With just over a month left in the NBA season, it’s clear who’s fighting for the Play-In Tournament and who has eyes for the lottery.
Here is where the 2024 Tankathon stands as of Thursday night:
Aside from the Brooklyn Nets and (maybe) Toronto Raptors, every team not in a Play-In seed is aiming toward the lotto.
Even out West, Houston and Utah—both within six games of Play-In contention—would need to pass the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, who are both all-in and who are both desperate to win with their current cores. (So, with respect to both the Rockets and Jazz, we can count on 2025 as their first real shots at the postseason, not 2024.)
Strength of Schedule
With just 18 games to go, the Portland Trail Blazers are real threats for a No. 1 pick. Or at least they have a specific edge over a couple of teams that are lower in the standings.
According to “Tankathon,” the Blazers are the proud owners of the fifth-toughest SOS between now and the end of the season.
Denver comes to town on March 23 after Portland endures a quick back-to-back against the Clippers. Then, Portland faces Boston on April 7, but this time on the road.
The Warriors also visit Moda a few days later with three games left. The year wraps Sunday, April 14, with a visit to Sacramento, where the Kings could be jostling for postseason position in Game 82.
Tank Rank
A “tank rank” doesn’t really exist around NBA discourse—at least, not an official one. But you don’t have to look far to find commentary around lottery positioning.
Ahead of Portland in SOS sits Milwaukee at No. 4, and then Phoenix at No. 3. The Blazers aren’t worried about them.
But in spots Nos. 2 and 1, respectively, sit the Jazz and Charlotte Hornets, two teams building for the future—Charlotte is an obvious step ahead in the tanking game this season.
If the Blazers can tank harder than Charlotte over the last month of the 2023-24 campaign, that’s the biggest win of the year. No, that won’t mean Chauncey Billups trotting out lineups intended to lose, but as the team gets healthy, don’t be shocked if a vet like Jerami Grant ends up finding (mostly) legitimate reasons to sit.
Also, out-tanking San Antonio would be just as much of an accomplishment, with the Spurs sitting in sixth for SOS and owning the 15th overall record in the Western Conference.
2024 NBA Draft Simulation and Mock Draft
With the scene set, it’s time to hit Tankathon’s Lottery Simulation and Mock Draft.
For the record, I hit the “Sim Lottery” button precisely one time.
And…the results are in.
Portland jumps three spots from its current No. 5 position to land the second overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft.
The Blazers take Zaccharie Risacher from France, a 6’8” small forward with the size, defensive chops, three-point stroke and athleticism to fit any roster. And for Portland, those words practically create a love language.
This team has lacked any one player who encompasses all of that at a forward position, at any age, let alone at 19 (his age at the June 26 draft).
Along with No. 2, the Blazers select UConn center Donovan Clingan at 13, courtesy of the Golden State Warriors’ pick (from the Jrue Holiday-Boston Celtics trade).
The 7’2”, 280-pound sophomore admittedly has a lot to prove in March, but a big-bodied player whose efficiency at the rim translates to both ends could have a place on a team likely a full year away from sniffing the postseason.
*Lottery odds are current as of Thursday’s NBA contests.
Hit the Oregon Sports News comments to share who you’d draft to Portland with the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
