NBA Lottery Results 2024: Full Selection Order, Analysis and More
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacek
Featured Columnist IVMay 12, 2024
The Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and more have their eyes on the NBA's biggest prize in the Larry O'Brien Trophy, but the biggest prize of the offseason for those teams not in the playoffs was handed out Sunday.
And it was handed out to the Atlanta Hawks.
With all eyes on the ping-pong balls in Chicago, the league determined the order of the top 14 picks of the 2024 NBA draft during Sunday's lottery. Those 14 teams that missed the playoffs were all eligible for the coveted top pick, but it went to the Hawks.
Here is how the full lottery unfolded:
- Atlanta Hawks
- Washington Wizards
- Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn Nets)
- San Antonio Spurs
- Detroit Pistons
- Charlotte Hornets
- Portland Trail Blazers
- San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto Raptors)
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Utah Jazz
- Chicago Bulls
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Houston Rockets)
- Sacramento Kings
- Portland Trail Blazers (from Golden State Warriors)
The NBA released the chances for every team in the lottery to receive that No. 1 selection in advance of Sunday's event, showing just how far Atlanta jumped:
It was particularly difficult for the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards, who could have used a lottery win with the best chances.
The Pistons went 14-68 this season, which marked their fifth straight campaign with 23 or fewer wins. While Cade Cunningham is a building block, there's not much to feel good about outside of that.
As for the Wizards, they weren't much better at 15-67 this season. It was their sixth straight losing season, which is a far cry from when they went to the playoffs in four of the five years before the ongoing stretch.
It should be noted there is no Victor Wembanyama in this draft, who was a household name before last year's lottery even arrived and seen as a surefire star who a team can build around for a decade or more.
Still, there does seem to be some consensus on who the No. 1 overall pick will be during the June 26 and 27 draft.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected big man Alex Sarr as the No. 1 selection in his latest mock draft. Sarr plays for the Perth Wildcats, and Wasserman listed Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. as a pro comparison.
"While the main draw to the 7'1" Frenchman revolves around his switchable defense and shot-blocking, the ability to handle in the open floor, shoot with range and knock down pull-ups and fallaways separates him from other rim protectors," Wasserman wrote.
He is far from the only one who sees Sarr as the top pick with plenty of mock drafts projecting the big man to go off the board first.
Still, Wasserman has Sarr fourth on his latest big board of the top prospects and behind the top three of Nikola Topić, Reed Sheppard and Ron Holland.
Even if Sarr does end up going No. 1 overall, that there may be three players better than him underscores how much top-level talent could be available in this draft.
If nothing else, it makes the disappointment of not winning the lottery easier to deal with for those who did not receive the fortune they were looking for Sunday.