The Minnesota Timberwolves were the worst team in the NBA in 2014-15, but the franchise has only a one-in-four chance of winding up with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft.
Minnesota nudged ahead of the New York Knicks, who won two of their final three games and now have less than a 20 percent chance of getting the No. 1 pick in the draft.
One of the most intriguing scenarios in the draft lottery centers on the Los Angeles Lakers. If the Lakers run into bad luck in May when the lottery order is set by a draw of ping-pong balls, the needy franchise could lose the pick. The Philadelphia 76ers take the Lakers’ pick if that choice falls to six or lower.
The gems of the 2015 NBA Draft class including freshmen big men Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky and Jahlil Okafor of Duke.
Below is the draft order based on reverse order of 2014-15 standings. The first 14 selections, known as the lottery, are determined May 19 in a random draw of team ping-pong balls. Teams with the worst record have more chances to earn the top pick.
The below list includes NBA-tabulated odds to earn the first overall pick, followed by odds to get a top-three selection, for all lottery teams.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves 25% 64.3%
2. New York Knicks 19.9% 55.8%
3. Philadelphia 76ers 15.6% 46.9%
4. Los Angeles Lakers 11.9% 37.8%
5. Orlando Magic 8.8% 29.1%
6. Sacramento Kings 6.3% 21.5%
7. Denver Nuggets 4.3% 15.0%
8. Detroit Pistons 2.8% 9.9%
9. Charlotte Hornets 1.7% 6.1%
10. Miami Heat 1.1% 4.0%
11. Utah Jazz * .8% 2.9%
12. Indiana Pacers * .7% 2.5%
13. Phoenix Suns .6% 2.2%
14. Oklahoma City Thunder .5% 1.8%
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15. Atlanta Hawks (from Nets)
16. Boston Celtics
17. Milwaukee Bucks
18. Houston Rockets (from Pelicans)
19. Washington Wizards
20. Toronto Raptors
21. Dallas Mavericks
22. Chicago Bulls
23. Portland Trail Blazers
24. Cleveland Cavaliers
25. San Antonio Spurs
26. Memphis Grizzlies
27. Los Angeles Lakers (from Rockets)
28. Boston Celtics (from Clippers)
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Hawks)
30. Golden State Warriors