Note: This is not the official lottery order. The NBA lottery order will officially be decided on May 20th. The NBA draft will occur shortly thereafter on June 26th.


1. Milwaukee Bucks — Jabari Parker, SF, Duke

He’s the most NBA-ready player and the Bucks have been losing for twelve years. Winning now should be of the utmost importance.

2. Philadelphia 76ers — Andrew Wiggins, SF, Kansas

They have publicly stated that he’s the number one prospect on their board. Potential is key — and this could potentially be the league’s next great one. We’ll see.

3. Los Angeles Lakers — Joel Embiid, C, Kansas

Let the Lakers' next big-man era begin. Mikan, Wilt, Kareem, Shaq… Embiid?

4. Orlando Magic — Dante Exum, PG/SG, Australia

The perfect player to build a franchise around. He’s huge for a guard, can play PG or SG, and has a deadly jumper. So, basically, he is everything that Orlando has lacked since T-Mac left.

5. Utah Jazz — Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky

Big Al is gone. Out with the old, in with the new.

6. Sacramento Kings — Aaron Gordon, PF, Arizona

They are lucky that they are still in Sacramento. They are also lucky that everything falls into place for them with the sixth pick. Gordon brings uber-athleticism and has been declared by many to be the second coming of Blake Griffin.
7. Boston Celtics — Marcus Smart, PG/SG, Oklahoma State

Apparently Danny Ainge is far from impressed by this year’s draft class. So, yeah, he’ll be picking Smart with indifferent feelings. Unlike every other owner who has been salivating over Smart since witnessing that second half beat down he put on Kansas last week.

8. New York Knicks — Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana

This would be an absolute steal for the Knicks. A STEAL. Based on team needs, it appears as though this prediction may actually come to fruition. Bye bye, Amare.

9. Philadelphia 76ers (traded from the Pelicans) — Dario Saric, PF, Croatia

Unfortunately for Philly, the best remaining players are mostly small forwards and point guards. Sure, they could throw Gary Harris next to MCW and have a decent back court going. Let’s be honest though — Harris is too one-dimensional. Saric can shoot and rebound and that is the kind of versatility that Mr. Hinkie is searching for.

10. Denver Nuggets — Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State

It wouldn’t be a Denver Nuggets team if they drafted someone even remotely tall, right? They need a big man first and foremost, but we see them taking the value pick with the best player on the board here.

11. Detroit Pistons — Rodney Hood, SF, Duke

Seven more years of mediocrity? Maybe. They need to tank — as bad as that may sound — if they want to grab that franchise changing player.

12. Cleveland Cavaliers — Zach LaVine, PG/SG, UCLA

Dion Waiters is a ticking time bomb that needs to go. LaVine fills that gap and simultaneously enables the Cavs to rest Kyrie every once in a while.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves — Jerami Grant, SF, Syracuse
Kevin Love is leaving… Kevin Love is leaving… KEVIN LOVE is LEAVING. They are completely screwed for the foreseeable future. They take this pick merely because there will not be any big men worth drafting this early remaining on the board.

14. Memphis Grizzlies — Doug McDermott, SF, Creighton

Damn, the Western Conference is good. Their record will not warrant this pick, but they luckily pick up a solid shooter/overall scorer.