With just 10 games left on their schedule, the Philadelphia 76ers will be entering a very crucial stretch. While they are basically out of the running to make the postseason, even through the play-in tournament, the team is still engaged in a huge war of attrition with some other teams for a very special purpose.
The race to land the best odds possible in the nearing NBA Draft Lottery is as tight as it has been this season, and as of the moment, the 76ers are poised to land a high lottery pick for the first time in quite a while.
As a result, the team has to let go of any itch they have to win any more games. While not ideal for the proud franchise, there is no other way to go for them if they want a definitive change in their dynamic for the near future but to make sure they dip their fingers deep into the lottery pool in hopes of snagging a top prospect.
Where do the 76ers stand in the NBA Draft Lottery race?
As of the moment, the 76ers are tied with the Nets for the fifth-highest odds to land the first overall pick, which is widely reckoned to be Duke standout Cooper Flagg for this year. And with only a few games left, they have some more room to increase their chances.
However, Philadelphia has to be really careful moving forward if it wants to maximize its lottery odds. Tankathon has the 76ers on deck for the fourth-easiest schedule to end the year — a huge trap for a team in its tanking escapade.
The 76ers will still have two games against Washington and another matchup with Toronto — two teams which are also trying to lose out to better their odds. They will have to be very careful in approaching those games while also being sneakily deliberate for a losing cause.
This is moreso the case since the Nets, whom they are currently tied with in the inverse standings, will have the seventh-easiest schedule to end the regular season, and will face Washington and New Orleans, as well as Toronto twice.
The Philadelphia 76ers are more talented than most teams in their current echelon, but for their best interests, they will have to avoid the temptation of actively trying to carve out more wins. Otherwise, they risk not only getting a relatively subpar pick, but also losing their selection outright to Oklahoma City if it lands outside the top-six.