Mags, as important as the Blazers' finish is, let's not forget the Nets finish (I posted this this AM in another thread that's pretty much dead). This gives us the basic rundown on the Nets remainder of the season, so we can get a feel for where the Nets' pick will potentially land:
In a deep draft, I'd be happy with our lotto and a #15. If NJ makes the playoffs, there is no way the pick will be any worse than #15. NJ is 4.5 games out of #8, and 9 games out of #7 (and #7 is Boston - that team has too many vets to collapse enough to let the Nets up to #7). That's with 22 games left (9 road/13 home), 9 of which are against teams that are currently Eastern playoff teams. NJ plays 3 more games against other Eastern teams that are currently ahead of them in the standings. They also play Utah, @GSW, @Sac, @LAL, @TOR, @PDX.
And the #8 in the West will have a better record than the Nets (the #8 in the West is 9 games up on NJ in the NBA standings), so we get, at worst, the #15 pick in the draft to go with out other lotto pick. But I still am not counting on NJ making the playoffs.
NJ has a small chance to get that #8 seed in the East, and while their schedule is not the toughest, it certainly isn't a cake-walk. There are 6 teams competing for that last playoff spot in the East.
I'm still shocked NJ gave up this pick for G-Dub. Maybe they expect a Top-3 pick this year, and playoffs next year? In which case, we not only don't receive a lotto pick in this year's extremely deep draft, we end up with what I would expect to be a #15-19 pick.
And for those conspiracy theorists that believe the draft lotto is rigged.... Maybe the NBA gives NJ a Top-3 pick this year so they keep the pick, draft a stud, and keep their roster deep. After all, don't they open a new arena here soon?