In a surprising turn of events, the Atlanta Hawks clinched the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft, marking the first time in franchise history they’ve secured this coveted position.
Despite finishing with a 36-46 record and landing in the 10th place in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks defied the odds with just a 3% chance to win the lottery, ranking fifth lowest among the participating teams since the lottery’s inception in 1985.
The top four positions were rounded out by the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs, with the Detroit Pistons, holding the league’s worst record, dropping to the fifth pick for the second consecutive season.
Having moved up six spots, the Rockets, with a 41-41 record this season, secured a spot in the top three. Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons had the highest chances of landing the top pick at 14%.
Scheduled for June 26-27 in Brooklyn, the upcoming draft holds significant weight for the Atlanta Hawks, who last selected first overall in 1975.
Hawks General Manager, Landry Fields, expressed his surprise and excitement following the lottery results, highlighting the team’s unexpected leap from the 10th position to the top overall selection.
Despite the lack of postseason success in recent years, including early exits in 2022 and 2023, and failure to advance past the play-in tournament this season, the Hawks face critical decisions in the offseason, including potential roster changes.
Regarding the No. 1 pick, Fields emphasized its significance as a valuable asset in furthering the team’s objectives, without divulging specific player considerations.
While ESPN’s latest mock draft projects French big man Alex Sarr as the potential top pick for the Hawks, the draft remains open to uncertainties given the absence of a clear consensus on the standout talent.
Other notable prospects expected to be off the board within the early selections include French prospect Zaccharie Risacher, as well as Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham.
Despite the unpredictability surrounding this year’s draft class, Fields dismissed notions of weakness, emphasizing the talent and dedication of the players in the pool.
With the lottery results finalized, the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers, originally favored for the top pick, secured the sixth and seventh positions, respectively. The San Antonio Spurs hold an additional pick at No. 8, acquired from the Toronto Raptors, while the Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Sacramento Kings follow suit in the lottery order.
This year’s draft marks the sixth consecutive season where the team with the worst record failed to secure the first overall pick, coinciding with the lottery’s revised format implemented in 2019.
