The Minnesota Timberwolves have secured the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round pick this offseason.
This year, the draft lottery (which is very important to the Minnesota Timberwolves) will be held on August 20th, with the draft coming about two months later in October. This year’s draft lottery will be the second time the NBA will have used their new anti-tanking odds system which features each of the top-3 teams maintaining 14-percent odds of gaining the first overall selection.
The Timberwolves last won the lottery in 2016, the same year that both Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell were selected. Last season, Minnesota dropped one spot (from 10 to 11) in the lottery as a result of the Lakers gaining a top-4 pick (rigged, I know).
While the balls have only been in their favor once, the Wolves getting the first overall pick could only help the team, especially if they are able to hit on that pick. Even if they are awarded the first pick (or even one of the top-4 picks), there may be a possibility that they decide to trade it away.
To simulate the lottery for this mock draft, I will be using Tankathon’s simulator. However, as the Portland Trail Blazers are the betting favorites to make the playoffs, we will be substituting the Grizzlies in the lottery. The results go as listed:
1. Golden State Warriors
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
3. Atlanta Hawks
4. New York Knicks
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
6. Detroit Pistons
7. Chicago Bulls
8. Charlotte Hornets
9. Washington Wizards
10. Phoenix Suns
11. San Antonio Spurs
12. Sacramento Kings
13. New Orleans Pelicans
14. Memphis Grizzlies
Let’s get into the Mock Draft.