Previous drafts have not been kind to the individuals who have drafted #1. In fact, it's been a few years since the type of talent you'd expect to draft this high has actually lived up to draft position expectations. If someone is crazy enough to trade an established superstar for a complete what-if at a position in the draft that has historically created blue balls more than revitalized franchises... all the power to them.
Likely case - Dallas builds a team around his personally overhyped instantaneous hall of fame big man in Kristaps "Porzingod' using trades involving his later picks.
2 - Detroit makes major roster changes despite playoff outcome.
Detroit wins it finally and Jon becomes tired of the long playoff grinds so he blows the team up and enjoys a couple seasons of RNG engine player development before creating the second coming of a Detroit Pistons Dynasty. Detroit chokes again (likely scenario, let's be honest) and Jon does his best version of a sinking ship's damage control in effort to create a team that doesn't choke.
Likely case - Detroit isn't much a trader, unless the deal makes 105% sense. They will keep the team intact regardless and continue to be the class of the league (how is 2nd place the class of the league anyways).
3 - The Lakers make a move that isn't a part of their 6 year subtle tank plan.
Because let's be honest, you know they are going to blow it up again and tank harder "because there is no window." It would be nice if one of the historically great franchises of the CSL would actually care about winning, but this seems to be a distant memory of what the organization's priorities used to be.
Likely case - The Lakers are good at reclamation projects so they will likely find themselves reviving the career of a younger player who lacks development all while cruising to their 25-30 win benchmark like years past.
(There's not much to cheer for in Los Angeles these days - players included).
Has there ever been a superstar of John Wall's caliber who has become so forgotten amongst the league's GM's due to team mediocrity? Despite being arguably the 1A or 1B (depending on your affection for Anthony Davis) big man in the league, Blake Griffin has been passed around the league like a bag of skittles in recent seasons. Derrick Rose and Al Horford are victims of a situation where the team is great, but not good enough and the many seasons of 65+ wins and no titles may have finally reached its climax for legendary GM Marcos Beck. Dennis was vocally distraught over Westbrook's playoff injury during a series against the Pistons that was extremely winnable - The Celtics will rebuild around Zach LaVine aka Kobe 2.0. Paul George - he just can't stay healthy it seems. Has Willy finally reached his breaking point in the over-reliance of an injury prone superstar who is capable of leading a team to a title?
Likely case - No really, all of these players will move. Has there ever been a CSL off-season where so many top players switched jerseys?
(Is this dude ever NOT injured?)
I don't know what this move will be - perhaps acquiring a player from those aforementioned above? The fact remains that just like Chicago, this team has peaked. It can't get past Houston without a true superstar, it just can't. It's now a proven fact over how many seasons with the same outcome? With the amount of depth this team has, and the amount of quality CSL starters and all-star capable players, how can they continue to sit on their window?
Likely case - Sacramento continues course in hopes of being the first CSL team to win without a true superstar player in this league.
2028
