NBA scouts and executives are keeping an eagle eye on the start of the Men’s NCAA Tournament this week, hoping that one of the stars eligible for the NBA draft falls in their lap and changes their fortunes overnight.
One thing is for sure: Those same scouts and executives are happy because they don’t have to look at their own teams for the next two weeks and can really concentrate on finding the next superstar, so they won’t routinely find their teams on lists like this.
There are more than enough intriguing college players to consider with the No. 1 pick, including Darryn Peterson of Kansas, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa (the nation’s leading scorer), Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson of North Carolina.
Without further ado, this week’s edition of Tank Watch, featuring the best of the worst the NBA has to offer.
NBA teams already booked for Cancun
All records and winning percentages are through games on Thursday, March 19.
Indiana Pacers (15-55; .214)
The Pacers have long since given up and haven’t won since the All-Star break, a skid of 15 consecutive games. It’s the second time this season they have set a franchise record for regular-season futility.
Washington Wizards (16-53; .232)
Any team that gives up 83 points to Bam Adebayo, as the Wizards did last week, not only needs a vacation, but the league needs to think about retraction as well. Washington has lost 10 games or more in a row three different times this season.
Brooklyn Nets (17-52; .246)
If you want to find the equivalent of a junior varsity team taking the court against real professionals, look no further than Brooklyn’s 121-92 humiliating loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, March 18.
Sacramento Kings (18-53; .254)
The Kings’ M.A.S.H. unit is filled with All-Star-caliber players, and the situation is so bad that people have coined the term “ethical tanking” to excuse the putrid product put out nightly.
Utah Jazz (21-49; .300)
The NBA’s version of the Washington Generals, otherwise known as the league’s worst defensive team, couldn’t be bothered with keeping a dribbling offensive player in front of them. NBA fans couldn’t be bothered watching them either.
NBA teams waiting to spend hours in TSA line to board flight
It’s just a matter of time before the teams listed below are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention and can start making trips to Cancun (or Galveston, according to Charles Barkley) for an early vacation – or to Turkey to explore hair transplants, whichever one applies to them.
(All records and winning percentages are through games on Thursday, March 19.)
Memphis Grizzlies (24-44; .353)
Memphis better be glad the league is expanding to 32 teams, or their franchise would be the first one to exit stage left out of town.
Dallas Mavericks (23-47; .329)
Dallas got rid of incompetent general manager Nico Harrison earlier this season. Next on the hit list, the American Airlines Center.
New Orleans Pelicans (25-46; .352)
At least the gumbo and jambalaya are good year-round.
Chicago Bulls (28-42; .400)
The only good news this week for Chicago: Former star Dennis Rodman is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA tank watch: Teams with best chance to land No. 1 draft pick
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