For the first time since 2004, the team with the worst record in the NBA landed the first pick in the ensuing draft, as the Minnesota Timberwolves won the draft lottery Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who had the fourth-worst record, moved up to the No. 2 selection, and the Philadelphia 76ers stayed in the No. 3 slot. The New York Knicks, who the second-worst record, dropped to No. 4.
The Timberwolves landed the No. 1 overall selection for the first time in franchise history.
“We have a very young team, and we will add one most outstanding young player,” Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said on ESPN’s broadcast of the lottery from New York. “We just want a young man with a great heart and a great mind.”
Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders said in a statement, “This is a great day for our franchise and our fans. We’re excited about the opportunity to have the top pick in the draft for the first time in franchise history. The No. 1 pick is a fantastic asset to have as we look to add more talent to our team.”
Minnesota will get the opportunity to add a big man to anchor their lineup, as the gems of the draft class include freshman power forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky and freshman center Jahlil Okafor of Duke. The top pick will join the NBA’s reigning Rookie of the Year, forward Andrew Wiggins.
The team with the best odds won the top pick for only the fourth time in 22 years under the current lottery format.
Minnesota had a 25 percent chance of receiving the No. 1.
The Knicks fell to No. 4 even though they had a 19.9 percent chance of landing the top overall selection and a 55.8 percent chance of picking in the top three.
The Milwaukee Bucks finished with the worst record in the NBA in 2013-14, but the Cleveland Cavaliers won the lottery and drafted Wiggins first overall. Wiggins joined Minnesota in the deal that sent All-Star forward Kevin Love to Cleveland.
While the 76ers didn’t move up or down with their own draft selection, they were unlucky when it came to other teams’ selections. Due to a prior trade, Philadelphia would have received the Lakers’ pick if it fell at No. 6 or lower, but instead, Los Angeles gets to keep its place.
Lakers All-Star guard Kobe Bryant tweeted, “We played like crap all season so it’s only right we get the #2 pick HA #lakerluck #goodday”
Because of another previous trade, the 76ers would have landed the Miami Heat’s choice if it fell at No. 11 or lower. However, Miami landed the No. 10 pick.
The draft will be held June 25 at the Barclays Center in New York, home of the Brooklyn Nets.
NBA DRAFT ORDER
1. Minnesota Timberwolves
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. New York Knicks
5. Orlando Magic
6. Sacramento Kings
7. Denver Nuggets
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Charlotte Hornets
10. Miami Heat
11. Indiana Pacers
12. Utah Jazz
13. Phoenix Suns
14. Oklahoma City Thunder
15. Atlanta Hawks (from Brooklyn Nets)
16. Boston Celtics
17. Milwaukee Bucks
18. Houston Rockets (from New Orleans Pelicans)
19. Washington Wizards
20. Toronto Raptors
21. Dallas Mavericks
22. Chicago Bulls
23. Portland Trail Blazers
24. Cleveland Cavaliers
25. Memphis Grizzlies
26. San Antonio Spurs
27. Los Angeles Lakers (from Houston Rockets)
28. Boston Celtics (from Los Angeles Clippers)
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Atlanta Hawks)
30. Golden State Warriors
SECOND ROUND
31. Minnesota Timberwolves
32. Houston Rockets (from New York Knicks)
33. Boston Celtics (from Philadelphia via Miami)
34. Los Angeles Lakers
35. Philadelphia 76ers (from Orlando Magic)
36. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Sacramento via Houston)
37. Philadelphia 76ers (from Denver via Houston, Portland and Minnesota)
38. Detroit Pistons
39. Charlotte Hornets
40. Miami Heat
41. Brooklyn Nets
42. Utah Jazz
43. Indiana Pacers
44. Phoenix Suns
45. Boston Celtics
46. Milwaukee Bucks
47. Philadelphia (from New Orleans via Washington and L.A. Clippers)
48. Oklahoma City Thunder
49. Washington Wizards
50. Atlanta Hawks (from Toronto Raptors)
51. Orlando Magic (from Chicago Bulls)
52. Dallas Mavericks
53. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Portland via Chicago and Denver)
54. Utah Jazz (from Cleveland Cavaliers)
55. San Antonio Spurs
56. New Orleans Pelicans (from Memphis Grizzlies)
57. Denver Nuggets (from Los Angeles Clippers)
58. Philadelphia 76ers (from Houston Rockets)
59. Atlanta Hawks
60. Philadelphia 76ers (from Golden State via Indiana)