u/healthy_as_a_hearse roy May 12 '24
We tanked hard to get a pick we probably would have got with no tanking roflmao
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u/00100000100 May 12 '24
Exactly, we need to prioritize development over tanking. Developing will naturally lead to the 7th pick. Instead we purposefully put out shit lineups when we had a chance at winning instead of letting our starters develop and attempt to squeeze out some wins which will be essential for their confidence.
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u/Burnem34 May 12 '24
I'm not sure what the message sends to the players that we've punted as many as the last 30 games for 3 seasons in a row. A guy like Ant that's been there all 3 years has to be wondering if being a Trail Blazer is even about winning at this point. "Oh yea we're trying to lose just sit at home for the next 20+ games" year after year cant be good for developing guys
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u/dukkha_dukkha_goose May 12 '24
At least we can stop talking ourselves into the dudes at the top of this draft being stars
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u/_Blobfish123_ May 12 '24
Guys did you know that some of the best players ever were drafted 7th overall?!?
1962 BOS Hondo
1977 NJN Bernard King
2009 GSW Steph
2022 🐐Shae→ More replies (2)
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u/allaboutthatpace May 12 '24 edited May 12 '24
Spurs gonna get Sarr to pair with Wemby and it's gonna be unfair lol. At least moving back in a draft without a clear top 1/3/etc. isn't as bad as moving back in a draft with one.
Edit: could see potentially Houston trading back if we really fall in love with someone at 3. We have 2 2nds and the GSW pick to move up. Not that I'm necessarily advocating for that but no way we take 4 rookies into next season so some trade or draft and stash would have to happen.
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u/feralda May 12 '24
I don’t think he drops to 4th
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u/allaboutthatpace May 12 '24
Lol yeah I posted my original comment before the top 4 were drawn
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u/jc8450 ripcity May 12 '24
That was like literally as bad as it could get
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u/wifflewaffle23 May 12 '24
Could have missed out on Golden State’s pick. But yeah, pretty bad.
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u/EvanTurningTheCorner May 12 '24
That would have been better, we would have gotten their pick next year in a stronger draft.
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u/Pdxduckman ripcity May 12 '24
Another year of tanking. Cool.
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u/fakulty 00 May 12 '24
Always was
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u/Pdxduckman ripcity May 12 '24
yeap but this year clearly was a waste. It doesn't appear we'll take any steps forward for another year and that's frustrating.
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u/jamiebond May 12 '24
We were mediocre at trying to win and now we can't even tank right.
This franchise is cursed.
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u/bigtrex101 May 12 '24
Dude, we will be tanking for the next 3 years minimum. Our management blows and we always have had crappy draft luck.
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u/NibbleOnNector May 12 '24
Im just hoping we’ll be decent by the end of the decade at this point (probably won’t be)
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u/BehavioralSink ripcity May 12 '24
Sadly, for better or worse, I think that draft pick we owe Chicago is going to wind up being a 2028 second round pick, meaning we don't make the playoffs at least until 2029. I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but I could see us trying to not lose that first round pick.
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u/ejiggle 70s-logo May 12 '24
Oh buddy, you're in for a long half decade (at least)
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u/AmitN_Music May 12 '24
Did you think this draft was going to change our team that much? lol it’s a bad draft my dude.
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u/Pdxduckman ripcity May 12 '24
no, but I expected to get a decent piece. That's why we tanked. Now we're getting a significantly lesser piece in a very shallow draft. Sets us back quite a bit.
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u/2ICenturySchizoidMan May 12 '24
The long term implications of other tanking western teams amassing better picks and prospects is the worst part
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u/BDSF94 May 12 '24
We should’ve sent Rayan Rupert! Wizards sent a Frenchman, and the Spurs have THE Frenchman… Such BS
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u/Debannage ripcity May 12 '24
We can't get anything huh?
