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A few NBA teams are hoping to lose in order to win, and for these “chosen” few, the prize at the end of the rainbow could net them college basketball’s most captivating player, Zion Williamson.
Regardless of Williamson’s recent injury, which has been reported as a right knee sprain, teams are praying to get a shot at the number one pick in the 2019 NBA Draft in order to gain the young stud’s services.
He is averaging 21.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 2.2 steals for a Duke University team that’s 23-3 this season. Some have compared Williamson to a young Charles Barkley but two to three inches taller and about 20 to 30 pounds heavier. Both of them have unbelievable explosiveness and strength as well as tremendous leaping ability. They can also take the ball coast-to-coast on a fastbreak with ease.
Williamson is expected to be the NBA’s next great player and even if he reaches just 80 percent of his projected potential, he’d still be an All-Star who can put fans on their seats with his exciting style of play. He’s a marketer’s dream and whoever drafts him will have plenty of reasons to smile about as he takes over their franchise for the next four seasons, at least.
There are six or seven teams that are currently “battling it out” for the three worst records in basketball so that they can have the best chances at landing the Duke star.
This May, the draft lottery will once again determine which teams get the first pick but the rules changes will make it more difficult for the team with the worst record to earn the distinction. The odds for landing the top pick are now equal for the three worst teams.
Here’s a summary of the odds courtesy of Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News:
- Team 1-3: 14% chance to get the first overall pick
- Team 4: 12.5%
- Team 5: 10.5%
- Team 6: 9%
- Team 7: 7.5%
- Team 8: 6%
- Team 9: 4.5%
- Team 10: 3%
- Team 11: 2%
- Team 12: 1.5%
- Team 13: 1%
- Team 14: 0.5%
There’s still a greater chance of winning the draft lottery if you have one of the three worst records but at least teams don’t have to lose face in the process.
But just because they have some of the worst records in the NBA right now, not all of them truly deserve to get Williamson in the draft nor should they be as desperate.
For example, the Phoenix Suns (owners of the league’s worst record) already had the number one pick last season and they chose Deandre Ayton who is one of the NBA’s up-and-comers at the center position. They also have the young and talented Devin Booker who is close to becoming an All-Star plus the trio of Josh Jackson, Mikal Bridges and T.J. Warren plus a number of young players on their roster. They don’t need another one. Just develop who they have with a few veterans thrown in.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had two number one picks this decade so they aren’t as deserving as the others on this list even if fans are hoping that fate smiles kindly on them after losing LeBron James to free agency last summer. Besides, their fall from grace just started, making other teams more frantic than they are.
So which teams desperately need to get Williamson in the draft?
5. L.A. Clippers
Hollywood is still the Lakers to lose. They usually get the best players until recent years when Chris Paul and Blake Griffin were consistently leading the Los Angeles Clippers to the playoffs. Now that those two are gone, the Clippers are regrouping once again.
Jerry West, the Hall of Famer and now a member of Clippers management knows what it takes to build championship teams. If L.A. gets Williamson, West can surround the young man with the players he needs to grow and become the best player he can be. Very few executives can do this for Williamson and West is just such a person.
The Clippers have long suffered through being L.A.’s “other team” and without a championship to show for it, no regular season success can change that perception. But with Williamson on board, the team should at least generate equal excitement to the Lakers and add to their fanbase across the nation and abroad.
L.A. is anxious to win a championship and that can happen if they can put together a team that features Williamson heavily while surrounding him with key veteran All-Stars.
While it’s unlikely that they can beat out other teams for the number one pick, the Clippers are definitely in desperate need to get the future Duke alum on their roster.
4. Washington Wizards
This season hasn’t been kind to the Washington Wizards.
After believing that they took the next step to becoming a championship contender with the addition of Dwight Howard and Austin Rivers, they lost John Wall to a season-ending injury. They also haven’t been able to benefit from Howard’s contract with the big man unable to play more than nine games this season.
Washington had three losing seasons this decade and, unless something miraculous happens, they’re heading for a fourth.
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The nation’s capital is desperate for this nightmare season to end and that can happen with Williamson on board next year. A triumvirate of John Wall, Bradley Beal and Williamson should propel the Wizards to the playoffs again next year. As good as Wall and Beal were projected to be, their ceiling was nowhere nearly as high as this kid’s.
The franchise hasn’t had a Hall of Fame player leading the team since Moses Malone (that could change if Chris Webber gets in the Hall this year) patrolled the paint in the 80s.
If Williamson becomes that kind of player, Washington will finally be a perennial title contender someday soon.
3. Chicago Bulls
Since they broke up the Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Phil Jackson trio in 1999, the Chicago Bulls have only tasted the Eastern Conference Finals once, making this a 20-year period that feels like an eternity for the faithful.
Has management learned its lesson? We hope so.
The Bulls are still paying for its sins two decades ago. They thought Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah were the answer to their prayers but it wasn’t meant to be.
Their suffering could end if they win the Zion Williamson lottery.
As much of a legend Derrick Rose is to Bulls fans, he is not as talented as Williamson who will quickly become a household name if he plays for Chicago.
After tasting six championships during the Jordan era, the fans are thirsty for more and the 6-foot-7 wunderkind could be the key to that end.
2. Orlando Magic
Eight straight losing seasons (including this year) is all that you need to know for the Orlando Magic to qualify as a desperate ballclub.
Dwight Howard was their last superstar and even on his best years, he couldn’t bring a championship to the city. But losing him to the Lakers in 2011 was a huge blow to this franchise.
Williamson can bring the “magic” back to Orlando with his presence. The combination of Williamson and Aaron Gordon should be a lethal combination and these two would be on nightly SportsCenter highlights. Teams should always inspect their rims properly before a game against the Magic if these two ever play together in a blue and white uniform.
Remember when Shaquille O’Neal used to bring so much excitement to Orlando fans?
Williamson can bring that back to Disneyworld if they get the chance to select number one overall this summer.
1. New York Knicks
Being a big market team in the NBA puts so much pressure on a franchise that it’s not funny at all. Just ask New York Knicks management.
With this year projected to be their worst season in decades, the Knicks are hoping it isn’t for naught and that they are rewarded for their patience.
If they can put together a team next season highlighted by a tandem of Williamson and Dennis Smith Jr., they’d have a lot of eyes watching them on a nightly basis.
But if they add free agent All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant to the mix, the excitement for next season will be through the roof! This is what the Knicks are hoping for and it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
A lot will hinge on how their fortunes play out during the lottery. But that’s why they traded their assets (Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr.) in order to tank this season away for the opportunity to draft a player with once-in-a-lifetime prospective. No team is as in need of Williamson to wear their colors as the Knicks are.
It could happen and I’m not just trying to excite Knicks fans.
It really does feel like New York will be the talk of the league once again.
