Yeah… about those changes

I chuckled – to myself and also no one in particular – when I saw this story pop up. The Sixers, if you can believe it, are fighting the proposed changes to the NBA Lottery, which are designed to hurt… um, well, ah jeez, – scratches neck – the, uh, SIXERS. From ESPN.com:

The rough draft of this plan was met with opposition by 76ers management, which is in the midst of a multiseason rebuilding project that is dependent on a high pick next year. The 76ers, sources said, are hoping to get the NBA to delay the plan’s implementation for at least a year because it would act as a de facto punishment while just playing by the rules that have been in place.

The 76ers, however, may struggle to gain support from Silver or fellow teams for holding off on the changes. Philadelphia’s planned sink to the bottom has caused a drag on revenues in one of the league’s largest markets and has upset some other teams, sources said.

The 76ers currently have more than $30 million in cap space, and they made two lottery picks last month in injured center Joel Embiid and European prospect Dario Saric who aren’t expected to contribute much this season. They also have recently been in trade talks to move their highest-paid and longest-tenured player, forward Thaddeus Young.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE’RE TANKING?, Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie told a room of reporters with a completely straight face.