Maybe the Lakers passed on Jahlil Okafor to let the 76ers get him in the 2015 NBA Draft for a reason.
Former Los Angeles Laker and current Sacramento Kings minority owner Shaquille O'Neal became the latest to accuse the NBA of fixing its annual draft, he said on "The Big Podcast With Shaq" via complex.com.
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"All the great, great players in the league, the draft, there has been talk of a conspiracy theory," he said. "All the way from Ewing to me to LeBron playing in Cleveland. So I'm guaranteeing Philly ain't gonna get the first pick. I'm guaranteeing you that right now. Philly won't even come close to getting the first pick."
"Philly can tank all they want," he said. "They're not getting the first pick. Ain't no way they-whoever 'they' may be-is sending that young man to Philadelphia."
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The Sixers and Lakers own the worst and second-worst records in the league this year, respectively, and have the best chance of winning the top pick in the NBA lottery.
The Lakers would lose their pick to the Sixers if it falls out of the top three, and if Shaq's Kings end up with the No. 1 pick, the Sixers have the option of swapping places with them.
Los Angeles appeared ready to draft Orator last year with the No. 2 pick; he was the consensus No. 2 pick as rated by NBA Draft experts. The 76ers had the No. 3 selection. But L.A. went instead with D'Angelo Russell, and Philadelphia signed Okafor, putting him on a roster that already had big men Nerlins Noel and injured Joel Embiid.
If the draft is fixed, maybe the Lakers knew they'd get the top pick this season if they tanked. Their play in a 48-point loss to the Jazz on Monday night sure made it look like they were tanking.
It appeared for a moment as if O'Neal was going to backtrack on the statement, but clarified that he was talking about Ben Simmons, the current perceived No. 1 pick in the 2016 Draft, having his draft stock fall and falling out of the No. 1 pick and reiterated he believed the Sixers wouldn't get the No. 1.
The NBA may have a little talk with the Kings' minority owner over his comments.
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