Fans of teams that didn’t make the playoffs this season had their attention on the NBA draft lottery selection show on ESPN Tuesday night. Ping pong balls—an outdated way to select the draft’s order—took center stage prior to Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
The Minnesota Timberwolves boasted the best odds of acquiring the top pick at 25 percent. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder had the worst odds at less than a half of percent.
BREAKING: Minnesota Timberwolves win the NBA Draft Lottery and will have the No. 1 overall pick. pic.twitter.com/K0YPnzj8YT
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 20, 2015
Here are the results
14. Oklahoma City Thunder
13. Phoenix Suns
12. Utah Jazz
11. Indiana Pacers
10. Miami Heat
9. Charlotte Hornets
8. Detroit Pistons
7. Denver Nuggets
6. Sacramento Kings
5. Orlando Magic
4. New York Knicks
3. Philadelphia 76ers
2. Los Angeles Lakers
1. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Knicks had the second-best odds of acquiring the top pick. Unfortunately for Phil Jackson and company, they are picking fourth overall. This means that both Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns will be off the table.
With the first pick, Minnesota has a tough decision to make between two potentially dominating big men in Okafor and Towns.
By virtue of their pick falling at two, the Los Angeles Lakers will keep their first-round pick. It would have been sent to the Philadelphia 76ers if it had fallen outside of the top five. They also have the opportunity to pick whoever falls to number two between Okafor and Towns.
By virtue of their pick falling at 10th, the Miami Heat will keep their first-round pick. It was also slated to go to Philadelphia if it had fallen outside of the top 10.
In short, the Lakers and Timberwolves were big winners here. Meanwhile, the Knicks really got a raw deal.
Photo: USA Today Sports