If they are gifted the #1 pick

[Katherine Robinson]

The next draft has several potential superstars/elite players and the Lakers have a stake in the draft at an opportune time.

Let's assume the team is a 9-10 seed when all is said & done and obtain the first pick. What would be your reaction and what kind of backlash from the small market teams can we expect?

[AchillesHeel]

Stern will veto the pick. Even if he's no longer the commissioner.

[LkrFan]

Cuban would be on suicide watch - along with many many BNSFs. If we don't make the playoffs, they'll be nerrrrrrrrvous as fuck tbh. :lol

[AchillesHeel]

Cuban would be on suicide watch - along with many many BNSFs. If we don't make the playoffs, they'll be nerrrrrrrrvous as fuck tbh. :lol

Lakers will basically have guaranteed wins against Philly,Milwaukee,Phoenix(4 good wins there),Boston...It's hard for me to see them getting a top 3 pick, it's nearly impossible.

[ohmwrecker]

Kobe's hubris will never allow the Lakers to tank.

[Katherine Robinson]

Kobe's hubris will never allow the Lakers to tank.

Kobe would have lead the team to a 9th seed, according to many. I would assume 9-10 seed is likely no matter the case

[ohmwrecker]

Kobe would have lead the team to a 9th seed, according to many. I would assume 9-10 seed is likely no matter the case

I agree, but not from a lack of fruitless effort from Bean.

[Raven]

i'd be very salty.

[Rogue]

Lakers will probably get a top 3 even as the 9-10th seed in the west, and the odd of getting a top 3 as the western 9th or 10th is small enough imho. Commissioner (Stern or whoever else) will help the lakers for sure and will grant them a top pick but they ain't gonna make it too obvious imho

[Vash StampedE]

Laker nation wanting to tank so that they could get at least a top 5 pick. But you have to be delusional if you think Lakers will be able to get themselves in that position in next year's draft, not as long as Kobe is with the team and that he's expected to return from his injury at any point next season. He'll never accept losing, even more at this point of career and the chase for that MJ-tying number of championships.

Kobe Bryant. What a competitor. What a team-killer.

[Captivus]

No way the Lakers end up with a top 5 pick, I mean, without the NBA fixing the lottery.
Ill say the end up between the 7th seed and the 10th position.

[Katherine Robinson]

People are writing off the benefit to the NBA from fixing the lottery. The Bulls were gifted the #1 pick so that they could draft a local superstar and reinvigorate one of the largest markets. I speak from an objective point of view and wonder what kind of backlash we will expect.

[Rogue]

The league doesn't fix the lottery every year though, at least the year Portland got that #1 pick had to be an exception imho (they forfeited that pick though :lol)

[Clipper Nation]

http://i.imgur.com/z7vK5vr.png

[Splits]

http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Jack-Nicholson-lol.gif