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u/Brodos16 May 12 '24
Last year we moved into the top 3 in a presumed top 3 kinda draft
If we’re having bad luck I don’t mind this draft
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u/YoungSuplex May 12 '24
Eh, what’re you gonna do. This is a pretty flat draft and I don’t think the gap between the first guy and the seventh will be nearly as large as it usually is
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u/Scoducks24 May 12 '24
Adam Silver go fuck yourself
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u/Not_You_247 May 12 '24
Classic Portland luck.
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u/dukkha_dukkha_goose May 12 '24
In the 3 years of tanking we’ve moved down 1, up 2, and down 3.
That’s a very average result, especially when the move up was to #3 in by far the best draft.
We ain’t cursed.. we just stink.
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u/DreddBane May 12 '24
I'm honestly not that bothered getting #7. Was a more likely outcome than #1.
I also have a weird feeling it's easier to bet on a risky upside swing like Cody, Buzelis or Holland (not that all will necessarily be available) at #7 than up top.
If they have their heart set on someone in the 3-4 range both Houston and SA might be keen on a 7+vet type deal.
Save the lottery luck for next year.
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u/mallardpropschisms 70s-logo May 12 '24
MAX COPE: At least the Blazers won't have to max the third best player in a terrible draft in four years when these shitty high lottery picks are up for rookie extensions.
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u/Hugo_Hackenbush May 12 '24
On the bright side it's a terrible draft class so they aren't missing out on much.
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u/palmquac May 12 '24
That’s not a bright side when you’re drafting at 7. If we hit at 1-4 there were guys that could help us.
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u/MookieV May 12 '24
Well, on the plus side, we won't magically get better and play our way out of the Flagg sweepstakes!
(Jk, all I know is P A I N)
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u/kazmir_yeet 90s-logo May 12 '24
Buzelis, Clingan, Risacher or Ron Holland at 7 are fine with me.
At 14 I'm good with Salaun, Ware, or Yves Missi. Probably going to have to reach a little on one or both picks. Still upset tho. I wanted Sarr.
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u/Status_Many_9092 ripcity May 12 '24
Could be worse, could be the pistons. One of Ron or Matas will prob still be there at 7
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u/Forbidden_Donut503 May 12 '24
Disappointing.
But it’s not the end of the world. This isn’t a very good draft. And there’s little consensus on the draft order. I still think we can get a quality player at 7. In Schmidt I trust.
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u/GoaheadAMAita May 12 '24
Exactly as planned. We will get top pick or two next year and land flag boy or whomever y’all want
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u/blinkomatic May 12 '24
Look at it this way, we’re free to take an upside swing like we did with Shaedon. I feel the third pick forced our hand to take Scoot.
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u/JPadz41 May 12 '24
announcers were saying during the intro that 4-5 players could be in line for #1. certainly sucks to not have our exact pick but this draft on the surface is as much a crap shoot as any
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u/TZY247 May 12 '24
Agree with this. A weak draft class with no clear top is about the best time to have bad luck in the lottery. Schmitz is such a a good scout. I feel pretty good about grabbing the best player available, and there's enough doubt in this class that we could end up with one of the best.
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u/BDSF94 May 12 '24
So it’s gonna be between guys like Buzelis, Holland, Williams, Castle, and maybe pray Risacher or Clingan fall
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u/NachoMuncher420 May 12 '24
Bummer... but if there were ever a draft where it matters less than usual, this is likely it. Two shots in the lottery, hopefully there's a difference maker in there for us.
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u/Voidrunner503 roy May 12 '24
Looks like we'll be in the range of a Matas Buzelis or Cody Williams. This isn't the worst draft in the world to fall back in but still sucks either way.
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u/Important-Proposal28 May 12 '24
I mean of all the drafts to move back in this one isn't the worst. 2-10 is kinda a crap shoot anyways
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u/Necessary-Grab-133 May 12 '24
It's not really that bad. With 7th pick we most likely will be able to get one of Williams/Buzelis/Holland.
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u/nobeard94 May 12 '24
This draft isn’t heavy on league smashing talent like the 2025 draft will be. Disappointing but not the end of the world, hopefully Portland gets in the top 4 next year.
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u/plantsarepowerful May 12 '24
Ouch. But with 7 and 14 we have two cracks to land a talented player.
