Is it ever too early to discuss NBA draft lottery? I think not. Who will Stern anoint with the first pick of the draft you ask? Let's check percentages on who should win it first.
First Round Draft Choice OrderThe teams entered in the lottery, to be held on May 21, 2013, are as follows (note: the first three picks in the Draft will be determined by the lottery and the remainder of the "lottery teams" will select in positions 4-14 in inverse order of their consolidated standings at the end of the regular season):
First Round OrderBucks through Heat (15-30) already locked into selection positions
Code:
TEAM RECORD %CHANCE (of 1,000)
Magic 20-62 0.244 250
Bobcats 21-61 0.256 199
Cavaliers 24-58 0.293 156
Suns 25-57 0.305 119
Hornets 27-55 0.329 88
Kings 28-54 0.341 63
Pistons 29-53 0.354 36
Wizards 29-53 0.354 35
Timberwolves 31-51 0.378 17
Trail Blazers* 33-49 0.402 11
76ers 34-48 0.415 8
Raptors^ 34-48 0.415 7
Mavericks 41-41 0.500 6
Jazz 43-39 0.524 5
Bucks 38-44 0.463 N/A
Celtics 41-40 0.506 N/A
Hawks 44-38 0.537 N/A
Rockets (to ATL via BKN) 45-37 0.549 N/A
Lakers (to CLE) 45-37 0.549 N/A
Bulls 45-37 0.549 N/A
Warriors (to UTA via BKN) 47-35 0.573 N/A
Nets 49-33 0.598 N/A
Pacers 49-32 0.605 N/A
Knicks 54-28 0.659 N/A
Clippers 56-26 0.683 N/A
Grizzlies (to MIN via HOU) 56-26 0.683 N/A
Nuggets 57-25 0.695 N/A
Spurs 58-24 0.707 N/A
Thunder 60-22 0.732 N/A
Heat (to PHX via LAL/CLE) 66-16 0.805 N/A
*This pick may be conveyed to Charlotte | ^This pick may be conveyed to Oklahoma City via Houston.
My top three guesses to get the first pick are Hornets, Kings and Mavericks in that order.