NBA draft: 3 chaotic scenarios in the NBA draft lottery

NBA draft lottery scenario 1: Pistons win the lottery, Rockets get scooped

Here’s how our first scenario plays out:

1. Detroit Pistons (move up one spot)
2. Sacramento Kings (move up seven spots)
3. New Orleans Pelicans (move up seven spots)
4. OKC Thunder (move down one spot)
5. Houston Rockets (move down four spots, pick conveys to the Thunder)

There are a host of big winners in this scenario. The Detroit Pistons are the biggest winners, not just holding firm in their place but actually moving up in the lottery with their own pick for the first time in the history of the franchise. And to do so in a potentially historic draft is a pretty major bonus for then-second-year general manager Troy Weaver.

The Sacramento Kings make a big leap into the second spot, and the New Orleans Pelicans continue their incredible run of lottery luck by jumping from the bubble of the play-in right into the third pick in the NBA draft.

As for the OKC Thunder, this outcome is almost too good. They move into the top five themselves, and the Houston Rockets move out of their protection range, giving the Thunder not just the fourth pick but the fifth pick as well. All that losing for absolutely nothing for the Rockets.