Tuesday's NBA Draft Lottery will determine the first 14 picks and set the order for next month's 2018 NBA Draft. For the teams involved it's an important event that can determine the fate of a fanchise and many fans want to see all the losing their favorite teams did be rewarded with a high draft pick. This is especially true in a year with some serious difference-makers available with lottery picks, such as DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III and Jaren Jackson.
Many teams this season elected to play for the best chance at a high draft pick (meaning they tanked as hard as they could), so it was crowded at the top ... or should we say the bottom? And, of course, not every team will get to keep its own pick because of previous trades, so we've detailed all that movement as well.
How the NBA Draft 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.
Final 2018 lottery standings and odds
1. Phoenix Suns (21-61): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 25 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 64.2 percent
2. Memphis Grizzlies (22-60): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 19.9 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 55.8 percent
3. Dallas Mavericks (24-58): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 13.8 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 42.6 percent
4. Atlanta Hawks (24-58): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 13.7 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 42.6 percent
5. Orlando Magic (25-57): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 8.8 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 29.1 percent
6. Chicago Bulls (27-55): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 5.3 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 18.3 percent
7. Sacramento Kings (27-55): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 5.3 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 18.3 percent
8. Cleveland Cavaliers, via Brooklyn Nets (28-54): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 2.8 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 9.9 percent
9. New York Knicks (29-53): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 1.7 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 6.1 percent
10. Philadelphia 76ers or Boston Celtics, via Los Angeles Lakers (35-47) *Celtics get pick if 2-5, otherwise Sixers get it: Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 1.1 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 4.0 percent
11. Charlotte Hornets (36-46): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 0.8 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 2.9 percent
12. L.A. Clippers, via Detroit Pistons (39-43) *Pistons retain if pick 1-4: Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 0.7 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 2.5 percent
13. L.A. Clippers (42-40): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 0.6 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 2.2 percent
14. Denver Nuggets (46-36): Chance for No. 1 overall pick: 0.5 percent. Chance for top-three pick: 1.8 percent
