NBA Tanking: Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic lose again

Over last few years, the hype surrounding the 2014 NBA Draft has continued to sky rocket, especially after Andrew Wiggins reclassified and entered school in 2013.

Wiggins, the Kansas Jayhawks’ forward, his teammate, center Joel Embiid, Australian point guard Dante Exum and Oklahoma State Cowboys’ guard Marcus Smart headline a group that has already declared for the daft and most expect Kentucky Wildcats power forward Julius Randle and Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker (although he has applied for housing next year) to do the same any day now.

It was another good day for the Orlando Magic as far as finishing with the third worst record, which would guarantee they could not do any worse than the sixth pick int he 2014 NBA Draft, is concerned.

First, the Magic announced that center Nikola Vucevic would miss the rest of the season. Then, they were defeated by the Brooklyn Nets 97-88. The Magic are now 23-57, one game worse than the 24-56 Utah Jazz and two games worse than the 25-55 Boston Celtics. The Los Angeles Lakers, who were blown out by the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday night, are now tied for the fifth worst record with the Celtics.

The Magic are already assured of two lottery picks. The Denver Nuggets own the New York Knicks’ pick from the Carmelo Anthony deal and must send the worst of their two picks to the Magic from the Dwight Howard deal that netted the Nuggets Andre Iguodala. Since both the Nuggets and Knicks won’t be playing in the postseason, that is how the Magic will have two lottery picks.

As will the Philadelphia 76ers, who own the New Orleans Pelicans’ pick from the Jrue Holiday deal last year.

Here are the remaining schedules for each team in contention for the third-worst record.

Celtics

Monday: at Philadelphia 76ers
Wednesday: vs. Washington Wizards

Jazz

Monday: vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Wednesday: at Minnesota Timberwolves

Lakers

Monday: at Utah Jazz
Wednesday: at San Antonio Spurs

Magic

Monday: at Chicago Bulls
Wednesday: vs. Indiana Pacers

Here is a look at the reverse standings:

14. Phoenix Suns 47-33
13. Minnesota Timberwolves 40-40
12. Denver Nuggets 36-44*
11. New York Knicks 35-45#
10. New Orleans Pelicans 32-48^
9. Cleveland Cavaliers 32-49
8. Detroit Pistons 29-52
7.Sacramento Kings 28-53
5. Los Angeles Lakers 25-55
5. Boston Celtics 25-55
4. Utah Jazz 24-56
3. Orlando Magic 23-57
2. Philadelphia 76ers 17-63
1. Milwaukee Bucks 15-65

*to Orlando Magic
#to Denver Nuggets
^to Philadelphia 76ers