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Democracy can be a powerful institution, just ask creator of the internet Al Gore.
Just 24 hours after Grantland's Zach Lowe reported the Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder were the only teams expected to vote against lottery reform, democracy reared it's big, beautiful and rustically handsome head.
The NBA Board of Governors voted on the proposed lottery changes on Wednesday afternoon, needing 23 votes — 75 percent of teams — and failed to pass the reform with a 17-13 vote in favor of reform. Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the news.
Joining the Sixers and Thunder against the reform were Phoenix, New Orleans, Detroit, Miami, Milwaukee, San Antonio, Utah, Wash, Atlanta, Charlotte and Chicago, Wojnarowski tweeted. Commissioner Adam Silver and many other prominent figures around the league considered the reform a done-deal. Instead, many came to a similar conclusion our own Derek Bodner has been preaching: reactionary decision-making is simply shortsighted and irresponsible.
One owner tells Yahoo: "Several teams started to wonder about unintended consequences and voted no to be able to do further study."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) October 22, 2014
This news likely has Sam Hinkie and the rest of the folk down at the Navy Yard singing Hallelujah! With Michael Carter-Williams' status hanging in the balance and a roster unlikely to truly compete this season, the Sixers are now a virtual lock for the worst record in the NBA and a 25 percent chance at the top pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
One glum GM tells Yahoo: "Well, we still have the 'Be as shitty as humanly possible' strategy available in future if we need it."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) October 22, 2014
Yes, the Sixers will be a shitty team this season, anonymous GM. But they'll be Philly's shitty team with a great chance at drafting [INSERT YOUR FAVORITE DRAFT PROSPECT HERE]. The tank rolls on. Together we build.