Who’s getting that #1 pick? Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Orlando have the best chance.
One of the biggest nights for the NBA’s worst teams (next to NBA Draft night) is here. The infamous ping pong ball lottery. This is where teams find out the fate of when they will be picking in this year’s June 26 NBA Draft. Everyone is praying to the basketball gawds so the odds land in their favor in search of the top pick.
Some things to consider before the lottery goes down tonight: If the Pistons slip to the number nine spot or lower, the newly crowned Charlotte Hornets get the pick. Also, New Orleans can only keep their pick if they land in the Top 3. If they don’t, Philadelphia gets the pick thanks to the Jrue Holiday trade. Lastly, that Carmelo Anthony deal is coming back to bite the New York Knicks in the ass because it doesn’t look like they will get a first or second rounder in this year’s draft. Either Orlando or Denver will land their pick.
This year is significant because it’s one of the deepest drafts in recent memory and teams will be fighting for the likes of Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker.
UPDATE: The complete order of picks 1-14 is now below.
01. Cavs
02. Bucks
03. 76ers
04. Magic
05. Jazz
06. Celtics
07. Lakers
08. Kings
09. Hornets
10. 76ers
11. Nuggets
12. Magic
13. Timberwolves
14. Suns
And in a shocking turn of events, the Cleveland Cavaliers catapulted to the Top 3 and won the entire lottery for the third time in four years. The #TankForWiggins campaign just paid off for them the most. The other two winners of the draft are the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers, both of who got two picks in the lottery this year. The 76ers hold the #3 and #10 picks, while the Magic are selecting #4 & #12.
Who do you think the Cavs pick at #1? Johnny Manziel has a suggestion:
Cavs and @22wiggins ??
— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) May 21, 2014
OS REWIND: Adam Silver Making Raising NBA Age Limit Top Priority
OS REWIND: NBA To Feature Ads On Jerseys Within 5 Years
OS REWIND: A Proposal To Replace The NBA Draft Lottery