The New York Knicks are doing a phenomenal tank job of late as they have lost six straight games, the longest current streak in the NBA. The Knicks do not yet have the league’s worst record as the Cleveland Cavaliers hold that distinction. However, starting this year you don’t need to have the absolute worst odds to win the draft lottery. The Cavaliers, Knicks, and Suns are in the running for the best top pick odds as each team has a 14 percent chance at landing the rights to draft Zion Williamson. The Bulls are right behind with a 12.5 percent chance.
Big market conspiracy theories aside, the Knicks and Bulls are due to win big in the draft lottery. The Cavaliers got their LeBron repayments in 2011, 2013 and 2014 by winning the lottery. It’s highly unlikely that Dan Gilbert and the Cavs will once again be gift-wrapped yet another generational talent in Williamson – particularly with two of the NBA’s signature franchises in the Knicks and Bulls starved for a superstar player. Here is a two round mock as we inch closer to draft season.
1. New York Knicks: Zion Williamson, PF, Duke
2. Chicago Bulls: RJ Barrett, SG, Duke
3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Ja Morant, PG, Murray State
4. Phoenix Suns: Keldon Johnson, SG, Kentucky
5. Atlanta Hawks: Cameron Reddish, SG, Duke
6. Washington Wizards: Rui Hachimura, SF, Gonzaga
7. Detroit Pistons: Charles Bassey, C, Western Kentucky
8. Orlando Magic: Bruno Fernando, C, Maryland
9. Boston Celtics: Romeo Langford, SG, Indiana
10. Atlanta Hawks: Nassir Little, SF, North Carolina
11. New Orleans Pelicans: KZ Okpala, SG, Stanford
12. Minnesota Timberwolves: Darius Garland, PG, Vanderbilt
13. Boston Celtics: Nickeil Alexander, SG, Virginia Tech
14. Utah Jazz: Bol Bol, C, Oregon
15. Charlotte Hornets: Daniel Gafford, PF, Arkansas
16. Brooklyn Nets: Goga Bitadze, C, Republic of Georgia
17. Miami Heat: Jarrett Culver, SG, Texas Tech
18. Los Angeles Lakers: DeAndre Hunter, SF, Virginia
19. San Antonio Spurs: Sekou Doumbouya, SF, France
20. Boston Celtics: Austin Wiley, C, Auburn
21. Portland Trail Blazers: Jontay Porter, C, Missouri
22. Houston Rockets: Ashton Hagans, PG, Kentucky
23. Boston Celtics: Ty Jerome, PG, Virginia
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jaxson Hayes, PF, Texas
25. Philadelphia 76ers: Kris Wilkes, SF, UCLA
26. Brooklyn Nets: Jalen Smith, PF, Maryland
27. Indiana Pacers: Chuma Okeke, SF, Auburn
28. Golden State Warriors: Kevin Porter, SG, USC
29. Milwaukee Bucks: Eric Paschall, SF, Villanova
30. San Antonio Spurs: Aric Holman, PF, Mississippi State
31. Orlando Magic: Ky Bowman, PG, Boston College
32. Philadelphia 76ers: Coby White, PG/SG, North Carolina
33. Brooklyn Nets: Shamorie Ponds, PG, St. John’s
34. Phoenix Suns: Adam Mokoka, SG, France
35. Atlanta Hawks: Vanja Marinkovic, SG, Serbia
36. Denver Nuggets: Sagaba Konate, PF, West Virginia
37. Detroit Pistons: Ignas Brazdeikis, SF, Michigan
38. Sacramento Kings: Naz Reid, C, LSU
39. Memphis Grizzlies: Admiral Schofield, SF, Tennessee
40. Dallas Mavericks: Kerwin Roach, PG, Texas
41. New Orleans Pelicans: Abdoulaye N’Doye, PG, France
42. Sacramento Kings: Oshae Brissett, SF, Syracuse
43. Philadelphia 76ers: Zylan Cheatham, PF, Arizona State
44. Utah Jazz: Luguentz Dort, SG, Arizona State
45. Atlanta Hawks: James Palmer, SG, Nebraska
46. Orlando Magic: Brian Bowen, SF, USA
47. Minnesota Timberwolves: Darius Bazley, PF, USA
48. Atlanta Hawks: Charles Matthews, SG, Michigan
49. San Antonio Spurs: Markus Howard, PG, Marquette
50. Los Angeles Clippers: Brandon Clarke, PF, Gonzaga
51. Los Angeles Clippers: Cameron Johnson, SF, North Carolina
52. New York Knicks: Robert Franks, SF, Washington State
53. Memphis Grizzlies: Bennie Boatwright, PF, USC
54. Charlotte Hornets: Jalen McDaniels, PF, San Diego State
55. Philadelphia 76ers: Jaylen Hands, PG, UCLA
56. Charlotte Hornets: PJ Washington, PF, Kentucky
57. Indiana Pacers: Matt Morgan, SG, Cornell
58. Golden State Warriors: Udoka Azubuike, C, Kansas
59. Milwaukee Bucks: Louis King, SF, Oregon
60. Toronto Raptors: Carsen Edwards, PG, Purdue
