The 76ers are "against a proposal that would balance out the draft lottery as early as next summer," according to sources cited by Keith Pompey of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. The 76ers for the second straight season are expected to field a roster "below NBA standards in order to guarantee losses in hopes of a high draft pick." However, one Eastern Conference exec said this tactic is having "a negative effect on the integrity of the NBA." The exec believes the proposed new format, which could come to a league vote in the fall, would "go a long way in preventing teams from duplicating" what the 76ers are doing. Pompey notes several aspects of the proposed format have "yet to be finalized," but the new format would "balance out the odds so all 14 lottery teams would have a chance to win the top pick." The 76ers believe they are just "taking advantage of a system that has been in place and they're not the first team to do so." However, a source said that NBA clubs believe the 76ers "made a mockery of the rules" by fielding a roster full of D-League talent (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/31). In Philadelphia, Bob Cooney cites a source as saying the NBA "has a strong incentive" to get changes to the lottery "done this year." The source added that the move is "directly related" to what the 76ers did last season and what they are "forecasted to do this season," with top pick C Joel Embiid most likely sidelined for the season after foot surgery and 10th pick F Dario Saric contractually bound for two more seasons of play in Turkey (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 7/31). ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst cited sources as saying the 76ers' "planned sink to the bottom has caused a drag on revenues" in one of the NBA's largest markets and has "upset some other teams" (ESPN.com, 7/30).
NO LEG TO STAND ON: ESPN's Michael Wilbon said the 76ers "have nothing legitimate" to complain about because the team's "'we need to stink more' is not an excuse for you to pick up the phone and call the commissioner." Wilbon: "The NBA should not be in the business of guaranteeing the Philadelphia 76ers a top three pick because they choose a completely flawed and offensive approach" ("PTI," ESPN, 7/30). Denver Post columnist Woody Paige asked, "They've got a plan in place to tank for three or four years? I don’t think you protect their rights. I think you move on and you make it fair for everybody, not a team that is tanking intentionally over a period of time" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 7/30).
