If I'm not wrong (and according to the game manual) draft order is purely based on game records?
Currently my conference is having a very very tight playoff race: the 7th placed team is 8-8, 2 wins off playoff spot, and the autorelegation spot is held by a team with a 7-9 game record.
On the other conference, 3rd place in the standings is a team with a 8-8 record, with a worse point difference compared to the 7th place team, meaning that if that team was in my conference, they would be facing auto relegation.
But since their game record is that bad, their draft order would be pretty high, wouldn't it? Seems kinda illogical to give a 3rd place team the 9th overall pick. Makes me wonder why doesn't the first 8 picks go to non PO teams.