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Has the NBA Draft Lottery Screwed the Phoenix Suns: A look into history

By Matt Litzenberg

Dec 18, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Former NBA player David Robinson cheers during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Former NBA player David Robinson cheers during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2016 NBA Draft Lottery

Apr 7, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Ulis (8) and forward Dragan Bender (35) against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Ulis (8) and forward Dragan Bender (35) against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2016 NBA Draft lottery was unique in the fact that no teams moved up or down at all. The Suns had the fourth best odds and stayed at four, selecting Dragan Bender with their pick.

This lottery was without a doubt fixed, however.

The 76ers received the first pick, likely as a reward for firing Sam Hinkie and replacing him with Bryan Colangelo. The 76ers’s head coach, Brett Brown, is also Ben Simmons’s godfather as well. The big market Lakers and Celtics drafted two and three respectively.

This lottery was in no doubt fixed against the Suns.

Verdict – It was so fixed that I expected Adam Silver to slam Ryan McDonough to the ground at some point while Brett Brown did the Hulk Hogan, ‘I can’t hear you!’ gesture.

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