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NBA Draft Lottery 2016: Why 76ers don’t deserve to win No. 1 pick

By John Buhler

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 21: Sonny Weems #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Indiana Pacers during a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 21, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the 76ers 91-75. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 21: Sonny Weems #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Indiana Pacers during a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 21, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the 76ers 91-75. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown talks with his team during the fourth quarter of the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons defeated the 76ers 110-97. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown talks with his team during the fourth quarter of the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons defeated the 76ers 110-97. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Hyper-tanking should not be rewarded.

It’s obvious, but the primary reason that the 76ers don’t deserve the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2016 NBA Draft is that hyper-tanking should not be rewarded. There is a vast difference between having a bad basketball team and what the 76ers trotted out the last few years.

At times, D-League teams would have been better suited to don the red, white, and blue of the 76ers than what the 76ers assembled. The NBA is as popular as it has ever been and it was a real shame to see a team lose this blatantly as did the 76ers of the last few years. The way they hamstrung themselves with a bare bones roster and botch their draft picks just made the whole situation kind of deplorable.

Now that Philadelphia wants out of The Process, they should have to wait at least until the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery to even think it’s karmically right for them to earn the right to the No. 1 overall pick. Manipulating a season to lose intentionally just so that percentage chances tied to finicky ping-pong balls go up doesn’t sit well with one’s conscience.

Many have questioned if the lottery is rigged, but there’s no sufficient evidence to support that notion. However, it would sit better with NBA fans to see a team that at least tried to field a competitive team and come up short in 2015-16 like the Phoenix Suns, the Timberwolves, the Sacramento Kings, or the New Orleans Pelicans win the lottery over the 76ers.

For more 2016 NBA Draft coverage, please check out our NBA Draft category page.

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