NBA Draft Lottery – Full Odds For All 14 Teams
May 14, 2018, 12:00 AM | Updated: Jan 4, 2019, 11:27 am
NEW YORK, USA - JUNE 22: A general view of Barclays Center during NBA Draft 2017 in Brooklyn borough of New York, United States on June 22, 2017.
by Matt George – Sports 1140 KHTK Reporter
Tomorrow, Tuesday May 15th, the fate of the bottom-half of the NBA is decided. Seemingly more than any other year, multiple teams competed for the best percentage chance to land a top pick in what is expected to be an extremely talented 2018 draft class.
The 2018 NBA Draft Lottery will be televised on ESPN tomorrow evening. However, the actual selection process happens in a private room just before the broadcast itself. 14 ping pong balls will be placed in the lottery machine, with every possible four-number combination assigned to a lottery team. A four-ball combination is selected three times, representing the top three picks. Then, the remaining picks (4-14), are assigned to the predetermined order based off last season’s records.
Here are the 14 teams represented in the lottery and their percentage chances of moving into the top three:
1. Phoenix Suns (21-61)
Probability of #1 Pick: 25%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 64.2%
Lowest Possible Finish: 4th Pick
2. Memphis Grizzlies (22-60)
Probability of #1 Pick: 19.9%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 55.8%
Lowest Possible Finish: 5th Pick
3. Dallas Mavericks (24-58)
Probability of #1 Pick: 13.8%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 42.6%
Lowest Possible Finish: 6th Pick
4. Atlanta Hawks (24-58)
Probability of #1 Pick: 13.7%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 42.6%
Lowest Possible Finish: 7th Pick
5. Orlando Magic (25-57)
Probability of #1 Pick: 8.8%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 29.1%
Lowest Possible Finish: 8th Pick
6. Chicago Bulls (27-55)
Probability of #1 Pick: 5.3%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 18.3%
Lowest Possible Finish: 9th Pick
7. Sacramento Kings (27-55)
Probability of #1 Pick: 5.3%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 18.3%
Lowest Possible Finish: 10th Pick
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Brooklyn Nets)
Probability of #1 Pick: 2.8%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 9.9%
Lowest Possible Finish: 11th Pick
9. New York Knicks (29-53)
Probability of #1 Pick: 1.7%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 6.1%
Lowest Possible Finish: 12th Pick
10a. Philadelphia 76ers (via Los Angeles Lakers)
Probability of #1 Pick: 1.1%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 1.1%
Lowest Possible Finish: 13th Pick
10b. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Lakers)
Probability of #1 Pick: 0%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 2.9%
Lowest Possible Finish: 13th Pick
11. Charlotte Hornets (36-46)
Probability of #1 Pick: 0.8%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 2.9%
Lowest Possible Finish: 14th Pick
12. Detroit Pistons (39-43)
Probability of #1 Pick: 0.7%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 2.5%
Lowest Possible Finish: 14th Pick
13. Los Angeles Clippers (42-40)
Probability of #1 Pick: 0.6%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 2.2%
Lowest Possible Finish:14th Pick
14. Denver Nuggets (46-36)
Probability of #1 Pick: 0.5%
Probability of Top-3 Pick: 1.8%
Lowest Possible Finish: 14th Pick
