Thunder Gain Second Lottery Pick, Capitalize off Play-In

The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder’s draft haul has gotten even richer.

Headed into Friday evening, one of many greatest video games of the Thunder’s season commenced – and so they weren’t even part of it. Following a Play-In loss Tuesday night, the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers had been pinned up in opposition to the ninth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans. As a part of Play-In implications, the winner was set to assert the eighth spot out West whereas the winner went residence.

That carried some critical weight in Oklahoma Metropolis’s camp.

Because of the Thunder shifting Paul George to Los Angeles in the summertime of 2019, Sam Presti fetched a package deal of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari alongside 5 first-round picks. The Clippers’ 2022 decide was concerned fully unprotected.

On account of regular-season seeding, the Thunder had been slated to take the Clippers’ decide at spot No. 15. Nonetheless, the Pelicans unfold their wings – and in doing so – the Thunder joined the flock.

In Friday’s match-up, which noticed the Pelicans edge the Clippers in thrilling style 105-101, New Orleans took benefit of the absence of Paul George (CO-VID 19) taking part in by Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum, who completed with 30 and 19 factors, respectively.

Because of the Los Angeles Clippers falling out of the playoffs, the Thunder’s acquired decide has elevated from the No. 15 Decide to the projected No. 12 Decide as with a 42-40 report, they rank behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Charlotte Hornets, who ended the yr with 44 and 43 regular-season wins.

Although unlikely, Los Angeles’ decide carries a 7.1% likelihood to leap into the High 4 with a 1.5% crack on the prime decide. The decide is anticipated to remain at No. 12; nevertheless, the soar in picks drastically improves each the draft board and trade-up choices.

Right here’s the total breakdown: 1.5% likelihood of Decide No. 1, 1.7% likelihood of Decide No. 2, 1.9% likelihood of Decide No. 3, and a pair of.1% likelihood of Decide No. 4.

With the improved draft inventory, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder’s first-round haul consists of their very own decide, projected No. 4, the projected No. 12 decide by way of the Los Angeles Clippers, and the No. 30 decide by way of the Phoenix Suns.

The NBA Draft Lottery might be supplied by ESPN on June 22 at 7:30 pm CST.

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