Pelicans win NBA Draft Lottery; How it impacts OKC Thunder

The NBA Draft Lottery took place in Chicago on Tuesday evening, and all eyes were on the first overall pick and the right for Zion Williamson.

The NBA Draft Lottery is a chance for hope. It is just that, a Lottery. Almost everyone has bought a Lottery Ticket with the hopes of becoming a millionaire despite the odds being stacked against them.

14 percent. That was the best odds that three teams had to grab Zion Williamson. The New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, and the Cleveland Cavaliers had a 14 percent chance each to grab one of the most hyped NBA Draft prospects ever.

The Bulls had a 12.5 percent chance, the Hawks had a 10 percent chance, and the Wizards had a nine percent chance.

The Grizzlies, Pelicans, and Mavericks all held a six percent chance entering tonight, with the next best odds coming from Minnesota with three percent odds, the Lakers with two percent odds and the rest of the lottery field a one percent chance. One percent.

Still, teams remained hopeful, a player like Zion Williamson could make a General Manager’s career, a coaches career, could make a franchise, or take it all away.

With the Lottery being revealed from bottom to top, you hope your proverbial number is not called until the very end, unlike when watching the power ball numbers on TV. The longer the envelopes don’t turn up with your team’s logo, the better your odds are at getting the top pick. Not to mention the protections involved from prior trades.

Finally, the NBA Draft Lottery got started, NBA Fans across the Nation sat and stared at their television, with ping pong balls deciding their fate.

The fans and media have theories, frozen envelopes, rigged systems, but all that matters is who picks where.

• 14 pick: Boston Celtics
• 13th pick: Miami Heat
• 12th pick:: Charlotte Hornets
• 11th pick: Minnesota Timberwolves
• 10th pick: Atlanta Hawks (via Dallas Mavericks)
• 9th pick: Washington Wizards
• 8th pick: Atlanta Hawks
• 7th pick: Chicago Bulls
• 6th pick: Phoenix Suns
• 5th pick: Cleveland Cavaliers
• 4th pick: LA Lakers
• 3rd pick: New York Knicks
• 2nd pick: Memphis Grizzlies
• 1st pick: New Orleans Pelicans

What does this mean for the OKC Thunder?

The way the NBA Lottery played out actually impacts the OKC Thunder in a huge way. The top five has three Western Conference teams, and depending on how the Pelicans brass handles this offseason the OKC Thunder could be having to deal with an Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson led team on top of every other juggernaut in the Western Conference.

The LA Lakers have LeBron James, a few young assets, and the number four pick, they might be able to move up in the draft, and now surely have the capital to make a huge splash via trade this offseason.

It seems certain Zion Williamson will land in the Western Conference, and if he is even half as good as the hype, will be a real problem for the OKC Thunder as the Western Conference is already littered with All-Stars and Super Stars.

The Full Draft Order:

New Orleans Pelicans

Memphis Grizzlies

New York Knicks

LA Lakers

Cleveland Cavaliers

Phenoix Suns

Chicago Bulls

Atlanta Hawks

Washington Wizards

Atlanta Hawks (via Dallas Mavericks)

Minnesota Timberwolves

Charlotte Hornets

Miami Heat

Boston Celtics (Via Sacramento Kings)

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Detriot Pistons

Orlando Magic

Brooklyn Nets

Indiana Pacers

San Antonio Spurs

Boston Celtics (Via LA Clippers)

OKC Thunder

Boston Celtics

Utah Jazz

Philadelphia 76ers

Portland Trailblazers

Cleveland Cavaliers (via Houston Rockets)

Brooklyn Nets (Via Denver Nuggets)

Golden State Warriors

San Antonio Spurs (Via Toronto Raptors)

Milwaukee Bucks

One thing is for sure, the NBA’s plan to discourage tanking worked. The Pelicans had a six percent chance of grabbing the first pick, as did the Grizzlies, and those two teams are picking one and two. The NBA Offseason will be the most entertaining in years, and that is saying a lot for this league.