5. Golden State Warriors earning the No. 1 pick; possibly to trade it
This might be one of the most-likely outcomes at the NBA Draft Lottery but also one that would not be popular among most fans. The Golden State Warriors getting another high-quality player after an offseason in which they will return Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green? Not fair.
While their dynasty may have taken a year off, it would almost certainly be back on track – assuming both Curry and Thompson return to their pre-injury form. Adding an Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, or even LaMelo Ball would be a gut-punch to every NBA fan that believed the dominant Warriors were over and done with.
Another added element to the Warriors potentially winning the draft lottery is the fact that they could also decide to move the No. 1 overall pick, perhaps for another superstar. Would the Warriors want to wait for a young player to develop behind Curry and Thompson, or would they much rather package the pick to add a veteran star – perhaps even a Giannis Antetokounmpo, should the Milwaukee Bucks get eliminated early in the playoffs – to help this team win another championship?
By winning the NBA Draft Lottery, the Warriors would be back in the driver’s seat and would reclaim their spot as one of the NBA’s championship contenders. A scary thought, really.