The NBA playoffs are in full swing, but for 13 teams the draft season begins now.
In Tuesday’s lottery, the Orlando Magic won the best pick, followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets to finish the top three in the June 23 draft.
For Magic – who finished worst in the Eastern Conference 22-60 – luck came 30 years before the day the franchise won the best pick in the 1992 draft, when Shaquille O’Neill became number one. The following year, they took Chris Weber with the first choice, sending him to the Golden State for Penny Hardway and three future players in the first round of Orlando, first elected in 2004, adding Dwight Howard.
“It feels great,” said Orlando basketball president Jeff Weltman. “I am very happy for our fans. They really stayed with us. And nights like this help, where you can really show the fruits of why you go through these phases and these cycles. And let’s hope they’re really excited about it. “
Houston, Orlando and Detroit had a 14 percent chance of coming out with a first choice, which would likely be Jabari Smith of Auburn, Chet Holmgren of Gonzaga or Paolo Banchero of Duke.
Chet Holmgren from Gonzaga is expected to be one of the best selected in the NBA Draft for 2022. Getty Images
Sacramento, who had the seventh best chance to make the best choice, jumped to number 4.
The Pelicans are the only team in the playoffs to have a lottery choice after Anthony Davis’ exchange with the Lakers and select eighth.
Oklahoma City also came out at number 12, thanks to the exchange of Paul George from Thunder Clippers.
The Knicks, who finished the 2021-22 season at 37-45, had a 2% chance of choosing the best choice and will choose number 11.
Here is the full order for the 2022 NBA Draft Round Lottery:
1. Orlando Magic
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
3. Houston Rockets
4. Sacramento Kings
5. Detroit Pistons
6. Indiana Pacers
7. Portland Trail Blazers
8. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers)
9. San Antonio Spurs
10. Washington Wizards
11. New York Knicks
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Los Angeles Clippers)
13. Charlotte Hornets
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
Add Comment