Hawks Win NBA's Draft Lottery with 3% Odds
The Atlanta Hawks made franchise history by clinching the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, despite having just a 3% chance of winning, marking one of the most improbable victories in lottery history.
With a regular-season record of 36-46, landing them in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks defied expectations by leaping from the 10th position to the coveted top spot.
Joining the Hawks in the top four picks are the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs. The Detroit Pistons, with the league's worst record, dropped to the fifth pick for the second consecutive year.
The Rockets, with a 41-41 season record, surged up six spots to secure a top-three pick. Meanwhile, the Wizards and Pistons held the highest odds of landing the No. 1 pick at 14%.
The NBA draft is scheduled for June 26-27 in Brooklyn.
Expressing his surprise and excitement, Hawks GM Landry Fields remarked, "You look at the percentages, but when I first saw it wasn't us between 10 and 12 that launched us into the top 4, so I was like, all right we got a real shot at this thing. Bit of a surprise, but a lot of excitement."
The Hawks, aiming to build upon their last postseason success in 2021, face crucial decisions in the offseason, including the potential restructuring of their backcourt featuring Trae Young and Dejounte Murray.
French prospect Alex Sarr is currently projected to be the top pick for the Hawks, though the draft lacks a clear consensus on the top talent. Other prospects like Zaccharie Risacher, Reed Sheppard, and Rob Dillingham are also expected to be early selections.
Despite missing out on the top pick, the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers secured the sixth and seventh picks, respectively. The San Antonio Spurs also possess the eighth pick, acquired from the Toronto Raptors in a previous trade, while the Memphis Grizzlies hold the ninth pick.
Rounding out the lottery selections are the Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings, and the Blazers with the 10th through 14th picks.
This year's draft marks the sixth consecutive season in which the team with the worst record did not secure the first overall pick, coinciding with the introduction of the new lottery format in 2019.
Hawks GM Landry Fields dismissed notions of a weak draft class due to the lack of consensus, stating, "Every draft class has great players in it...So we'll lean into our process and take it from there."
