NFL
By: Greg Rector
Now that we’ve reached the end of the NBA 2022-2023 regular season fourteen teams will send a representative on Tuesday, May 16th for the annual NBA Draft Lottery or as I call this version the ” Victor Wembanyama Games” as the 7’4″ French star is widely expected to be the first overall pick. Every franchise would love to have Wembanyama but of course, there are plenty of very talented players already declared for the 2023 NBA Draft as well.
The Top Three For NBA Draft Lottery
The Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets will all have the same 14% chance to get the first overall pick. Detroit and Houston may both be changing their coaching staffs (Black Monday for coaches is coming) while the thought of coaching legend and soon-to-be Hall of Fame inducted Gregg Popovich with another outstanding “big man” may give his final years in the NBA a boost and only add to his impressive resume. Of course, there is no guarantee for any of the three teams to land that coveted envelope. The NBA Draft Lottery has seen on more than one occasion a team with low odds move all the way up to that number one slot.
The Other Eleven
In order of the next best odds down to the lowest odds.
Charlotte Hornets 12.5%
Portland Trail Blazers 10.5%
Indiana Pacers 8.3%
Orlando Magic 8.2%
Washington Wizards 6.0%
Utah Jazz 4.5%
Dallas Mavericks 3.0%
Oklahoma City Thunder 1.8%
Chicago Bulls 1.7%
Toronto Raptors 1.0%
Minnesota Timberwolves 0.5%
As we have seen in other years there is that slim opportunity that one of these teams wins the NBA Draft Lottery. Anyone of the four bottom teams moving up also means that a playoff team this season would get a huge boost to their roster. Imagine the Timberwolves who already have a big French player in Rudy Gobert adding Victor Wembanyama. Twin Towers redux for us old guys who remember Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson with the Houston Rockets. The team that may just need to beat the long odds the most is the Dallas Mavericks who might be the clear winners of the most disappointing NBA team for the 2022-2023 NBA season.
Rewarding Failure
I have said for a long time rewarding failure in both NBA and NFL drafts is an awful process. Seeing the same organizations year in and year out having the opportunity to select the first overall draft prospect is annoying. This is the system however and maybe just maybe Victor Wembanyama can indeed be a franchise player that turns one of these teams’ fortunes around finally. That will be the hope for all fourteen teams and their fanbases.
At 8 PM Eastern on May 16th, one NBA franchise may indeed see their fortunes turn with the ability to select a prospect that is truly considered to be a “generational” type of player. “The Victor Games” will be highly watched without a doubt.
