With the close of the 2016-17 regular season, we know not only the playoff teams, but also those in the lottery. That drawing takes place May 16 at 8 p.m. ET. Of course, nothing is set until the ping pong balls are drawn, but let's take a look at the final standings and odds for each team.
How the Lottery works
- Every team that doesn't make the playoffs is in the lottery.
- The team with the worst record gets the highest probability of getting the No. 1 overall pick.
- Only the top three picks are decided by the drawing of ping pong balls.
- The remaining slots (4-14) filled based on record, with the next-worst record going fourth, and so on.
- Ties are broken by a coin flip. If two lottery teams are tied, they split the ping pong balls evenly, with any left over awarded to team winning the flip.
A few notes:
- As has been well documented, the Boston Celtics have the right to swap picks with the Brooklyn Nets via the Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett trade.
- The Los Angeles Lakers' pick will go to the Philadelphia 76ers (via the Michael Carter-Williams trade) if it falls outside the top three.
- The situation with the Sacramento Kings' pick is confusing, and there is a good breakdown here. The basics: If it falls inside the top 10, the Philadelphia 76ers have the right to swap picks. If it falls outside the top 10, it will go to the Chicago Bulls.
- The New Orleans Pelicans' pick (via the Buddy Hield trade) will go to Sacramento unless it falls inside the top three.
Final Lottery Standings And Odds
- 1. Brooklyn (20-61): -- Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 25 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 64.2 percent
- 2. Phoenix Suns (24-58): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 19.9 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 55.8 percent
- 3. Los Angeles Lakers (26-56): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 15.6 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 46.9 percent
- 4. Philadelphia 76ers (28-54): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 10.4 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 33.7 percent
- 5. Orlando Magic (29-53): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 10.3 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 33.4 percent
- t6. Minnesota Timberwolves (31-51): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 5.3 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 18.2 percent
- t6. New York Knicks (31-51): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 5.3 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 18.2 percent
- 8. Sacramento Kings (32-50): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 2.3 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 8.2 percent
- 9. Dallas Mavericks (33-49): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 2.2 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 7.9 percent
- 10. New Orleans Pelicans (34-48): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 1.1 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 4 percent
- 11. Charlotte Hornets (36-46): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 0.8 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 2.9 percent
- 12. Detroit Pistons (37-45): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 0.7 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 2.5 percent
- 13. Denver Nuggets (40-42): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 0.6 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 2.2 percent
- 14. Miami Heat (41-41): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 0.5 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 1.8 percent
