Most Shocking NBA Lottery shakeups of all-time

Basketball: NBA Draft Lottery: NBA Commissioner David Stern holding up the envelope with the number one pick in the draft at Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Number one pick goes to the New York Knicks.New York, NY 5/12/1985CREDIT: George Tiedemann (Photo by George Tiedemann /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)(Set Number: X31488 TK1 R1 F8 ) /

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CHARLOTTE, NC – MAY 10: Charlotte Hornet guard Baron Davis celebrates after hitting a key basket in the closing minutes against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 of the second round Eastern Conference playoffs at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, NC 10 May 2001. The Hornets won 102-92. (Photo credit should read NELL REDMOND/AFP/Getty Images) /

20. Hornets Get No. 3 Pick (1999)

After the lockout shortened the 1998-99 season, it was only fitting that things would get a bit wild when it came to the NBA Lottery. There were 13 teams that finished in the lottery and outside of the playoffs after the lockout. Two of those teams actually finished with a record of .500 or better, one of which was the Charlotte Hornets as they had the worst odds of any team in the lottery at getting to the top overall pick in the draft.

However, the Hornets got incredible lucky when it came down to it and vaulted to the No. 3 overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft. So while they didn’t get Elton Brand or Steve Francis as those two players went off of the board first, Baron Davis out of UCLA was still left on the board and it was all too easy of a choice for the Hornets to make to add him to their already quality roster.

While things never fully worked out for the Hornets—or with Davis playing for the Hornets, for what it’s worth—it was certainly a shocking moment to see Charlotte jump up so high and have a chance at adding a player of that caliber.

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