NBA Lottery 2017: Odds to Win No. 1 Pick and Teams That Need It the Most

If you’re a fan of the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers or Philadelphia 76ers, then you’re probably crossing your fingers – and toes – in the hopes that your favorite team will land the No.1 pick in the upcoming 2017 NBA Drafty lottery. Then again, if you’re a fan of the dysfunctional New York Knicks or Sacramento Kings, you’re probably hoping that your team doesn’t get the top pick in the draft, since you know they’ll mot likely blow the pick somehow, someway.

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All attempt at humor aside, the 2017 NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, June 22 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York and will be televised nationally on ESPN. The draft lottery will take place this coming Monday, May 16 at 8:00 PM ET, also on ESPN.

2017 NBA Draft Lottery

When: Monday, May 16 at 8:00 PM ET Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY TV: ESPN   Here is a look at each lottery teams’ chance of landing the top pick, followed by my analysis on which teams need the top pick the most.  

2017 NBA Draft Lottery Odds

Pick No.	Team	% to Pick No.1
1	Boston Celtics (via Nets)	25.0
2	Phoenix Suns	19.9
3	Los Angeles Lakers	15.6
4	Philadelphia 76ers	11.9
5	Orlando Magic	8.8
6	New York Knicks	5.3
7	Minnesota Timberwolves	5.3
8	Sacramento Kings*	2.8
9	Dallas Mavericks	1.7
10	New Orleans Pelicans	1.1
11	Charlotte Hornets	0.8
12	Detroit Pistons	0.7
13	Denver Nuggets	0.6
14	Miami Heat	0.5

 

Boston Celtics

With Washington point guard Markelle Fultz projected by everyone to be the top pick in the draft, the Boston Celtics don’t necessarily need the top pick, seeing as how they already have an MVP-caliber floor leader in Isaiah Thomas. Till, Boston has the bet chance of any team in the league of landing the top pick and if they do, anything could happen.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns have one of the best young shooters in the game today in Devin Booker, but could use a franchise changer at the point guard position, whether it’s Fultz or UCLA star Lonzo Ball. The Suns also need help in the frontcourt, so they could opt to go for a big man early. Either way, Phoenix could certainly use the top pick more than Boston.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have a nice backcourt with Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell, but they still could use a star like Fultz or Ball. L.A. also needs some help in the frontcourt, where they have been mediocre at best with guys like Julius Randle and Timofey Mozgov, just aren’t cutting it these days. Still, the Lakers aren’t nearly as in need of the top pick a some of the other lottery participants, particularly after getting small forward Brandon Ingram with the second overall pick a year ago.

Philadelphia 76ers

Now, there’s no team in the NBA Draft lottery that could use the top pick – and a quality point guard – as much as the Philadelphia 76ers. Sure, Philly got a point forward that can pa the ball very well in 2016 top pick, Ben Simmons, but the Sixers could use a point guard in the worst way t help, booth Simmons and Joel Embiid to reach their full potential.

New York Knicks

The Knicks also could use the top pick very badly to draft a point guard that can grow with franchise cornerstone Kristaps Porzingis and either Fultz or Ball would easily fit into New York’s future plans. Then again, with the Knick in a constant state of dysfunction, I think it’s possible the beleaguered franchise could ruin either talented youngster. So, as far as teams that need the top pick the most, I’m going with Philadelphia first and foremost, followed by Phoenix, New York, Los Angeles and Boston. While it’s true that every team in the lottery could use the No. 1 overall pick, teams like Orlando and Minnesota already have young point guard with bright futures, making the aforementioned team mot in need of the No.1 overall pick.