The NBA conducted a series of random tiebreakers today to determine the 2022 draft order. These tiebreakers involved teams that finished the regular season with identical records.
The results are as follows, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link):
- Chicago Bulls (No. 18) over Minnesota Timberwolves (No. 19)
- San Antonio Spurs (No. 20) over Denver Nuggets (No. 21)
- Note: The Spurs are receiving this pick from the Raptors.
- Philadelphia 76ers (No. 23) over Milwaukee Bucks (No. 24) over San Antonio Spurs (No. 25)
- Note: The Nets have the option of acquiring this pick from the Sixers or passing on it and instead acquiring Philadelphia’s 2023 first-round pick.
- Note: The Spurs are receiving this pick from the Celtics.
- Note: The Nets have the option of acquiring this pick from the Sixers or passing on it and instead acquiring Philadelphia’s 2023 first-round pick.
- Miami Heat (No. 27) over Golden State Warriors (No. 28).
While the tiebreaker winner will pick ahead of the loser(s) in the first round, that order will be flipped in the second round. For instance, the Timberwolves’ second-round pick will be at No. 48, while the Bulls’ second-rounder (traded to Sacramento) will be No. 49.
Now that Philadelphia won the three-way tiebreaker for the No. 23 pick, Brooklyn will be faced with an interesting decision. If they decide to pass on receiving the Sixers’ 2022 first-rounder, the Nets would instead receive Philadelphia’s unprotected 2023 first-rounder.
With a full season of James Harden, the Sixers could be even better next year, pushing their pick later in the first round — but that’s certainly not a lock, and Brooklyn could decide to roll the dice by deferring the pick. The Nets have until June 1 to make that decision, per Marks (Twitter link).
Philly’s 23rd overall pick isn’t worth that much, imo. Even if the Sixers are better next year, what’s the difference between the 23rd pick and, say, the 27th? Or even the 30th? I would roll the dice and take next year’s instead, and hope it’s top 15. Unless they really want some young blood next year to play with KD and Kyrie. Maybe Embiid or Harden gets injured or something and it’s a top 15 pick.
I think the Nets will accept the pick this year because they’ll have their own pick next year. (It’s highly unlikely there’ll be a swap with the Rockets next year.)