Lottery protected in NBA 2K22 means that when you simulate the upcoming NBA Draft in the game, any players that have been drafted to your team that are on your roster will automatically remain with you as long as they remain as lottery protected picks.
This gives all teams a certain amount of control and assurance, as some of their top picks will be safe. Lottery protected players will stay with the team regardless of record or other factors, ensuring that teams that have had success in the past will be rewarded for their drafting ability.
This is especially beneficial for teams that struggle in the regular season and make it to the lottery, as their picks will stay with them and not be up for grabs by other teams.
What happens if a pick is protected?
A protected pick is one that a team may not have to surrender in an NBA draft. The team receives a compensatory pick in a future draft, usually the next one, that carries the same numerical value as the pick they had to protect.
The purpose of protecting picks is to ensure that a team isn’t left with nothing to show after trading away a valuable asset. Protected picks are commonly used when teams are trading their draft picks in exchange for established players.
For example, in 2014, the Philadelphia 76ers traded away the third pick in the draft for current Cleveland Cavaliers forward, Jrue Holiday. The 76ers were able to protect this pick, meaning they received the third pick in the following year’s draft.
It is important to note that teams are only allowed to protect a certain number of their picks and the exact number varies from season to season.
What is a protected vs unprotected pick?
A protected pick refers to a selection (usually in a draft) that a team is allowed to keep for themselves in the event that another team chooses the same player. This means that a team will still have the desired player but only if another team does not choose the same player.
An unprotected pick, on the other hand, does not provide such safeguards and an opposing team could potentially choose a team’s desired player and leave the team without their desired selection. This is a riskier situation for a team to be in as they are unable to control whether or not another team will choose their desired player.
How do pick protections work?
Pick protections are a type of defensive strategy used in basketball to protect the ballhandler from the opposing team’s defenders. It involves multiple players coming together to deny the offensive player from advancing with the ball.
Generally, pick protections involve two to three defensive players strategically forming a wall to limit the offensive player’s driving lanes, resulting in a 4-vs-3 situation known as the 4-corner offense.
The two primary ways this is done are to double-team the ball-handler, overloading the ball-side of the court (also known as trapping) and to form a wall between the ball-handler and the basket (also known as cutting off or closing off the driving lanes).
To do this, one or two defenders will step out and force the ball-handler away from the area they are looking to drive to, while another defender steps up to stop the ball-handler from advancing.
A well-executed pick protection requires all the defensive players involved to be on the same page and to react quickly. Likewise, the offensive player needs to be aware of the potential traps, and move the ball efficiently to counter the defense.
By using a pick protection, the defense can reduce the number of potential shots the offense can take, as well as reducing their scoring efficiency.
What picks do the Lakers own?
The Los Angeles Lakers currently own 8 picks in the 2021 NBA Draft. The picks consist of the 4th pick in the first round, 28th pick in the first round, 39th pick in the second round, 48th pick in the second round, 56th pick in the second round, 60th pick in the second round, 72nd pick in the third round, and 88th pick in the third round.
This could change if the team decides to make any trades of their current picks, but it is the team’s current standing.
The Lakers do not possess any picks in the 2022 draft, as all of their picks were sent to the New Orleans Pelicans as a part of the Anthony Davis trade.
The Lakers also own their own first round pick in the 2023 draft. They also own the Toronto Raptors’ first-round pick that year in the highly touted Marc Gasol trade. This pick is only a top-14 protected pick, meaning if Toronto ended up in the Top 14 of the draft, it will be converted to a second-round pick in the 2023 draft.
Overall, the Lakers currently own 8 picks in the 2021 NBA Draft and one pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
What are pick protections NBA?
Pick protections are set of rules in the NBA regarding draft picks that a team can and cannot trade away. These protections prevent teams from disposing of their future draft assets too quickly. Pick protections come in many forms, but the most common is a top-three protection.
This means that if a team trades a draft pick, and that pick turns out to be in the top-three of that year’s draft, the team retains its rights to the pick. Another common form is a right-to-swap protection, which gives the trading team the right to swap their traded pick with the other team’s pick in the same draft.
This allows a team to effectively move up if they feel they have more to gain by doing so. More and more teams are also incorporating pick protections into their long-term trades, making it nearly impossible to get rid of future assets without potential safeguards.
Is a lottery protected pick good?
A lottery protected pick can be a good decision if it is used correctly. A lottery protected pick lets a team protect their draft position if they move up in a system such as the NBA Draft Lottery. This means that they can maintain their current draft position while keeping the potential to move up even higher in the draft.
The protected pick is a safeguard against any team moving up and drafting a player that the protected team was targeting. For teams that are in a position to make a run for a championship, a protected pick could be a great way to secure a better draft position.
It helps the team acquire the player that can make a major impact for the team in the future.
However, a lottery protected pick should not be done foolishly. Teams have to be sure that it is worth the investment of their pick. A team should also be aware of the possible downside of the protected pick, such as an increased cost of the pick, or a loss of a lower pick that may have more value.
Teams need to make sure they understand the risks and potential rewards of using a lottery protected pick before making a decision.