Chicago, IL (PSF) — The 2024 NBA Draft Lottery has been completed, and there were a handful of stunning outcomes. Although the 2024 draft class is perceived to be an incredibly weak and unpredictable one, the lottery picks are valuable assets whether used or traded.

Hawks make History — and emerge Big Winners

With just the eighth-highest odds to land the Number 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft next month, the Atlanta Hawks, with just 3.0 percent top pick odds, jumped 9 spots during Sunday’s lottery and emerged victorious with the top pick. Astoundingly, it is the first time the Hawks have won the NBA Draft Lottery.

For the Hawks (36-46), this is an incredible outcome for the franchise. A playoff team (technically) as the #10 seed this season, and making an Eastern Conference Finals Appearance just 3 years ago (2021), the Atlanta Hawks now have added options for the path they choose to walk.

If they want to add another star next to Trae Young and not trade him, the first pick can be a valuable asset in multiple ways. It will be fascinating to see how they use this pick.

The top four rounds out with the Washington Wizards at Pick 2, the Houston Rockets at Pick 3, and the San Antonio Spurs at Pick 4.

Poor Pistons…

The Detroit Pistons, who posted the NBA’s worst record this past season (14-68), and endured a 28-game losing streak, the longest single-season losing streak in NBA history, received Pick 5. It is another brutal break for the Pistons Franchise, who experienced an identical situation in last year’s draft where generational talent Victor Wembanyama went No.1 overall.

The Pistons receiving Pick 5 in back-to-back years represents the literal worst-possible outcome for the franchise, both figuratively and odds-wise. The Pistons’s X (twitter) account summed it up perfectly:

Unfortunate Outcomes for the Hornets, Trailblazers

Both the Charlotte Hornets (21-61) and the Portland Trailblazers (21-61) will not be picking in the top 5, and that is a brutal outcome for the East’s third-worst team and the West’s worst team. The Hornets dropped 3 slots to Pick 6, and the Blazers dropped 3 slots to Pick 7.

Both the Hornets and Trailblazers are young teams that are not ready to contend. Adding young talent with potential is the main focus of these teams, and with an already weak draft class, finding a high-ceiling, potentially high-impact player may be difficult at these slots.

Here are the final results of the Draft Lottery. The NBA Draft will take place June 26th and 27th.