Your guide to the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery

2020 NBA Draft Lottery
When: Thursday, Aug. 20, 8:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: ESPN (U.S.), TSN 1, 3, or 4 (Canada)

The 2020 NBA Draft Lottery is finally upon us, more than three months after its originally scheduled date. The annual event will follow the same format that was implemented last year when the league's bottom three teams received equal 14% odds for the No. 1 overall pick.

The new system was a success, as the New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, and Los Angeles Lakers each moved within the top four draft slots despite having lower odds than the NBA's bottom-feeders.

There might not be a clear-cut No. 1 prospect in this year's draft class, but a few have separated themselves from the rest of the pack.

Here's everything you need to know before the pingpong balls are drawn.

The odds

*The Boston Celtics will receive the Grizzlies' first-round pick if the latter is unable to move into the top four. If Memphis defies the odds, the team will send an unprotected 2021 first-round pick to Boston.

Top prospects

LaMelo Ball - Illawarra Hawks (Australia), PG

Ball has come a long way from calling and draining half-court shots during his sophomore year at Chino Hills. The 6-foot-7 guard has been touted as the best of the Ball brothers, and it's easy to see why.

He averaged 17 points, 7.5 rebounds, seven assists, and 1.6 steals during his brief 12-game stint Down Under. He can see over the top of most opposing point guards, which allows him to expose openings in the defense through his scoring or playmaking.

James Wiseman - Memphis, Freshman, C

The fact that Wiseman is earning serious consideration for the No. 1 overall pick - despite playing just three games for Memphis - speaks volumes to his potential. The 7-foot-1 center has the makings of an elite rim-protector and can already contribute offensively in a variety of ways.

Wiseman can beat defenders off the bounce and also possesses a solid face-up game. His soft touch and shooting mechanics bode well for his long-term development as a perimeter threat. Wiseman's guard-like athleticism and 9-foot-3 standing reach allow him to excel as a lob target in transition and pick-and-roll scenarios.

Anthony Edwards - Georgia, Freshman, G/F

Unlike Ball and Wiseman, scouts have a lot of footage of Edwards after he played a full 32-game regular season with Georgia. "Ant-Man" was an electrifying presence during his lone year in Athens, showcasing his athleticism on both ends of the floor.

Though Edwards shot just 40% from the floor last season, he can single-handedly take over a game once he finds his rhythm. The 6-foot-5 guard poured in 33 second-half points as he nearly rallied the Bulldogs past third-ranked Michigan State at the Maui Invitational.

Draft representatives