The Philadelphia 76ers may be forced to try and win — and they’re not happy about it.
Though the Sixers look like they have no intentions to stop tanking anytime soon, having used the third overall pick to select injured center Joel Embiid, the team may have little reason to bottom out again this season, with the NBA seriously considering changes to the draft lottery system.
Those changes, which could take the worst team from having a 25 percent chance of winning the lottery to having the same odds as four or five other teams, is being strongly opposed by the Sixers, according to ESPN.com.
Proposals to change the lottery system were discussed at league meeting in Las Vegas this summer, and the NBA Board of Governors could vote a new system into effect during preseason meetings in October, with the hopes of eliminating incentives for teams not to remain competitive.
Currently, the fifth-worst record has an 8.8 percent chance to win the top pick, but a new system could result in the five or six worst teams having equal odds to win the lottery.
Following a miserable 19-63 season, which included a 26-game losing streak, the 76ers are hoping to delay the changes by at least one season, in order to land another high pick with their undermanned squad. However, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is unlikely to support the objection, given the struggles of one of the league’s largest markets, as well as the desire not to upset other teams, according to ESPN.
The 76ers have more than $30 million in cap space, and along with Embiid, selected European forward Dario Saric, who is expected to remain overseas this season. Last year, with their first-round pick, the Sixers selected Nerlens Noel, who sat out all of last season because of a knee injury.