NBA trends: Future should be brighter for the 76ers

News and notes from around the NBA:

TRENDING ...

76ers change direction

The Philadelphia 76ers have officially clinched the worst record in the NBA, but that’s not why Sam Hinkie resigned as president of basketball operations and general manger Wednesday. Hinkie informed the team’s ownership group of his exit with a 13-page letter featuring quotes from Abraham Lincoln, Elon Musk and Warren Buffett. Within, he defended his nearly three-year run that yielded just 47 total wins. Concerned with the team’s performance, attendance, ratings and image around the league, Philadelphia recently hired Jerry Colangelo to oversee Hinkie. Colangelo’s son, Bryan Colangelo, a two-time NBA executive of the year, is widely expected to be hired to replace Hinkie.

While the short-term results have been a disaster, Hinkie correctly pointed out the franchise has significant spending power this off-season, along with a long list of promising young players and draft picks. In addition to the 76ers’ 64.3% odds of a top-three pick in June’s NBA draft, the team can swap out their pick with Sacramento, should the Kings win a higher selection in May’s lottery. Philadelphia will also receive the Lakers’ first-rounder, a 44.2% chance it falls below three, and firsts from the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder. The 76ers also expect to see both 2014 lottery picks, center Joel Embiid and Croatian forward Dario Saric, make their NBA debuts next season.

Lottery nearly set

The lottery will determine the top three picks in the draft. The remaining 27 first-round selections will fall in reverse order of the final standings for the 2015-16 season. The Lakers are second to Philadelphia with a 19.9% chance of winning the top overall pick, 18.8% for second and 17.1% third. Should the Lakers’ 55.8% odds fall short, they’ll send their selection to the 76ers, to close out the ill-fated Steve Nash trade.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns are neck-and-neck for the third and fourth positions in the lottery. The Nets will send their pick to the Boston Celtics as part of the 2013 Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce trade. The Minnesota Timberwolves are likely to stay at fifth, while sixth through 11th will be the New Orleans Pelicans, Kings, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic — in a yet-to-be-determined order. From previous trades, the Nuggets first have the right to swap picks with the Knicks, then New York will send their selection to the Toronto Raptors for Andrea Bargnani. Finally, the Washington Wizards, who have also been eliminated from postseason play, will send their first-rounder to the Suns.

Mavericks emerging

The Dallas Mavericks (41-38) are finishing the season on a high note, winning six straight to put the franchise on the verge of closing out a playoff berth. One win will get it done, with the Mavericks visiting the Clippers and Utah Jazz before hosting the San Antonio Spurs. While that may be a difficult final schedule, the Clippers and Spurs are locked into their current playoff seedings, and might opt to rest players.

Rockets have a shot

A single loss from the Houston Rockets would also clinch for the Mavericks. The Rockets (38-41), who can still overtake the eighth-place Jazz (39-40), have a relatively easy schedule with two at home against the Lakers and Kings, but a visit to Minnesota against the Timberwolves could prove a challenge. The Jazz visit the Nuggets and Lakers, in addition to their home game against Dallas. In the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers are on the verge of at least the eighth seed, knocking out the Chicago Bulls.

Double-doubles

Detroit Pistons All-Star center Andre Drummond is leading the NBA with 66 double-doubles this season, averaging 16.3 points and 14.8 rebounds a game. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook is second with 52 double-doubles, but first with 17 triple-doubles through Friday. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is second with 13 triple-doubles. Lakers second-year forward Julius Randle is 14th overall with 34 double-doubles.

Goodbye Arco Arena

The Kings played their final home game at Sleep Train Arena on Saturday, but Lakers fans will long remember the building as Arco Arena, where the Shaquille O’Neal/Kobe Bryant championship duo played out so many classic battles against Chris Webber, Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic. Arco lost the naming rights in 2011, briefly to Power Balance, then to Sleep Train. Now the franchise will move to the Golden 1 Center, in downtown Sacramento, which will open in time for the 2016-17 season.

LOOKING AHEAD

Golden State at San Antonio

When: Sunday at 4 p.m. PDT. TV: NBA TV.

The Warriors are chasing the Bulls’ record for wins in a season. The Spurs are 39-0 at home. The Warriors have beaten the Spurs two of three games in the regular season. Both teams are favorites to meet in the Western Conference Finals. So is this a preview of the postseason showdown? Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich has said he won’t rest his starters. Tune in to find out.

—Barry Stavro