CLEVELAND — 8:54 p.m./ET-Pelicans looking to give Anthony Davis reason to stay
The New Orleans Pelicans have a star player, Anthony Davis, who let the organization know last season that he did not intend to sign a max contract extension, and instead would like to be dealt to a team in a bigger market, but will executive David Griffin convince him to stay?
Well, Griffin, a championship-winning executive with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, got a nice boost in his quest to do that in the form of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
The Pelicans won the NBA Draft Lottery for just the second time, and ironically enough, the last time they won, Davis was chosen No. 1 overall out of the University of Kentucky.
8:50 p.m./ET-Pelicans win NBA Draft Lottery
The New Orleans Pelicans had just a six percent chance to win the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, but the numbers worked out the correct way and former Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin will have the top selection in June.
Only five teams had worse odds than the Pelicans heading into the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery.
Top Four Selections:
4. Los Angeles Lakers
3. New York Knicks
2. Memphis Grizzlies
1. New Orleans Pelicans
8:45 p.m./ET-First 10 Lottery Picks released
The Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans improved their positions in the 2019 NBA Draft, meaning the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers all fell in the order.
Here are the first 10 lottery picks:
14. Boston Celtics (from Sacramento Kings)
13. Miami Heat
12. Charlotte Hornets
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Atlanta Hawks
9. Washington Wizards
8. Atlanta Hawks
7. Chicago Bulls
6. Phoenix Suns
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
8:30 p.m./ET-NBA Draft Lottery is here
Who will earn the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft?
Well, the answer to that question is just a few minutes away as the results of the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery will be revealed on ESPN at 8:30 p.m./ET.
Here are the odds for each of the non-playoff teams to win the lottery and get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft:
New York Knicks (17-65) 14 percent
Phoenix Suns (19-63) 14 percent
Cleveland Cavaliers (19-63) 14 percent
Chicago Bulls (22-60) 12.5 percent
Atlanta Hawks (29-53) 10.5 percent
Washington Wizards (32-50) 9 percent
New Orleans Pelicans (33-49) 6 percent
Dallas Mavericks (33-49) 6 percent
Memphis Grizzlies (33-49) 6 percent
Minnesota Timberwolves (36-46) 3 percent
Los Angeles Lakers (37-45) 2 percent
Charlotte Hornets (39-43) 1 percent
Miami Heat (39-43) 1 percent
Sacramento Kings (39-43) 1 percent
7:30 p.m./ET-NBA Draft Lottery order to be set tonight
Will the top college players go to a team that is just one athlete away from contending in their respective conference, or will a franchise that had major struggles during the 2018-2019 season be rewarded with new hope because of a difference-making star?
Those questions will get answered as the fate of the 14 teams who did not qualify for the 2019 NBA Playoffs will be determined as the NBA Draft Lottery will be drawn and the order of the top 14 picks in the 2019 NBA Draft will be set in Chicago, Illinois tonight.
