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The NBA will already begin preparations for the 2021-22 NBA season while the 2020-21 season nears its conclusion with the NBA draft lottery. The lottery slots the top four teams in the NBA draft via a draw. The remaining teams are slotted via reverse standings. The lottery results will also determine if teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves will keep their pick or transfer it to another team due to pick protections in trades.
2021 NBA Draft Lottery details
Date: Tuesday, June 22
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
The Houston Rockets will have the best chance to win the lottery after going 17-55 in the regular season. The Rockets could use the No. 1 overall pick to replace franchise star James Harden, who demanded a trade and went to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Detroit Pistons find themselves with the second-best chance to win the lottery. The Pistons are undergoing a full rebuild after slowly trading away aging veterans and acquiring younger talent. The Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers round out the top five.
The Timberwolves must land in the top 3 to keep their pick, otherwise it transfers to the Golden State Warriors as part of the D’Angelo Russell deal. The New Orleans Pelicans struck lottery gold with Zion Williamson in 2018 despite being tied for the seventh best odds. The Pelicans are 10th in this year’s lottery order.
The Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets, San Antonio Spurs and Warriors round out the 2021 lottery. The Spurs are in the lottery for back-to-back seasons for the first time in the Gregg Popovich era. San Antonio hasn’t won the lottery since the franchise took Tim Duncan first overall in 1997.