Soaring Down South
Fansided

NBA State of the Tank Volume I: Race For the First Pick

By Dallin Duffy

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 14: Raul Fernandez of the Washington Wizards attends the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery on May 14, 2019 at the Chicago Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 14: Raul Fernandez of the Washington Wizards attends the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery on May 14, 2019 at the Chicago Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks
CLEVELAND, OHIO – FEBRUARY 09: Andre Drummond #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up prior to the game against the LA Clippers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 09, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: 13-40

Current odds: 14%

Remaining SOS: 20th (.494)

Years Tanking: 2

If they don’t win the top pick, the Cavs can take solace in winning the “Oddest Trade Deadline Acquisition” award. Yes, their trade for Andre Drummond (discussed further in the Pistons slide a few pages over) was a head-scratcher, but also, yes, it makes them better.

But do the Cavs want to be better?

They’re near the start of their second rebuild without LeBron, and have a few nice young pieces like Collin Sexton and Darius Garland to build around. Putting Drummond next to the lone carry-overs from their four straight Finals runs (Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson) clogs the frontcourt and could stunt the development of their younger players.

The Cavs own the league’s largest losing streak currently with six consecutive L’s but Cleveland is definitely better with Drummond. And with one of the easiest remaining schedules on this list, they easily could end up dropping out of the group of teams with the three lowest records. Still, the Cavaliers have always been lucky at the Lottery, so maybe that continues this year even if they do end up with lesser odds.

State of the tank: When is LeBron a free agent?