5 things to watch for on NBA Draft lottery day

The NBA Draft lottery takes place on Monday, which is able to set the order for the highest 14 picks forward of the primary spherical on June 25.

The lottery is stuffed with pleasure due to the unknown as bouncing lottery balls determine these groups’ draft positions. Whereas the groups with the three worst information from this previous season – the Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz, and Washington Wizards – have the best chance (14%) of getting the primary total choose, it does not all the time go as deliberate. In 2024, the Atlanta Hawks, who had a 3.7% likelihood of profitable the lottery, acquired fortunate, in the end utilizing the highest choice on Zaccharie Risacher. 

This season, former Duke ahead Cooper Flagg is the indeniable crown jewel, so followers of every of the non-playoff groups, and of the NBA normally, will likely be clamoring to observe everything of Monday’s occasion and discover out the place he’ll find yourself. Listed below are 5 extra issues to observe for on NBA Draft lottery day:

2025 NBA Draft Lottery: Odds, how it works, date, time

1. No ensures past Flagg

Rutgers guard Dylan Harper is the consensus No. 2 prospect within the 2025 NBA Draft class, however that does not imply he’ll be chosen second total. 

If the Wizards find yourself with the No. 2 choose for the second straight season, Harper suits their roster completely. The Wizards have a slew of scrappy younger gamers, together with Carlton “Bub” Carrington, Kyshawn George, and Alex Sarr, a rim protector they chose with the second-overall choose in 2024. Harper would offer them with a main ball-handler and an offensive hub. 

Harper would even be a very good possibility for the New Orleans Pelicans, who’ve a 12.5% chance on the prime choose, permitting them to maneuver on from C.J. McCollum and rebuild round Harper, Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy. The Brooklyn Nets, who’ve a 9% likelihood of getting the primary choose, would additionally take Harper in the event that they jumped to No. 2, as they don’t have any actual constructing blocks as a result of they have not owned their first-round choose since 2021.

Then again, a group just like the Utah Jazz, who even have a 14% chance on the prime choose after ending the season with the league’s worst document, might go on Harper as a result of they have already got a plethora of younger ball-dominant guards. As an alternative, they may choose Harper’s faculty teammate, Ace Bailey, a prolonged wing with a excessive offensive ceiling. 

The identical goes for the Philadelphia 76ers, who’re set at level guard with Tyrese Maxey and would like so as to add complementary items relatively than a score-first guard; and the Hornets, who haven’t got a necessity for Harper in the event that they need to proceed constructing round guard LaMelo Ball. 

2. OKC once more?! Why Philly is sweating

Earlier than the beginning of the 2024-25 NBA season, the Philadelphia 76ers have been arguably in the identical tier as Japanese Convention juggernauts such because the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. Being within the lottery wasn’t of their radar. However, issues went awry. Famous person Joel Embiid by no means returned to full well being, enjoying in simply 19 video games, whereas Paul George had an inconsistent marketing campaign after signing as a free agent in the summertime. The 76ers tried to patch issues collectively, counting on Maxey to maintain them afloat whereas they waited for Embiid to return to MVP type. 

When that did not occur, the Sixers realized they needed to pull the plug on the season. That is as a result of the 76ers would solely retain their first-round choice if it fell throughout the prime six. If not, it will go to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who, underneath common supervisor Sam Presti, have persistently constructed up an arsenal of draft picks that embody their very own and their opponents’ by means of savvy trades. 

Wanting to manage their choose and maintain it from the Thunder, the 76ers opted to close down Embiid, after which, when Maxey re-injured a sprained finger on April 9, they took additional precautions and sat him for the remainder of the season, too. With their prime two gamers out, the 76ers completed the season 24-58, impressively tanking their technique to the fifth-worst document. 

Now, the percentages are of their favor to maintain their choose and add a younger piece to assist them re-tool. However, there’s not a lot room for error. If simply two groups above them get fortunate and leap the 76ers, they’ll lose the choose to the Thunder. 

That state of affairs can be an abject catastrophe for Philadelphia as it will have wasted a season with Maxey and Embiid hobbled by accidents, solely to then lose its draft choose. For OKC, it will be a pleasing shock, because it ended the season because the No. 1 seed within the Western Convention and will nonetheless have excessive draft capital. Subsequently, Thunder followers will watch the lottery able to chuckle like evil villains ought to the lottery balls bounce of their favor.

3. Might the Spurs really get Flagg?

The easy reply is, sure. Something can occur throughout the lottery. San Antonio has a 6.0% likelihood of getting the highest choose, which is sort of double what Atlanta had final yr when it gained. 

In that state of affairs, the Spurs might pair Flagg with a core of Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, and be on their technique to having a 3rd straight Rookie of the Yr on their roster, and be able to compete within the Western Convention. 

Watching the place the Spurs land on Monday will likely be a enjoyable storyline. However, it should even be vital to observe what they do within the weeks after the lottery, as they’re going to have two choices within the top-14 and will use that capital to enter the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade discussions. 

4. Greatest match for Flagg?

Let’s name Atlanta profitable final yr’s lottery a fluke and say that one of many favorites will win this yr’s version. So, out of the Jazz, Wizards, and Hornets, the place would we wish to see Flagg land essentially the most? 

The Hornets are the perfect match for Flagg. A Duke product, he would not must journey far. Then, there’s the basketball aspect of issues. Flagg’s athleticism would make him an ideal lob accomplice for Lamelo Ball. Flagg’s protection would even be useful for a group constructed round Ball, a minus defender. Flagg additionally would not be required to deal with the ball and provoke the offense, as Ball is likely one of the recreation’s finest passers and Brandon Miller, the No. 2 choose in 2023, is a dynamic on-ball scorer. 

On the Jazz and Wizards, Flagg can be anticipated to shoulder the majority of duty on either side of the ball. He is able to doing so, however the Hornets roster suits his skills, and his expertise are one thing the Hornets’ present core lacks. 

5. Issues worsen for the Suns (and higher for the Rockets).

PSA for Suns followers: Do not tune into Monday’s lottery until you need to torment your self and see the repercussions of Houston buying your choose as a part of the deal that introduced Kevin Durant from Brooklyn. Sadly for Phoenix, there’s not a lot to be enthusiastic about on Monday. Whereas Phoenix ended the season 36-46, on par with lottery groups, Houston has the rights to its 2025 first-round choose no matter the place it lands.

So, Rockets followers, you are in an identical boat to the Thunder. You watched your group exceed expectations, ending second within the Western Convention within the common season, and now you probably get one other younger participant. In contrast to the Thunder, although, the Rockets would retain this choose wherever it falls. So, sure, there’s a 3.8% likelihood it turns into the No. 1 total choose and Flagg goes to a group that gained 52 video games this previous season. 

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