NBA Draft Lottery Defies the Odds

In what seems to be a strategy to keep pace with the NFL, the NBA attempted to once again make a big deal out of the NBA Draft Lottery with a thirty minute special that aired Sunday afternoon before the Indiana Pacers hosted the New York Knicks in a pivotal Game 4 from downtown Indianapolis. 

Held in Chicago before this weeks NBA Draft combine, The top 14 selections in next month's NBA Draft were determined with representatives from 12 different organizations across the league. Heading into the day on Sunday, the Detroit Pistons had the best odds to land the top overall selection. 

The Atlanta Hawks Incredible Luck

As the deputy commissioner opened each envelope to unveil the 2024 draft order, former NBA player Landry Fields couldn't hold back his smile. The Atlanta Hawks had the 10th best odds to land the number one overall pick. When the Hawks moved into the Top four, Fields, now the GM of the Atlanta Hawks knew the team would more than likely select third overall, still a respectable spot to add to the roster next to Trae Young. When Houston was selected with the third pick, Fields tried to hold in the smile, knowing that his squad would pick second overall, but happened next, had a three percent chance of happening. "The second pick in the 2024 NBA draft goes to, the Washington Wizards.” 

It was within that moment, Fields had hit the lottery. The Atlanta Hawks, despite having the 10th best shot at landing the No. 1 pick, would indeed be selecting No. 1 overall for the first time since the Atlanta Hawks landed the top spot in 1975.

Who Will The Hawks Take?

The Hawks will have several options with the first overall pick. Some experts, including myself, have the Hawks projected to select Zacchaire Risacher from France, a 6-foot-9 small forward. Risacher will not be in attendance this week in Chicago for the combine as he continues to play in the playoffs for JL Bourg of the LNB Pro A League. 

The Hawks certainly feel as if they won the lottery, literally and figuratively.

For the second straight year, the Detroit Pistons finished the regular season with the worst record in the NBA. Despite young stars Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, the Pistons had a 14 percent chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick to go along side Cunningham, who led the team with 17.5 points per game, Ivey, and Simone Fontecchio who came on strong for the team towards the end of the season. Despite the best odds and worst record, the Pistons will be selecting fifth overall for the second straight season. 

No team will select twice inside the Top 10 of the NBA Draft. The Portland Trailblazers had an outside chance of landing two selection in the Top 10, but will find themselves selecting 7th and 14th overall. 

The Washington Wizards will select second overall in the draft, with the Houston Rockets securing the third overall pick and the San Antonio Spurs landing the fourth overall pick.