Reverse standings: Lottery field set, Bucks lock up best odds
The playoff field is set, which also means the lottery field is set. All 14 non-playoff teams will have at least a slim chance at winning the No. 1 pick in the loaded 2014 NBA Draft, and it's the Milwaukee Bucks who have locked up the best odds.
The Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers are both now assured of a top-five selection, but beyond those two a whole lot can still happen. The reverse standings below show multiple spots that are separated by just a game, meaning several teams could be putting their worst foot forward for the season's final games.
Sacramento, Detroit and New Orleans, in particular, have incentive to lose, as their picks could be owed to other teams depending on where they land in the lottery and they're within a game of moving a spot in the standings.
The draft lottery will be held on Tuesday, May 20, after which teams will know where they're picking for the June 26 draft.
| Team | Record | #1 Odds | Top-5 Odds | Pick Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIL | 15-66 | 25% | 100% | Yes |
| PHI | 18-63 | 19.9% | 100% | Yes |
| ORL | 23-58 | 15.6% | 96% | Yes |
| UTA | 24-57 | 11.9% | 82.8% | Yes |
| BOS | 25-56 | 8.8% | 55.3% | Yes |
| LAL | 26-55 | 6.3% | 21.5% | Yes |
| SAC | 28-53 | 4.3% | 15% | Top-12 (Chicago) |
| DET | 29-52 | 2.8% | 10% | Top-8 (Charlotte) |
| CLE | 32-49 | 1.7% | 6.1% | Yes |
| NOP | 33-48 | 1.1% | 4% | Top-5 (Philadelphia) |
| NYK | 35-45 | 0.8% | 2.9% | No - Denver/Orlando |
| DEN | 36-44 | 0.7% | 2.5% | Yes - Denver/New York |
| MIN | 40-41 | 0.6% | 2.2% | Top-13 (Phoenix) |
| PHX | 47-34 | 0.5% | 1.8% | Yes |
As an aside, here are the picks that are owed from teams who will select outside of the lottery:
Brooklyn - Brooklyn's pick is owed to Boston, via Atlanta (Atlanta had the option to keep the better pick, which will be their own).
Charlotte - Charlotte owes their pick to Chicago (it was top-10 protected).
Dallas - Dallas owed their pick to Oklahoma City if it is outside of the top-20, which is now a certainty.
Indiana - Indiana owes their pick to Phoenix (it was lottery-protected).
Golden State - Golden State owes their pick to Utah.
Portland - Portland owes their pick to Charlotte (it was top-12 protected).
Washington - Washington owes their pick to Phoenix (it was top-12 protected).