It's an interesting situation the team finds itself in at the moment. 3 distinct and reasonably realistic scenarios, each with their pros and cons...
- Making the playoffs (at the Lakers expense no less) provides inertia moving forward with both the team and fans. The sooner guys like Damian and Meyers can experience playoff basketball, the better it will be for them in the long run. On the downside, we lose a lottery pick (which DOES, however, result in added cap room in free agency and getting our pick back in what could be an historic draft next year)
- Miss the playoffs, stay at 12 - been talked to death, but a lotto pick is another asset and simple economics would suggest that it has more value now than a year from now. We'd likely be able to add a rotation player at 12. Downside, miss the playoffs and valuable development opportunity for the youngins, less cap space.
- Miss the playoffs, lose out on the lottery - Olshey called this "no man's land" the other day, but even THIS scenario isn't all THAT bad. Giving up our pick this year means more cap room this offseason and having our pick next year (which, along with adding drafting possibilities, opens up trading possibilities as well)...