The NBA draft lottery on Tuesday night isn’t just about which pick the New York Knicks could get, despite what’s trending on Twitter the afternoon before the ping-pong balls fly.
No, there are 13 other teams who are waiting to see where they pick in the 2019 NBA draft, and a few of those franchises who had a rough 2018-19 are doubly nervous because they could give up their lottery pick or hold on to it due to trades.
Here’s a quick review of each of those deals and what they could mean on Tuesday night, starting with one of the wilder scenarios:
Memphis Grizzlies
Back in February, we talked about this: The Grizzlies wanted to win instead of tanking because if they have a top-eight pick in this year’s draft, they keep the pick that they traded with protections to the Boston Celtics in the 2015 Jeff Green deal. But in 2020, it’s a top-six protected selection and in 2021, it’s unprotected.
So here’s what the rebuilding Griz would love: A top-three selection, or the No. 9 or below pick. Anything in between isn’t as ideal since there’s more uncertainty outside the first trio of picks. So it’s likely Memphis would be happy to shed itself of that trade for the future of the franchise.
Dallas Mavericks
Because of the Luka Doncic and Trae Young trade at last year’s NBA draft, the Atlanta Hawks have a pick that’s top-five protected in 2019 and 2020, top-three protected in 2021 and 2022, and completely unprotected in 2023. Got all that?
The Mavs went 33-49 last season, tied for the seventh-worst record in the NBA, so there’s a good chance they’ll end up sending the pick to Atlanta this year. Was that trade worth it seeing how both Doncic and Young performed last season?
Sacramento Kings
They only have a one percent chance at the top pick, and that’s bad news for the Philadelphia 76ers, who can only get the Kings’ pick if it’s first overall. A reminder: Sacramento made a deal with Philly involving Nik Stauskas and others in 2015 which included this first-rounder. That pick was sent by the 76ers to the Celtics in the trade that got Markelle Fultz to the Sixers (oops). So the selection will go to Boston as long as the Kings don’t somehow hit the lottery.
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