Finally, after months of anticipation, NBA draft evaluators, mock draft creators and NBA front offices can take a small sigh of relief.
Last night the NBA hosted their yearly NBA Draft Lottery show and now the NBA draft order is officially set.
The Orlando Magic won the night by receiving the No. 1 overall pick followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, and Sacramento Kings rounding out the top-5.
Now the first real domino of the NBA Draft season has fallen.
With that, let’s take a look at some of the biggest winners and losers from last night’s festivities as we head into what should be an interesting offseason draft process leading up to the big night at the Barclays Center on June 23rd.
Winners:
1. Orlando Magic Secure the No. 1 Overall Pick
Of course, the team that wins the NBA Lottery has to be considered as a winner, but the Orlando Magic find themselves in a special position with the makeup of this year’s draft class.
Last time Orlando won the draft lottery was back in 2004 where they selected multi-time All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year winner Dwight Howard.
In this draft class, they have the chance to pick another defensive juggernaut of a prospect in projected top pick Chet Holmgren. Although Holmgren may not be the physical specimen that Howard was, he still addresses a significant need for the Magic who desperately need assistance on the defensive side of the ball.
The Magic are a guard heavy team with the likes of Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, and Jalen Suggs. But they really lack any real difference makers in the frontcourt beyond rookie standout Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr. and maybe Jonathan Isaac when healthy.
In a draft class where the top-3 guys are all bigs, landing a top-3 pick was pivotal in their pursuit of another potential impact player at the forward/center spot.
Then the cherry on top is that having the top pick only further drives the possibility of reuniting former Minnehaha Academy teammates in Suggs and Holmgren which would make for a great storyline to follow next season.
2. New Orleans Pelicans Cash in with the Lakers’ Pick
Considering the fact that New Orleans does not own their own pick (15th pick now with the Charlotte Hornets), the Pelicans were playing with house money entering the draft lottery.
Praying on the misfortune of the Los Angeles Lakers this season, the Pelicans lucked up and were able to secure the 8th overall pick using the pick they acquired in the Anthony Davis trade.
Building off last night’s mini victory, Pelicans fans may actually have a lot to look forward to this offseason.
Along with the 8th pick, they also have the 41st and 52nd picks in the second round.
New Orleans has already proven capable of acquiring “diamonds in the ruff” as we saw the emergence of second round draft pick Herbert Jones and undrafted rookie Jose Alvarado. Two guys who both made names for themselves in the playoffs on the back of their defense against Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns.
This is a Pelicans team that is coming off of making the playoffs after starting 2-13 and were playing without star forward Zion Williamson for the entire season.
They pushed the defending Western Conference champions to six games in the first round. Plus, they have the anticipation of a CJ McCollum-Brandon Ingram-Zion Williamson lineup that could really do damage in the West next season.
New Orleans already had a lot to be excited about heading into the summer. But the results of the lottery should only further enhance the optimism of both Pelicans fans and the front office as they look ahead to the 2022-23 season.
3. Indiana Pacers Look to Continue Building with 6th Pick
Similar to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Indiana Pacers entered the lottery playing with house money.
They already pulled off what many may consider the NBA heist of the century when they were able to acquire former 2020 lottery pick Tyrese Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Domantas Sabonis.
Now they have the luxury of following that up by picking in the top-10 for the first time since 1996 (they selected Erick Dampier). Even crazier, this is the first time the Pacers are selecting in the Top-7 since selecting George McCloud 7th overall back in 1989.
So as an organization that is not known for big name free agent acquisitions or grabbing top tier talent at the top of the draft, last night was a major victory. Although they won’t be able to grab one of the top-3 guys, they still have their pick of the litter.
They may have the opportunity to take a swing on the potential of Shaedon Sharpe who is coming straight out of high school. They could even go with a more proven commodity and grab a high volume scoring wing in Keegan Murray out of Iowa. Nonetheless, they are in a strong position to grab another potential difference maker to add to the core of Haliburton, Chris Duarte, and Myles Turner.
Not to mention they will have solid cap space to maybe make a run at some solid free agents as they have Ricky Rubio and TJ Warren coming off the books as expiring contracts. A lot of positive signs that the Pacers could be back to their playoff contending ways really soon.
Losers:
1. Portland Trail Blazers Tanking Plan Failed
With superstar guard Damian Lillard acting as Portland’s representative last night at the lottery, the Trail Blazers fell to the 7th pick and things are not looking good. That was made clear the minute it was announced as a viral video of Lillard showing obvious signs of disappointment is already taking over the internet.
