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The NBA Draft Lottery 2021 is scheduled for Tuesday at 8:30 PM ET. The league will announce the order of non-playoff franchises that will get the first 14 picks based on the record for the 2020-21 NBA season. However, the NBA Draft lottery 2021 only determines the order for the top four picks in the 2021 NBA Draft which will take place on July 29th. Hence, after the top four picks are revealed, the picks number five through number 14 will be set according to the inverse of the league standings.
NBA Draft Lottery 2021: Which franchise needs the coveted first overall pick?
The answer to that question is everyone. Every team desires to get the coveted first overall pick and draft the best college prospect from the pool. First overall picks almost always end up being All-Stars or the closest thing to it. However, not every team is fortunate enough to bag the best prospect.
The projected first overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft is expected to be Cade Cunningham. He played basketball for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and is considered the consensus first pick. A 6'8" point guard who is often compared to Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum.
On that note, let's take a look at the five teams that need the first overall pick the most as the NBA Draft Lottery 2021 is right around the corner.
#5 Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers ended the 2020-21 NBA regular season with the fifth-worst record in the NBA at 22-50 (.306). They currently have a 45.1% chance of landing a top four pick in the NBA Draft lottery 2021 and a 11.5% chance of getting the first overall pick.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have three young cornerstones in Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen. The league has high praise for the young trio of backcourt players and center. The franchise should enter the NBA Draft Lottery 2021 with the expectation of getting a pick that can improve the roster around those three.
#4 OKC Thunder
The OKC Thunder are knee-deep in a rebuild and have committed the franchise's resources to that mission. They potentially have five draft picks in the top 36 of the upcoming draft and if luck favors them in the NBA Draft Lottery 2021, two of those picks might be in the top six. They have 10% of all picks in the 2021 NBA draft and they will certainly love to get the coveted first overall pick.
The OKC Thunder have a franchise player in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander right now who is craving better teammates and recently acquired All-Star Kemba Walker. Although the team isn't expected to compete for championships in the near future, having a top five prospect on their roster cannot hurt. Top prospects like Cade Cunningham, Jalen Suggs and Jalen Green have been deemed 'NBA-ready' and they can develop right in time for a title-run in a few years.
Also Read: How many draft picks do the Oklahoma City Thunder have in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft?
#3 Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are in desperate need of a superstar. They have a young player with star potential and their recently drafted forward Saddiq Bey made the NBA All-Rookie First team this season. The Pistons have completely dedicated themselves to a rebuild. They traded away Derrick Rose and waived off Blake Griffin this season. The Detroit Pistons finished the 2020-21 NBA season with the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 20-52. They now have a 14% chance of getting the coveted first overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery 2021.
The Detroit Pistons now have one of the youngest rosters in the league. They have Bey, Isaiah Stewart, Killian Hayes, Josh Jackson, Hamidou Diallo and a 27-year-old Jerami Grant. Getting another young rookie with incredible talent would certainly go a long way for the team.
#2 Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic started a new chapter in their franchise history at the NBA trade deadline. After making the playoffs the year before, the team traded away their entire veteran roster and dedicated themselves to a rebuild. The Magic traded away Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon to new franchises and now focus on their young player development and the upcoming drafts. They ended the season with a 21-51 record and now have a 52.1% chance of landing a top four pick including a 14% shot at the first overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery 2021.
The Orlando Magic have Cole Anthony, who has immense star potential. He is the son of former Portland Trail Blazer Greg Anthony and already has two game-winning buzzer-beaters on his resume. They also have a host of talented pieces and role players like RJ Hampton, Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr. and more. The Magic is the ideal place for a top prospect to go because he won't be pressured to carry the team to the playoffs and can spend as much time as he wants in his own development.
#1 Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are arguably the team who is more desperate for a high draft pick. Ever since James Harden forced his way out, the team has gone from a title contender every season to the bottom of the league standings. The team also traded Russell Westbrook for John Wall and it hasn't shown dividends as the latter is always injured. Wall will mostly be traded along with Eric Gordon and a few other pieces.
They attempted another run in the playoffs even after Harden departed with their new group of Wall, Victor Oladipo, DeMarcus Cousins and Christian Wood. The Rockers soon realized that there was no hope of a playoff push. Shortly after, they traded Oladipo and waived Cousins. They have a young center in Christian Wood who has incredible potential and Kevin Porter Jr. who has immense upside. Wood was a candidate for the 'Most Improved Player' until his injury and Porter Jr. wowed the league with his 50-point performance.
The Houston Rockets will need all the help they can get to get their franchise back into the playoff scene and getting the top pick in the NBA Draft Lottery 2021 will be the first step.
Guess the Lakers players!
