Written by Garrett Catalana – @GarrettCatalana

About two months ago, I wrote an article about the implications of the Sixers-Kings trade that was made in July 2015. In that article, I discussed how important it was for the Kings to finish in the bottom-10 of the standings and how it would benefit the Sixers. This meaning a top-10 protected first round pick in 2018 became an unprotected first round pick in 2019, the year after DeMarcus Cousins could walk in free agency as an unrestricted free agent (if the Kings haven’t already traded him).

With just five days remaining in the NBA regular season, here are the standings for the 14 teams currently out of the playoffs, with six teams bolded that can have an effect on the Kings’ positioning pre-lottery:

Out-of-Playoffs Standings:

1) Philadelphia 76ers (10-69)

2) Los Angeles Lakers (16-63)

3) Brooklyn Nets (21-58)

4) Phoenix Suns (21-58)

5) Minnesota Timberwolves (27-52)

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6) New Orleans Pelicans (30-49)

7) Sacramento Kings (31-48)

8) New York Knicks (32-48)

9) Milwaukee Bucks (32-47)

10) Denver Nuggets (33-47)

11) Orlando Magic (34-45)

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12) Washington Wizards (38-41)

13) Houston Rockets (38-41)

14) Chicago Bulls (39-40)

The Kings can still finish outside the bottom-10 at the end of the year, but that would require them to win out as well as the Magic to lose every remaining game. But the closer the Kings are to the 6th slot, the closer they are to jumping into the top-3, possibly benefiting the Sixers as well as increasing the chances that the Lakers pick conveys to Philadelphia. Here are the remaining schedules for the six teams between the 6th spot and the 11th spot:

Pelicans (30 wins):

Phoenix Suns (4/9) Chicago Bulls (4/11) @ Timberwolves (4/13)

Kings (31 wins):

Oklahoma City Thunder (4/9) Phoenix Suns (4/11) @ Rockets (4/13)

Knicks (32 wins):

Toronto Raptors (4/10) @ Pacers (4/12)

Bucks (32 wins):

@ 76ers (4/10) @ Magic (4/11) Indiana Pacers (4/13)

Nuggets (33 wins):

Utah Jazz (4/10) @ Portland Trail Blazers (4/13)

Magic (34 wins):

@ Heat (4/10) Milwaukee Bucks (4/11) @ Hornets (4/13)

So for the last five days of the regular season, try not to think about the Sixers. There isn’t much to say at this point since they already clinched the worst record. Rather, go on NBA LeaguePass and cheer on the Pelicans, Knicks, Bucks, Nuggets, and Magic, while hoping that the Kings lose out. We’ll see what happens.

#TrustTheProcess

– Here are the lottery odds for every team from 1-14.