Sacramento Kings: 2017 NBA Draft Lottery odds
With two potential top-10 selections on the line, the stakes are high in the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery for the Sacramento Kings. We break down what you need to know heading into the event.
For 11 years, the NBA Draft Lottery has been a regular trip for the Sacramento Kings.
Throughout this time, the lottery has been viewed as a beacon of hope for a fanbase that has endured so much mediocrity, the consolation prize after long and often tumultuous seasons. This year’s trip to the lottery, however, stands to have a different significance for the Kings for a few different reasons.
Finishing the season with the eighth-worst record at 32-50, the Kings have suddenly built a foundation filled with promising talent, due in large part to the DeMarcus Cousins trade that occurred during the All-Star break this season.
While the trade was the Kings’ way of waving the white flag on the Cousins era, it simultaneously opened the doors for the likes of Buddy Hield, Willie Cauley-Stein and Skal Labissiere over the second half of the season.
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With those and a few other promising players are just starting to scratch the surface, the Kings finally have a blossoming nucleus in place for the future, something that they hope expands come June 22.
That obviously leads to what’s at stake for the Kings tonight. Not one but two lottery picks are in play for the Kings and each pick comes with its own conditions.
For starters, the Kings’ own draft pick is tied to two pick swaps, one being with the Philadelphia 76ers and the other being with the Chicago Bulls.
To put it plainly, if the Kings’ pick falls out of the top 10, it will go to the Bulls. Conversely, the 76ers will can swap picks with the Kings if Sacramento somehow ends up with the higher pick.
For that selection, here’s a breakdown of the percentages for each possible option:
- 1st: 2.8%
- 2nd: 3.3%
- 3rd: 3.9%
- 8th: 72.4%
- 9th: 16.8%
- 10th: 0.8%
- 11th: 0.0%
Secondly, the Kings received the New Orleans Pelicans’ first round pick in this year’s draft, thanks to the aforementioned Cousins’ trade. That pick is top-three protected though, meaning the Pelicans will retain the pick if it falls within the top three and the Kings will receive a future first round pick as compensation.
With that, here’s the breakdown of the percentages for each possible option regarding that selection:
- 1st: 1.1% (goes to the Pelicans)
- 2nd: 1.3% (goes to the Pelicans)
- 3rd: 1.6% (goes to the Pelicans)
- 10th: 87%
- 11th: 8.9%
- 12th: 0.2%
- 13th: 0.0%
It’s all a little bit complicated and while the percentages are currently swinging in the Kings’ favor, anything is obviously possible once the ping pong balls are chosen.
Considering how important this draft has now become in terms of their ongoing rebuild, the Kings will hope some luck will be on their side. For good fortune, the Kings will have head coach Dave Joerger represent them for the night.
In mere hours, the Kings will finally know their fate for this year’s draft, as will every team who will be heading to the lottery. For their sake, let’s hope there’s no hitches along the way.
Next: 5 potential landing spots for Kyle Lowry in free agency
The NBA Draft Lottery is Tuesday, May 16.