After abysmal 2024-25 season, 76ers need some lottery luck

The 2024-25 campaign has a case as the most disappointing season in Philadelphia 76ers history, given the offseason expectations. This was a team that invested a ton of money into a big three of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey last summer, with sizable extensions for Embiid and Maxey and a max deal in free agency for George.

Based on the bloated payroll, this was a team that was supposed to contend in a relatively open Eastern Conference, perhaps even make it to the first conference finals in over two decades. Instead, Sixers fans are back to consuming mock drafts and Tankathon sims like Embiid used to consume Shirley Temples. 

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Mercifully, the season has finally come to an end, and there's no need to eulogize it. The bright spots were few and far between: Jared McCain's play prior to suffering a season-ending knee injury, the addition (and hopefully being able to keep) Quentin Grimes, and the promising play of guys like Justin Edwards and Adem Bona. That's about it. 

With the season officially over for fans in Philadelphia, all eyes now turn to the NBA Draft Lottery, which will take place on Monday, May 12. That's the next important date on the calendar for the franchise, and the Sixers will need some luck.

Reminder, Philadelphia's pick is top-six protected, which means that they keep it if it's one of the first six picks. But, if it falls beyond six, it transfers over to the Oklahoma City Thunder, stemming from the Al Horford trade back in 2020. Horford hasn't been a Sixer in five years, but he's still somehow haunting the franchise. 

The Sixers losing their pick and not having anything to show for the absolute disaster of a season that just ended would be salt in the wound; an absolute worst-case scenario. But, it's also a real possibility. 

There's a 36 percent chance that the pick goes to Oklahoma City, compared to a 64 percent chance that the Sixers keep it. Here's how the odds breaks down pick by pick: 

1: 10.5%

2: 10.5%

3. 10.6%

4. 10.5%

5. 2.2%

6. 19.6%

7. 26.7%

8. 8.7%

9. 0.6%

Obviously, the 26.7 percent chance of the pick landing at No. 7 is a scary sight. But overall. the odds of the Sixers retaining the pick are pretty good.

So for the next month, fans in Philadelphia need to keep their fingers crossed, pull out the rabbits feet, search for lucky pennies, or whatever else can be done to conjure up some luck. It's imperative that the Sixers keep their pick and infuse their aging roster with a young, top-tier prospect. Hopefully the ping-pong balls bounce in their favor.

Follow Michael Kaskey-Blomain on X @therealmikekb.