Portland has never been known as a tanking team, but this year they embraced the idea on the back of Lillard’s absence for the most of the season due to injury.
They even delved deeper into the tank machine by trading Lillard’s running mate CJ McCollum to the Pelicans and trading Robert Covington and Norman Powell to the LA Clippers at the trade deadline.
All for the 7th pick.
A spot that really pigeonholes the front office as new general manager Joe Cronin is now stuck in a rough position.
If the Trail Blazers pick another developmental project like they did with Anfernee Simons and Nassir Little in years past, that could send the wrong message to 31-year-old Lillard who wants to win now.
But of course, picking a polished Day 1 contributor could also be a gamble in itself. The team may not reap the benefits of the pick in Year 1. Something we saw with the Washington Wizards this season who selected Corey Kispert just outside the lottery at 15th last season.
Either way, a lack of early success next season could be just the trigger that yet again sparks up the Lillard trade rumors.
For Blazers fans, there is one thing that could give you hope. In the last decade, Portland has only had a pick in the top-10 twice. Those two picks became McCollum in 2013 with the 10th pick and Lillard in 2012 with the 6th pick. The last top-10 picks before that were Greg Oden and Tyrus Thomas so there is about a 50-50 split on the potential success rate.
But it’s a chance, nonetheless.
2. Washington Wizards Lack of Luck in the Lottery Streak Continues
Seems like the Washington Wizards just cannot get out of their own way.
This season started with them being one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and ended with them not even sniffing the playoffs. Now they are back at the drawing board and their lottery luck continues to be unfavorable.
Washington has had a lottery pick in two of the last three seasons and they got the 9th overall pick both times. Getting the 10th pick this season is no better.
Furthermore, they have selected a wing in the last four drafts and have gotten mixed results at best.
Troy Brown Jr. in 2018 who played there for two seasons before being traded to Chicago last season.
Rui Hachimura in 2019 who has shown flashes and even made the All-Rookie Second Team but has only played in 50 games or more once in three seasons.
Deni Avdija in 2020 who has probably been the most impactful of the group as he took a real leap defensively this season after a rough rookie year.
Then there’s Corey Kispert who as mentioned earlier was projected as a ready made prospect with a skillset that translates right away but did not really provide much impact this season.
Now they are projected to take yet another athletic wing in Jeremy Sochan out of Baylor who could be an impact player out the gate, but will only create a bigger log jam in an already crowded frontcourt.
The Wizards just continue to look like an organization with no real direction and the looming fate of Bradley Beal this offseason is only making things worse.
3. Sacramento Kings Find Worst Time to Be 4th
Typically, as an NBA fan hoping to get more talent on your team, landing the 4th overall pick would be a hard thing to get mad about. Especially with a draft class like this year’s where many project it to be a four player draft.
But for Kings fans, this may have been the worst time to end up 4th.
Although it is a four player draft, the top-3 projected guys are all bigs with the fourth guy being Purdue’s Jaden Ivey as the lone guard of the group. Only thing is, Sacramento really does not need anymore guards.
They just drafted Davion Mitchell last year and traded Haliburton this season. They still have De’Aaron Fox but he clearly did not mesh well with the concept of having more guards on the floor taking the ball out of his hands.
Yet here they are with the 4th pick with the best player available being a guard and a really tough call to make.
On one end they could take Ivey off of talent alone and make it work alongside Fox or by trading Fox.
They could pass on Ivey in favor of picking for fit which is a hit or miss strategy when selecting this high. Especially for a Kings organization who has had their fair share of flops in the draft over the last decade or so.
Or there is the option of trading the pick and moving down a little. Finding a viable suitor like Detroit or New Orleans who may have great interest in Ivey could be a good way for Sacramento to acquire some future assets while still being able to pick in the top-10.
All this to say that Sacramento having the 4th pick is good. But with a high commodity like that and so many potential variables to account for, the Kings’ best use of the pick may be to give it to someone else.
BSL Analyst
Hi there! My name is Jalon Dixon, but most people just call me Jay. As an aspiring, young sports writer and podcaster, I enjoy discussing sports (mainly basketball and football) and sharing my knowledge with others. Growing up right in the middle of Towson University, Morgan State, Goucher College and others, I have gotten the chance to learn so much about a handful of the different athletic teams that thrive here in Baltimore. I want to be the voice of local fans and teams that may not get the same spotlight as others, but still play a big part in our everyday lives. My motto is “Always Embrace Conversation,” so if you ever want to give me feedback on a piece or even just have a friendly sports debate, feel free to email me! Hope you enjoy my work and maybe even learn something along the way.