May 18, 2009 (Part 3); NBA Draft Lottery Wednesday morning

On Wednesday, May 20, at 8:00 AM, the NBA will hold the annual Draft Lottery at the NBA TV Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.

It's time once again for the ping-pong balls to start rolling, as 14 teams will try to land the coveted 1st draft place for the NBA Draft on June 25 at The Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Fourteen ping-pong balls will numbered 1 to 14 will be placed in the drum. There are 1,001 different combinations when four balls are drawn out of 14, without regard to their order of selection. And prior to the Lottery, 1,o00 combinations will be assigned to the 14 participating Lottery teams by a computer.

The Sacramento Kings finished the season with the worst record in the league at 17-65, so they will be assigned to 250 combinations. The Phoenix Suns on the other hand, the best team on the lottery at 46-36, will have five combinations out of a possible 1,000.

Four balls will be drawn to the top to determine the four-digit combination. The team that has been assigned that combination will receive the number one pick. The four balls are placed back in the drum and the process is repeated to determine the number two and three picks. And take note, if the one unassigned combination is drawn, the balls are drawn to the top again.

The order of selection for the teams that do not win one of the top three picks will be determined in inverse order out of their regular season record. Thus, Sacramento can pick no lower than fourth, Washington (19-63) no lower than fifth and the L.A. Clippers no lower than sixth.

Now here's what's at stake for all 14 teams participating in the lottery, as well as their odds of coming away with the first, second, or third pick.

Data courtesy of NBA.com

Sacramento Kings
Record: 17-65
Chances: 250 out of 1,000
1st Pick 25%
2nd Pick: 21.46%
3rd Pick: 17.72%
On-Stage Representative: Chris Webber
Lottery Room Participant: John Kehriotis (minority owner)

Washington Wizards
Record: 19-63
Chances: 178
1st Pick: 17.80%
2nd Pick: 17.36%
3rd Pick: 16.45%
On-Stage Representative: Ernie Grunfeld (president)
Lottery Room Participant: Flip Saunders (head coach)

L.A. Clippers
Record: 19-63
Chances: 177
1st Pick: 17.70%
2nd Pick: 17.29%
3rd Pick: 16.41%
On-Stage Representative: Andy Roeser (president)

Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 23-59
Chances: 119
1st Pick: 11.90%
2nd Pick: 12.57%
3rd Pick: 13.24%
On-Stage Representative: Scott Brooks (head coach)
Lottery Room Participant: Sam Presti (general manager)

Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 24-58
Chances: 76
1st Pick: 7.60%
2nd Pick: 8.43%
3rd Pick: 9.46%
On-Stage Representative: Kevin Love

Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 24-58
Chances: 75
1st Pick: 7.50%
2nd Pick: 8.33%
3rd Pick: 9.36%
On-Stage Representative: Lionel Hollins (head coach)
Lottery Room Representative: Greg Campbell (president, basketball operations)

Golden State Warriors
Record: 29-53
Chances: 43
1st Pick: 4.30%
2nd Pick: 4.93%
3rd Pick: 5.76%
On-Stage Representative: Larry Riley (general manager)
Lottery Room Participant: Raymond Ridder (executive director, public relations)

New York Knicks
Record: 32-50
Chances: 28
1st Pick: 2.80%
2nd Pick: 3.26%
3rd Pick: 3.87%
On-Stage Representative: Allan Houston (assistant to president, basketball operations)
Lottery Room Participant: Donnie Walsh (president, basketball operations)

Toronto Raptors
Record: 33-49
Chances: 17
1st Pick: 1.70%
2nd Pick: 2.00%
3rd Pick: 2.40%
On-Stage Representative: Bryan Colangelo (president and general manager)
Lottery Room Participant: Jim Labumbard (director, media relations)

Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 34-48
Chances: 10
1st Pick: 1.00%
2nd Pick: 1.18%
3rd Pick: 1.43%
On-Stage Representative: John Hammond (general manager)
Lottery Room Participant: Jeff Weltman (assistant general manager)

New Jersey Nets
Record: 34-48
Chances: 9
1st Pick: 0.90
2nd Pick: 1.06%
3rd Pick: 1.29%
On-Stage Representative: Rod Thorn (president)

Charlotte Bobcats
Record: 35-47
Chances: 7
1st Pick: 0.70%
2nd Pick: 0.83%
3rd Pick: 1.01%
On-Stage Representative: D.J. Augustin
Lottery Room Participant: Josh Rosen (manager of basketball communications)

Indiana Pacers
Record: 36-46
Chances: 6
1st Pick: 0.60%
2nd Pick: 0.71%
3rd Pick: 0.87%
On-Stage Representative: Larry Bird (president)
Lottery Room Participant: David Benner (director of public information)

Phoenix Suns
Record: 46-36
Chances: 5
1st Pick: 0.50%
2nd Pick: 0.59%
3rd Pick: 0.72%
On-Stage Representative: Alvin Gentry (head coach)
Lottery Room Participant: Jeramie McPeek (vice-president)

So there you have it. You guys have just been fed!

God bless you guys! Stay safe! Peace out! The Wizard was here... :)

Comments, questions and suggestions are highly appreciated! :)