BROOKLYN -- The draft that had teams tanking straight in Adam Silver’s face is finally here.
The names A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr. and Darius Acuff Jr. are about to live in infamy. Because of them, the lottery will soon cease to exist as we know it.
As load management became the norm this past season or teams sat healthy players for no good reason just to slip into the bottom five, Silver ordered his lieutenant Evan Wasch -- the league’s EVP/Basketball Strategy & Growth -- to disincentivize losing. Starting next season, the lottery odds will be flattened, the worst three teams will have a worse chance of winning the lottery than the team fourth-through-10th, and play-in teams could walk away with the No. 1 overall pick.
But that’s next June. This June, starting Tuesday night at Barclays Center, the worst team in the league, the Wizards, are first on the clock. After a three-year rebuild with this day in mind, their arrow may finally be pointed up. ESPN will televise Tuesday’s first round and Wednesday’s second round.
Sponsor activations are visible all over the city. NBA Total Health, presented by Evernorth Health Services, is hosting its annual Farmer’s Market in the Bronx, donating groceries to over 750 local families. State Farm and Heart of America -- through the NBA Cares State Farm Assist Tracker Program -- is renovating a STEM lab at N.Y.’s High School of Arts & Technology.
Other activations include Kia’s draft-themed claw machines, which give fans the chance to be named faux NBA Rookie of the Year and win prizes. Google is unveiling a “Gemini Cam” into draft coverage; New Era is the presenting partner of the draft’s red carpet and player arrivals; Topps will create the rookies’ first official NBA trading cards immediately after they’re selected; American Express will give its card members early access to tickets and host a hospitality experience for key clients and partners; Michelob Ultra will deploy its Courtside Fan Deck; Tissot will gain official draft clock branding; AT&T will offer in-arena prize-based experiences; DraftKings will launch its interactive “Gamelyze” experience to encourage fan participation; Wilson will have a basketball integrated onto the draft stage; Xfinity will have interactive fan polling embedded into the draft broadcast; and Nike will have on-site branding tied to top draft prospects.
