For the first time since the 2004-05 season, the Los Angeles Lakers will have a lottery pick in this year’s highly anticipated draft that features Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Dante Exum, Joel Embiid, and Julius Randle.
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After finishing with the worst record since moving to Los Angeles, James Worthy will represent the Lakers at the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday night in New York at 5:00 p.m. PST on ESPN. Worthy, who was the last number one overall pick for the franchise in 1982, hopes to bring home the top pick and ignite the rebuilding process.
With the Lakers finishing the 2013-14 season with the sixth worst record in the league, here is a breakdown of their odds for each pick:
1st pick: 6.3%
2nd pick: 7.1%
3rd pick: 8.1%
4th pick: N/A
5th pick: N/A
6th pick: 43.9%
7th pick: 30.5%
8th pick: 4.0%
9th pick: 0.1%
For the Lakers, they will likely remain at the sixth spot or potentially drop down to the seventh spot. However, Los Angeles does have a 6.3 percent chance at the number one overall draft pick and a 21.5 percent chance at the top three. It is important to note that the team will be unable to land the fourth or fifth picks in the draft.
In the past 12 years, six teams who were in the same position the Lakers are in right now have actually moved into the top three. Here are a list of teams that have moved up via Lakers.com:
2011: Utah Jazz – No. 3
2010: Philadelphia 76ers – No. 2
2009: Memphis Grizzlies – No. 2
2007: Portland Trail Blazers – No. 1
2005: Milwaukee Bucks – No. 1
2003: Memphis Grizzlies – No. 2
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Lakers’ front office faces their most important off-season. After the Lakers know what pick they will have in the 2014 NBA draft, they will consider numerous options including potentially trading the pick for an All-Star such as Kevin Love or Kyrie Irving in hopes of accelerating the rebuilding process.
For Lakers Nation’s mock draft powered by MyNBADraft.com, click here.
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