Biggest Winners and Losers of the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery
Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
In one of the most sought-after drafts for versatile big men and playmaking guards, the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery previewed where the future of the league may go.
Biggest Winners
Orlando Magic
Image from Yahoo Sports
Tied for the best odds in this year’s 2022 NBA Draft Lottery, the Orlando Magic won the lottery earning the right to draft one of the three talented big men pictured above. The only question is who will it be?
Oklahoma City Thunder
Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
With the second and twelfth overall pick in this year’s draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder not only have the opportunity to draft a top-five prospect but the flexibility and leverage to maneuver in the draft and grab a player they may fall in love with in the top 15.
Houston Rockets
Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
The Rockets are a winner in this year’s lottery because not only do they get to pick the leftover of the projected top three but have been discussed to be the organization with the brightest future among the teams in the top five.
Sacramento Kings
Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images
Owning the seventh-best odds to win the NBA Draft Lottery. Many pieces had to fall in Sacramento’s favor to be in the top five. So with the fourth pick in this year’s draft, the Kings can go best player available or hope one of the three projected prospects falls in their lap.
New Orleans Pelicans
Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
Coming off a successful regular season and pushing the former western conference champions Phoenix Suns to six games in the NBA playoffs. The New Orleans Pelicans have a bright future ahead with the eighth pick acquired from the Anthony Davis trade, a hopefully healthy Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum.
Biggest Losers
Detroit Pistons
Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
Man.. oh.. man does it suck to be the Detroit Pistons right now. Not because they are a bad team or do not have a bright future but when you’re tied for the best odds to win the lottery. You would expect the Pistons to at least be a team picking in the top three in this year's draft.
Indiana Pacers
Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/NBAE via Getty Images
The Pacers enter next season with a dynamic backcourt of Tyrese Haliburton, Chris Duarte, Malcolm Brogdon, and Buddy Hield. The Pacers’ biggest need in this year’s draft is a forward. So when falling to the sixth pick, the Pacers will be missing out on the big-name forwards like Jabari Smith, Paolo Banchero, and a smaller four/five in Chet Holmgren.
Honorable Mention: Losers
Washington Wizards and New York Knicks
Both photos by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
I know Knicks and Wizards fans may disagree with me on this but both teams, in a way, are middle-of-the-pack organizations. Yes, both franchises can find a prospect that may help them or provide them a boost of confidence but realistically will either team compete for a spot in the playoffs? To that, I say no. This is not to say they can’t but with how both franchises are currently constructed, they are not playoff teams.
Thumbnail from NBA.com
