What: The Draft Lottery determines the top three picks in the 2004 NBA Draft, which will be held on June 26. The 13 non-playoff teams are eligible, with the likelihood of getting each pick determined by the team’s 2003-04 record. The Orlando Magic, who finished with a 21-61 record, has the best shot at getting one of the top three picks. The expansion Charlotte Bobcats are locked into the fourth pick and are not eligible for the Lottery.
When: The Lottery will be held on Wednesday, May 26, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific on ESPN. In years past, it has been held during halftime of playoff games, but starting last year it has become a 30-minute prime-time special leading into the NBA Playoffs.
In the 2002 Lottery, the Sonics got the 12th pick and drafted forward Vladimir Radmanovic.
Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty
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How: The Lottery’s mechanism is similar to that of an actual Lottery. Four balls numbered 1-14 are drawn to produce one of 1001 possible combinations (without regard to order). 1000 of those combinations of numbers are assigned to a specific team. After the order is determined backstage, it is revealed when Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik opens envelopes with each team’s logo underneath their pick.
Where: The Lottery is held at the NBA Entertainment Studios in Secaucus, N.J.
Who: Each team sends one representative. The Sonics will be represented by General Manager Rick Sund.
Breaking Down the Lottery for the Sonics:
The Sonics will be paying attention to the performance of three teams during the lottery. Naturally, their own finish is important. The Sonics have a 0.9% chance of getting the first pick in the Draft, and just over a 3% chance of finishing in the top three. There is also a slim chance of the Sonics dropping back to the 13th or 14th picks if Portland or Utah, who are currently seeded behind them, breaks into the top three. This happened to the Sonics in 1999, when the Charlotte Hornets moved up to number three and the Sonics were forced back to 13. Most likely, the Sonics will stay in their current position, number 12.
Here are each team’s odds of winning each pick in the lottery:
| LOTTERY ODDS |
| Team |
2003-04 Record |
Chances of 1000 |
1st Pick |
2nd Pick |
3rd Pick |
Total |
| Orlando |
21-61 |
250 |
25.00% |
21.53% |
17.81% |
64.34% |
| Chicago |
23-59 |
200 |
20.00% |
18.89% |
17.19% |
56.08% |
| Washington |
25-57 |
157 |
15.70% |
15.83% |
15.67% |
47.20% |
| L.A. Clippers |
28-54 |
105 |
10.50% |
11.31% |
12.22% |
34.03% |
| Atlanta |
28-54 |
104 |
10.40% |
11.22% |
12.14% |
33.76% |
Phoenix |
29-53 |
64 |
6.40% |
7.21% |
8.24% |
21.85% |
| Toronto |
33-49 |
37 |
3.70% |
4.28% |
5.05% |
13.03% |
| Philadelphia |
33-49 |
36 |
3.60% |
4.17% |
4.93% |
12.70% |
| Cleveland |
35-47 |
18 |
1.80% |
2.12% |
2.55% |
6.47% |
| Golden State |
37-45 |
9 |
0.90% |
1.07% |
1.30% |
3.27% |
| Sonics |
37-45 |
9 |
0.90% |
1.07% |
1.30% |
3.27% |
| Portland |
41-41 |
6 |
0.60% |
0.71% |
0.87% |
2.18% |
| Utah |
42-40 |
5 |
0.50% |
0.59% |
0.73% |
1.82% |
