After lots of losing, 76ers hope to win big in NBA lottery

FILE - In this May 21, 2013, file photo, then-Toronto Raptors president Bryan Colangelo, now the president of basketball operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, represents his team during the NBA basketball draft lottery, in New York. The Philadelphia 76ers, after finishing with the worst record in the NBA, have the best odds to land the No. 1 pick and could add another in the top five if the pingpong balls bounce their way in Tuesday's draft lottery. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) FILE - In this May 21, 2013, file photo, then-Toronto Raptors president Bryan Colangelo, now the president of basketball operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, represents his team during the NBA basketball draft lottery, in New York. The Philadelphia 76ers, after finishing with the worst record in the NBA, have the best odds to land the No. 1 pick and could add another in the top five if the pingpong balls bounce their way in Tuesday's draft lottery. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

By Associated Press May 16, 2016 4 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – The Philadelphia 76ers lost plenty the previous two seasons, though never managed to lose the most.

This season, they finally fell all the way to the bottom.

The potential payoff comes Tuesday, when the 76ers have the best chance to win the NBA draft lottery – and could walk away with two top-four picks if the pingpong balls bounce their way.

“It’s a big day on Tuesday,” new president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo said. “We’re going to know where we are and no matter how it comes out, we’re at least going to know where we stand and what we have to play with with respect to building this team.”

The Lakers and Celtics, the NBA’s most storied franchises, have the next-best odds of getting the No. 1 pick and the chance to draft the type of player who could get them back to the lofty positions they used to occupy.