May 14, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage prior to the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery at the Hilton Chicago. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Top 3 teams who need to win the NBA Draft Lottery the most
Dec 20, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) react during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Top 3 teams who need to win the NBA Draft Lottery the most: 2. Oklahoma City Thunder
Unlike the New York Knicks, the Oklahoma City Thunder already have a direction. However, that direction has been based on the concept of making the right picks.
Sam Presti has spent the past few years accumulating a ridiculous pool of draft picks. And while that’s certainly impressive, the feat only matters if the Thunder make the correct decisions in the draft.
Last year, they nailed it with Josh Giddey, nabbing the Australian point guard with the sixth-overall pick. This year’s draft has plenty of talent, too, but the top three have separated themselves from the pack.
If the Thunder get their hands on Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, or Jabari Smith Jr., their core would be elevated to a whole other level. One of those three-plus Giddey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Lu Dort would make for a nasty group.
And what’s even wilder is that the Thunder could potentially draft two of those players. They own the LA Clippers’ first-round pick, so they have to ping pong balls in the lottery.
All that being said, it would be huge for the Thunder to get the first pick. Having a ton of draft picks is awesome, but it’s not about the picks. It’s about the players they select with the picks. And the first-overall pick is the best possible outcome.
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<p>— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/17/win-nba-draft-lottery/2/"https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/1526253812050276354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 16, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Obviously, there are the teams who tanked all seasons. Teams like the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/17/win-nba-draft-lottery/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/oklahoma-city-thunder/">Oklahoma City</a> Thunder, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/17/win-nba-draft-lottery/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/orlando-magic/">Orlando Magic, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/17/win-nba-draft-lottery/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/detroit-pistons/">Detroit Pistons, and <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/17/win-nba-draft-lottery/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/houston-rockets/">Houston Rockets will all be in attendance.</p>
<p>However, there are also some decent teams who will be throwing their ping pong balls in the metaphorical ring. Teams like the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/17/win-nba-draft-lottery/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/cleveland-cavaliers/">Cleveland Cavaliers, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/17/win-nba-draft-lottery/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/charlotte-hornets/">Charlotte Hornets, and <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/17/win-nba-draft-lottery/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/san-antonio-spurs/">San Antonio</a> Spurs.</p>
<p>With a wide variety of teams throwing their hat in the ring, which teams would benefit most from the first-overall pick? Which teams need it more than the others?</p>
<p>(P.S. Yes, of course every team would love to have it. That’s not the point.)</p>
<h2>Top 3 teams who need to win the NBA Draft Lottery the most: 3. New York Knicks</h2>
<p>This may seem like an odd choice. The <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/17/win-nba-draft-lottery/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/new-york-knicks/">New York</a> Knicks were just in the playoffs last season, but they’ve already started regressing, and they simply don’t look like a playoff team anymore.</p>
<p>As much as the Magic, Rockets, and Pistons would love to win the lottery, the truth is, they already have established young cores. And while the Knicks have some great young players, they are stuck in the in between period.</p>
<p>Nabbing the number-one overall pick would almost force them to pick a direction – either make the pick and rebuild or trade the pick and try to contend.</p>
<p>Rebuilding teams are hoping to get the first-overall pick because they want to add to their young core, but the Knicks need to get the first-overall pick so they can finally pick a direction.</p>
<p>Unfortunately for New York fans, the Knicks only have the 11th-best odds to earn the top pick. It’s not likely, but it would make up for two years ago when they lost out on Zion Williamson. (Even though that looks like a blessing in disguise right about now.)</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/17/win-nba-draft-lottery/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Team #2 </a>
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Washington Wizards would benefit greatly from the top pick in the draft.</p>
<p>First and foremost, there’s a good chance that Bradley Beal leaves them this offseason. He’s said that he’s open to re-signing, but it would make more sense for him to leave and join a contender.</p>
<p>If that does happen, then the Wizards would be left without much going for them. They’d have a half-decent team with few young prospects to build around. Rui Hachimura and Deni Avdija are the only two that stick out.</p>
<p>However, all that would change if the Wizards landed the top pick in the draft. They could either trade it to get Beal some help or use it to kickstart a new era of Washington basketball, allowing Beal to move on.</p>
<p>It’s almost the exact same situation that Knicks are in, except the Wizards have a worse young core than New York. Any player they take in the lottery will help, but nabbing one of the top-three prospects would be huge.</p>
<p>The Wizards have the tenth-best odds to land the first-overall pick, so it’s not likely. But if it does happen, then the entire outlook of the Wizards organization would be changed for the better.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Top 3 landing spots for Zach LaVine this offseason" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/14/landing-spots-zach-lavine/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/17/win-nba-draft-lottery/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/14/landing-spots-zach-lavine/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Top 3 landing spots for Zach LaVine this offseason </a> </div>
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