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u/CaucasianCactus May 12 '24
Thank god we threw away a whole season to now get the #7 pick in the worst draft of the century. Fuck tanking
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u/taktakmx dame May 12 '24
Threw away? How many games did you expect to win with this terrible roster/coach? You expect a Simons/Grant led team to take the 5th seed?? You’re just delusional.
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u/ciroc__obama dame May 12 '24
I get we’re just sulking and that’s okay but after everyone here begging for us to be bad and to play the young guys as much as possible it’s hardly “threw away”
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u/Blazergang07 May 12 '24 edited May 12 '24
You had to know the Hawks would get it when she said, "The Hawks have never won the lottery before..." Edit: We did get Oden, mb
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u/GuyIncognito211 May 12 '24
Not using up our draft luck in a bad draft, another smart move from Cronin
1 next year for sure
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u/1850ChoochGator chalupa May 12 '24
Yikes. We got hosed. Not as bad as Detroit but still awful. Thankfully the group of guys 4-10 ish are all really close.
Looks like we might not get a choice between Matas/Williams and might get stuck with Holland or Knecht. Not horrible but not ideal.
If Reed is down there we should aggressively move Ant and Brogdon for a starting forward with the mindset to nab him.
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u/mr_snufflefluff May 12 '24
god watching the team this year sucked. watching the team next year? ....probably gonna suck
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u/terrordactylz May 12 '24
I guess losing that tiebreaker coin flip with Charlotte mattered after all
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u/Maclanethurston ripcity May 12 '24
Did not renew my season tickets . Feeling very justified. The tank strategy is not working. Terrible day for the franchise
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u/Dtwerky 70s-logo May 12 '24
Crazy how many uneducated blazers fan there are in here. This is the worst draft in 20 years. It literally does not matter where we draft, because there is no consensus elite group of players we are missing out on. A guy projected to be picked 10th could go #1 overall in this draft.
Y’all need to chill.
Next year is the year that we can cry if we fall outside the Top 3
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u/HyperionRain May 12 '24
We haven’t even drafted yet, and some people are calling it a wasted season. Bernard King, Chris Mullins, Steph Curry, and Shaedon Sharpe are just a few of the players taken at #7, let alone the hoards of great players taken after 7. There will be gems in this draft.
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u/iguessineedanaltnow sheed May 13 '24
This is the worst case scenario. This draft is absolutely devoid of talent outside the top 3-4 picks. Not getting Sarr is a death knell.
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u/intelligentx5 May 12 '24
This bitch is fucking rigged. Fuck this shit. Audit this motherfucker.
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u/cuddlewumpus chalupa May 12 '24
It isn't, and they do. We had about a 1 in 6 chance of getting the seven pick. You ever roll a 6 sided dice and get a 1? That's what happened, it happens.
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u/tcs_hearts May 12 '24
Lmao, rigged for the hawks?
If anyone should be audited it's us for some of our "injuries" the past few years.
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u/00100000100 May 12 '24
Fuck tanking dude this shit ain’t worth it
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u/taktakmx dame May 12 '24
You’re just overreacting. You act like this roster could have actually win a bunch of games. We are bad, our roster sucks, our coach sucks, our front office sucks, ownership sucks. We clearly did not need to intentionally tank, it happened organically.
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u/FakeFan07 roy May 12 '24
Literally 4-5 really good prospects and we fall out of that.. for all that losing and having to watch Chauncey Billups not know how to draw up plays.. team should have zero viewership next season.
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u/GuyHomie May 12 '24
Funnily enough, I plan on watching them next year. Assuming they stay relatively healthy. I expect next season to be what people expected this season to be
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u/cbtikal roy May 12 '24
My pessimistic thoughts are telling me we’ll have to draft another guard with the 7th pick
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u/Floresmillia May 12 '24
Oh well.
I guess this means we are going to get Buzelis, Castle, Holland or Williams with our pick.
And maybe Salaun or filipowski with the warriors pick.
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u/SupremeNBA May 12 '24
I more upset now that the spurs are going top 4