The 2022 NBA Playoffs have now reached the conference finals, and what better way to ring in this round than with the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery. After some tank jobs, teams around the league are having dreams of Holmgrens and Bancheros. For the teams in the lottery places, the fortunes of their franchise could change overnight. Unlike most other years, there is actually good news for teams who are a bit unlucky and fall further down the order. In recent years there has been a clear No. 1, or at least a clear top five or so, and then a clear gap in talent between them and the rest of the class. That isn't so for 2022, as there's talent scattered throughout the lottery places.

The formal lottery draw takes place on Tuesday in Chicago, and teams will be holding their breath until then. After the first four picks are decided by a drawing of ping pong balls, the rest of the lottery teams will fill out picks 5-14 in the order of their record at the end of the regular season. With all that out of the way, here's an updated list of odds to get the first pick, and the projected order for the draft later this summer.

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2022 NBA Draft Lottery odds

  1. Houston Rockets- 14.0% (20-62 record)
  2. Orlando Magic- 14.0% (22-60 record)
  3. Detroit Pistons- 14.0% (23-59 record)
  4. Oklahoma City Thunder- 12.5% (24-58 record)
  5. Indiana Pacers- 10.5% (25-57 record)
  6. Portland Trail Blazers- 9.0% (27-55 record)
  7. Sacramento Kings- 7.5% (30-52 record)
  8. New Orleans Pelicans (via LAL)- 6.0% (Lakers 33-49 record)
  9. San Antonio Spurs- 4.5% (34-48 record)
  10. Washington Wizards- 3.0% (35-47 record)
  11. New York Knicks- 2.0% (37-45 record)
  12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC)- 1.5% (Clippers 42-40 record)
  13. Charlotte Hornets- 1.0% (43-39 record)
  14. Cleveland Cavaliers- 0.5% (44-38 record)

The odds tell us that one of Houston, Orlando, or Detroit are likely to get the first pick. It's worth noting, however, that these odds also affect picks further down the line. For example, Houston has a 47.9% chance of landing the fifth overall pick instead. This would be quite the difference for the Rockets, who desperately need reinforcements. However, that is the latest the Rockets can possibly pick in this draft.

Detroit notably had the first pick last season and could become the fourth team in the lottery era to receive the first pick in back-to-back seasons. The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins back to back in 2013 and '14, while the Orlando Magic were much more successful in their picks in 1992 and 93, selecting Shaquille O'Neal and Chris Webber, who was immediately traded to the Warriors for Penny Hardaway and three future picks. The Houston Rockets also had back-to-back first overall picks a decade prior in 1983 and '84, selecting Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon.

It's fair to say picking first in back-to-back years often pays off for teams, with the Cavaliers being the only of the three not to make the NBA Finals in the season following their second first overall pick.

It will also be interesting to see how the Thunder use their two lottery picks, and how high they can get either one of them. There's an incredibly miniscule chance both picks could land in the top 10, with the pick they received from the Clippers in the Paul George trade being likeliest to land at No. 11. The other one, however, has a fairly good chance of landing in the top four, which would greatly help the Thunder's rebuilding efforts.

The Pelicans are also in a place to benefit greatly from the lottery despite being in the playoffs. Their trade of Anthony Davis last season landed them a lottery pick at the Lakers' misfortune, and that pick is likely to land in the top 10. The two teams that lost in the play-in games, Charlotte and Cleveland, will in all likelihood get picks 13 and 14 to round out the lottery spots.

Of course, we won't know until the lottery actually happens. It's reasonable to project, however, that the draft order won't be too different from the odds order, just going off probability. Still, all the teams involved will hope to get lucky, and the representatives often bring a good luck charm to the proceedings. Here are each of those team reps for the drawing room and on-stage:

Whoever it is that lands the first pick, they will surely have a wealth of incredible talent to choose from, not only including the aforementioned Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero, but also potentially the likes of Jabari Smith, Jaden Ivey and others.

The 2022 NBA Draft Lottery will be broadcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics.