4. San Antonio jumping into the top 3
After 22-straight years of making the NBA playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs saw that streak break for the first time under Gregg Popovich. Even though it’s unlikely for the Spurs to jump into the top 3 (less than 10%), much less win the draft lottery (2%) altogether, it would be quite the story for San Antonio to jump from David Robinson to Tim Duncan to Kawhi Leonard to LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, or even James Wiseman.
Plus, any talent that the Spurs could get at the top of this draft – or any draft for that matter – would almost certainly be maximized by this coaching staff. Assuming that Popovich is going to return to the bench next season, and there’s no reason to believe that he won’t be, I would be excited to see any top talent under the San Antonio development system.
It would take a lot for the Spurs to jump into the top 3, and they would need a bunch of luck, something they haven’t had in a long time, but, hey, if the New Orleans Pelicans can jump into the top spot with only a six percent chance perhaps there is hope for San Antonio.