With year two of the Thunder tank in the books, OKC had promising odds coming into the draft lottery for the 2022 NBA Draft.
The Lottery is just as it sounds -- the bottom 14 teams in the league all get thrown into a pot for random adds as to the top 14 picks in that year’s draft.
Odds are increased the worse the team’s record was last year.
The Thunder came into the lottery with a 12.5% chance at grabbing this year’s top prize at Pick No. 1 while mounting a 48.1% cut at obtaining a Top 4 choice.
The Thunder also had a second lottery pick thanks to the Los Angeles Clippers. OKC acquired this pick during the blockbuster trade which sent superstar Paul George to LA for the savor of OKC Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as well as 5 first-round selections over the coming years.
The Thunder saw the Clippers’ pick come at No. 12, just one spot away from being a guaranteed top 4 pick. Thunder fans held their breaths as the next selections came in.
Like a dramatic commercial break that seemed to last forever, the agony and nervousness subsided once OKC was guaranteed a top 4 pick.
When the dust settled the Thunder came away with the second overall selection. Thunder fans will wait for the draft on Thursday, June 23.
Early mock drafts have the Thunder taking Paolo Banchero, the 6’10” power forward from Duke at No. 2, AJ Griffin, a 6’6” small forward who also donned the Blue for Coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke.
See below for full lottery results:
1. Orlando Magic
2. OKC Thunder
3. Houston Rockets
4. Sacramento Kings
5. Detroit Pistons
6. Indiana Pacers
7. Portland Trail Blazers
8. New Orleans Pelicans (via Lakers)
9. San Antonio Spurs
10. Washington Wizards
11. New York Knicks
12. OKC Thunder (via LA Clippers)
13. Charlotte Hornets
14. Cleveland Cavaliers