NBA Draft Lottery 2021: Every Team’s Odds to Win Lottery

The futures of several teams will be determined by the NBA’s draft lottery tonight.

The Oklahoma City Thunder own the most picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, and they have three first-round selections following the Kemba Walker trade with the Boston Celtics. 

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s lottery, including each team’s odds to get the No. 1 overall pick, courtesy of WynnBET.

NBA Draft Lottery Date

The NBA draft lottery will take place at 8:30 p.m. tonight on ESPN. The 2021 NBA Draft itself is scheduled for July 29. 

The lottery will take place tonight prior to Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals between the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Clippers. It will involve the draft picks of the 14 teams that failed to make the final playoff field this season.

Every NBA Team’s Odds to Win the Draft Lottery

• Detroit Pistons: +550
• Houston Rockets (if pick falls outside of top four, it conveys to Thunder): +550
• Orlando Magic: +550
• Cleveland Cavaliers: +700
• Oklahoma City Thunder: +700
• Minnesota Timberwolves (if pick falls outside of top three, it conveys to Warriors): +900
• Toronto Raptors: +1100
• Chicago Bulls (if pick falls outside of top four, it conveys to Magic): +2000
• New Orleans Pelicans: +2000
• Philadelphia 76ers: +2000
• Sacramento Kings: +2000
• Charlotte Hornets: +5000
• San Antonio Spurs: +5000
• Indiana Pacers: +10000
• Golden State Warriors: +15000

The Sixers stand out on this list, as they do not own a pick that could end up in the lottery, but Vegas could be signaling that Philly could make a trade before tonight’s lottery in order to move up into one of these spots. 

Ben Simmons has been the subject of trade rumors after his poor showing this postseason, but it’s hard to see Philly moving on from him just two days after its season ended.

Top NBA Draft Prospects 2021

The draft lottery is so important because it can give rebuilding teams a chance to quickly change their franchise’s outlook if they land a top pick. 

For example, the New Orleans Pelicans jumped up several slots to land Zion Williamson in the 2019 NBA Draft, and the lottery’s unpredictability could lead to one of these top prospects ending up with an unexpected team later this summer. 

Cade Cunningham, Guard, Oklahoma State

A consensus All-American as a freshman, Cunningham is expected to be the top pick in the draft. At 6-foot-8, he possesses unique skills as a creator and ball handler from the point guard position. Cunningham’s versatility and scoring ability (20.1 points per game last season) make him one of the better prospects in recent memory. 

Jalen Green, Guard, G League Ignite

Green bypassed the traditional route of college to hone his skills in the G League this past season. Green averaged 17.9 points per game on 46.1 percent shooting in the G League and has a ton of potential as a scorer. He has a chance to set a new precedent if he is drafted in the top five after choosing to go to the G League out of high school. 

Jalen Suggs, Guard, Gonzaga

Suggs' half court shot to beat UCLA was the highlight of the NCAA Tournament, but the Gonzaga point guard established himself as one of the country’s best players all season long. 

Another All-American, Suggs may be the best pure point guard in the draft. He was efficient as a freshman, averaging 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 33.7 percent from downtown. 

Evan Mobley, Forward/Center, USC

Mobley, a 7-footer, will likely play center in the current NBA, but he has the athleticism to be an elite defender at the position.

Mobley needs to put on some weight to bang with the NBA’s elite big men, but he can score the ball from all levels (he shot 30.0 percent from 3 last season) and should provide a major impact on both ends of the floor.