NBA Draft Lottery: The Next Chapter In The Book Of NBA Conspiracies?
The NBA draft lottery allows for the NBA conspiracy theorists to awaken from their crazy chairs for one night
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Ah, the NBA draft lottery is finally here. The only night that cooks up more NBA conspiracy theories with the exception of LeBron James winning an NBA Championship.
Tonight will be no different. In fact, it could be epically better. Historically better. With the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers both with more than a decent chance to snag the No. 1 overall pick — certainly one in the top-3 — all eyes will be on NBA Comissioner Adam Silver, hoping that we don’t get a “repeat” of what many “believe” happened on this day (draft lottery day) in 1985.
(Note: here is a great piece on “The Ewing Conspiracy” — via SI.com)
“Basketball is back in New York City, my friends.”
But if you’re not into conspiracy theories, or simply don’t buy — or don’t want to believe — it, get excited, because it’s fair and your team (if in the lottery) has a chance to win the No. 1 overall pick.
First things first, here are the NBA draft lottery odds:
- Minnesota Timberwolves — 25% chance to land No. 1 pick
- New York Knicks — 19.9% chance to land No. 1 pick
- Philadelphia 76ers — 15.6% chance to land No. 1 pick
- Los Angeles Lakers — 11.9% chance to land No. 1 pick
- Orlando Magic — 8.8% chance to land No. 1 pick
- Sacramento Kings — 6.3% chance to land No. 1 pick
- Denver Nuggets — 4.3% chance to land No. 1 pick
- Detroit Pistons — 2.8% chance to land No. 1 pick
- Charlotte Hornets — 1.7% chance to land No. 1 pick
- Miami Heat — 1.1% chance to land No. 1 pick
- Indiana Pacers — o.8% chance to land No. 1 pick
- Utah Jazz — 0.7% chance to land No. 1 pick
- Phoenix Suns — 0.6% chance to land No. 1 pick
- Oklahoma City Thunder — 0.5% chance to land No. 1 pick
With this, go ahead and begin your theorizing. For substance though, here are the NBA draft lottery notes:
- The Lakers only keep their pick if it lands in the top-5, if 6th or 7th it goes to the Sixers.
- The Heat lose their pick if it falls out of the top-10, then goes to the Sixers.
- In one scenario, the Sixers could have three lottery picks.
For you conspiracy theorists, here are a few crazy scenarios in which you can get crazy with:
- The Knicks, Lakers and Heat fill out the top-3 at the end of the night. My favorite.
- The Knicks and Lakers snag the top-2 picks.
- If the Knicks or Lakers get the top pick.
- If Adam Silver hesitates or sighs for one second.
If there’s an envelope that looks like it was kept in the freezer for too long.- If the Sixers come away with three lottery picks.
- If the Lakers lose their pick.
- If the Heat land a top-3 pick.
- If the Thunder land a top-3 pick.
If nothing else, there are going to be tons of interesting storylines to take away from tonight. Even if you don’t believe in the NBA draft lottery conspiracy narrative.
For fun, here are my lottery predictions for tonight:
- New York Knicks
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Orlando Magic
- Sacramento Kings
- Denver Nuggets
- Detroit Pistons
- Charlotte Hornets
- Miami Heat
- Indiana Pacers
- Utah Jazz
- Phoenix Suns
- Oklahoma City Thunder
Happy NBA draft lottery day.