The Orlando Magic will have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Orlando — who had the NBA’s second-worst record this season — won the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday night.
The Magic were followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 2 and Houston Rockets at No. 3.
The Orlando Magic get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. 🏀🪄 pic.twitter.com/NXCfMXznxI
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 18, 2022
The Sacramento Kings had the seventh-best odds, but they moved up to No. 4 (they had a 32.0% chance to move into the top-four).
The Rockets, Orlando Magic, and Detroit Pistons each had a 14.0% chance to get the No. 1 pick. Detroit — a 52.0% chance
to pick in the top-four — fell to No. 5.
Oklahoma City Thunder has the No. 2, 12, and No. 30 picks (and they have 17 first-round picks through 2026).
Here are the full Lottery results:
No. 1 Orlando Magic
No. 2 Oklahoma City Thunder
No. 3 Houston Rockets
No. 4 Sacramento Kings
No. 5 Detroit Pistons
No. 6 Indiana Pacers
No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers
No. 8 New Orleans Pelicans
No. 9 San Antonio Spurs
No. 10 Washington Wizards
No. 11 New York Knicks
No. 12 Oklahoma City Thunder
No. 13 Charlotte Hornets
No. 14 Cleveland Cavaliers
While having the first pick is of course the optimal situation (and allows for more trade possibilities), there are many intriguing prospects in this draft, and the draft boards of NBA teams will surely vary quite a bit for the top prospects. Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren, Auburn power forward Jabari Smith, and Duke power forward Paolo Banchero are the consensus top-three prospects.
Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith, and Paolo Banchero in suits at the NBA Draft Lottery. 🏀 pic.twitter.com/gk7vmsYoC8
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 18, 2022
However, they’re all 6’10”-plus frontcourt players, and some teams may also prefer a player like Purdue guard Jaden Ivey or Iowa forward Keegan Murray.
Here’s a look at how the basketball world is reacting to the NBA Draft Lottery results:
LITERALLY pic.twitter.com/jPZ1aCuzua
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) May 18, 2022
#1 draft picks in Magic history:
Shaq
Chris Webber (then traded)
Dwight HowardGood year for another big man at the top of the draft.
— Zach Kram (@zachkram) May 18, 2022
The Magic can field this lineup next season
G: Bol Bol (7’2")
G: Franz Wagner (6’10")
F: Jonathan Isaac (6’11")
F: Mo Bamba (7’0")
C: Chet Holmgren (7’0") pic.twitter.com/2KQWJbUqtp— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 18, 2022
Since the NBA flattened the lottery odds in 2019, the team with the worst record has never picked first overall. pic.twitter.com/LMCXAaUOCY
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 18, 2022
Mood in Orlando 😅 pic.twitter.com/wFgH8BcKGG
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 18, 2022
Giving the Orlando Magic the first draft pick pic.twitter.com/qhDFEurZED
— ¡BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL! (@edsbs) May 18, 2022
Either Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith Jr or Paolo Banchero will join Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and Lu Dort, Tre Mann, Poku and the #12 pick in OKC.
Plus a million future 1st round picks.
What a start to a rebuild for the Thunder.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 18, 2022
https://twitter.com/teamziller/status/1526724471817588736
The Knicks have not moved up in the draft lottery since 1985. pic.twitter.com/QaNC1tIwaT
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 18, 2022
As soon as I saw Sabonis was the Kings representative I knew exactly what was going to happen to the Pacers
— Jay Rigdon (@jayrigdon5) May 18, 2022
