There are 14 teams in contention to receive the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft when the Draft Lottery takes place this Tuesday (May 15, 7:30 PM ET, ESPN) prior to Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Below are the odds for each team to receive the top selection or at least a top-three pick. This is considered a deep draft, so teams shouldn’t fret too much if they don’t move up.
Percentage at first overall pick
- Phoenix Suns 25
- Memphis Grizzlies 19.9
- Dallas Mavericks 13.8
- Atlanta Hawks 13.7
- Orlando Magic 8.8
- Chicago Bulls 5.3
- Sacramento Kings 5.3
- Cleveland Cavaliers 2.8
- New York Knicks 1.7
- Philadelphia 76ers 1.1
- Charlotte Hornets 0.8
- Detroit Pistons 0.7
- Los Angeles Clippers 0.6
- Denver Nuggets 0.5
The Cavaliers have a spot in the lottery due to owning the Brooklyn Nets’ pick. They have won the lottery three times since 2011 but do not currently have any of the players they selected first overall (Kyrie Irving, Anthony Bennett, Andrew Wiggins). The 76ers receive the Los Angeles Lakers’ lottery pick if it lands first overall or between 6-14.
Chances at a top-three pick
- Phoenix Suns 64.2
- Memphis Grizzlies 55.8
- Dallas Mavericks 42.6
- Atlanta Hawks 42.6
- Orlando Magic 29.1
- Chicago Bulls 18.3
- Sacramento Kings 18.3
- Cleveland Cavaliers 9.9
- New York Knicks 6.1
- Boston Celtics 2.9
- Charlotte Hornets 2.9
- Detroit Pistons 2.5
- Los Angeles Clippers 2.2
- Denver Nuggets 1.8
Rather than Philadelphia, the Celtics will receive the Lakers’ pick if it lands 2-5. Since it cannot land either fourth or fifth, Boston hopes it moves up to the top three, but not first. Also, the Pistons only keep their pick if it lands in the top four, otherwise it goes to the Clippers. Detroit cannot pick fourth, so that 2.5 percent chance they get in the top three is also the same odds that they keep the choice.
Players who could be lottery selections
- DeAndre Ayton, C (Fr., Arizona)
- Marvin Bagley III, PF (Fr., Duke)
- Mohamed Bamba, C (Fr., Texas)
- Mikal Bridges, SG/SF (Jr., Villanova)
- Miles Bridges, SF/PF (So., Michigan St.)
- Wendell Carter, PF/C (Fr., Duke)
- Luka Doncic, SG/SF (19 yrs. old, Slovenia)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG (Fr., Kentucky)
- Jaren Jackson Jr., PF (Fr., Michigan St.)
- Kevin Knox, SF/PF (Fr., Kentucky)
- Michael Porter Jr., SF (Fr., Missouri)
- Mitchell Robinson, C (Fr., Western Kentucky)
- Collin Sexton, PG (Fr., Alabama)
- Zhaire Smith, SG (Fr., Texas Tech)
- Anfernee Simmons, PG/SG (HS Sr., IMG Academy)
- Lonnie Walker, SG (Fr., Miami)
- Trae Young, PG (Fr., Oklahoma)
Many mock drafts project Ayton to go with the first overall selection, although they also see Doncic as a possibility as well. Others such as Jackson Jr., Bagley III, Carter, Porter Jr., and Bamba are often predicted to go in the top five.