{"id":12380,"date":"2018-01-20T18:44:04","date_gmt":"2018-01-20T23:44:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=12380"},"modified":"2018-01-23T14:31:43","modified_gmt":"2018-01-23T19:31:43","slug":"los-angeles-lakers-record-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2018\/01\/20\/los-angeles-lakers-record-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"Los Angeles Lakers’ Record Will Impact Futures of Celtics, 76ers"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Thursday night, the Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> defeated the Boston Celtics<\/a> 88-80 in a divisional game that appears crucial for both teams. Yet Thursday’s game wasn\u2019t as important for either franchise\u2019s future as two seemingly unrelated games out west. Doesn\u2019t make sense? Well, it does to Celtics general manager\u00a0Danny Ainge<\/a><\/strong> and Sixers GM Bryan Colangelo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> defeated the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> by a score of 114-90. Friday night, the Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers<\/a> 99-86. The Sixers and Celtics both have a good chance at receiving the Lakers\u2019 first-round draft pick this coming June. If the pick falls from 2-5, it goes to the Celtics as a result of the Markelle Fultz<\/a><\/strong> trade. Any other draft slot will make the pick go to the Sixers.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Lakers’ Record Will Impact Futures of Celtics, 76ers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The arrow is pointing up for both the Celtics and the 76ers, so it\u2019s odd to say that the team\u2019s current games don\u2019t matter as much as a draft choice. After all, Kyrie Irving<\/a><\/strong> and Ben Simmons<\/a><\/strong> are already<\/em> good \u2013 but who knows about a draft pick? The pick might be another Jayson Tatum<\/a><\/strong> or Joel Embiid<\/a><\/strong>, but it might also be another\u00a0Jahlil Okafor<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Boston and Philadelphia are still on the come-up<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s the thing, though: With a little luck, neither the Celtics nor Sixers are even close to their peaks. Both franchises figure to be in better shape in two or three years than they are now. At the same time, neither team is likely to beat LeBron James<\/a><\/strong>‘ Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> in the playoffs this year. Remember last year, when the Celtics won Game 7 against the Washington Wizards<\/a> on May 15 and won the NBA draft lottery on May 16? They were feeling as good about themselves as a franchise can possibly feel on the morning of May 17. The Celtics even had homecourt in Game 1 against Cleveland that night. Yeah…well, the Cavs strolled into Boston and led by 22 points at halftime. It didn\u2019t matter that Cleveland had given away homecourt advantage in the season\u2019s final week. This year, regardless of the Cavs\u2019 current struggles, they are still the team to beat in the East. The Celtics and Sixers are unlikely to get those franchise-altering championship rings this coming June.<\/p>\n

A cornerstone player, though? Now THAT changes a franchise. This year\u2019s NBA draft looks to be loaded at the top, especially in the first five or six picks. Coincidentally, the Celtics\u2019 and Sixers\u2019 line of demarcation comes after the fifth pick. Boston might get a superstar in the two to five range, or Philadelphia could get its man in the six to seven range. Or, if the NBA gods really wanted to have fun, Philly could draft first overall for the third consecutive year.<\/p>\n

Lottery reform is coming<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re still not sold, here are two final words: lottery reform. In 2019, the NBA draft lottery percentages will change dramatically, throwing another wrench into this situation. Whoever doesn\u2019t get the Lakers\u2019 pick this year will get the Sacramento Kings<\/a>\u2019 pick in 2019. Sacramento should slightly improve next year with its young talent \u2013 let\u2019s say the Kings are the eighth worst team in 2019. Those eighth-best odds could more easily land the Celtics or Sixers the first pick, but it could also land them the 10th pick in a supposedly weaker draft. Given that Boston and Philadelphia are both already young playoff teams, they\u2019d much rather draft their next young stud this summer instead of the following one.<\/p>\n

Neither team would admit it publicly, but the scores in other NBA games around the league matter more to the Celtics\u2019 and 76ers\u2019 future championship prospects. One team will benefit from getting the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 ping-pong balls this June. One of those ping-pong balls might include the missing puzzle piece for these divisional rivals.<\/p>\n

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Main Photo:<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>