Number one draft pick should be a Big Easy choice for NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, Ill. – It’ll be a new era in New Orleans.

Tuesday, despite having just a six-percent chance of doing so, the New Orleans Pelicans win the NBA Draft lottery – earning the No. 1 pick in next month’s NBA Draft. This year’s lottery, held in Chicago, was one of the most anticipated in years – due to the fact that Zion Williamson, the most-hyped hoopster since LeBron James, is expected to be drafted number one overall.

Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

In his lone season at Duke, Williamson was the biggest draw men’s college basketball saw in years. At 18 years old and listed at 6 feet, 7 inches tall and 285 pounds, Williamson was a human highlight reel — not just with his explosive dunks but with his all-around game.

The 14 teams that missed the playoffs all had a chance at the coveted No. 1 spot.

Here’s the 2019 NBA Draft order with the odds of landing the number one pick in parenthesis:

1. New Orleans Pelicans (6%)
2. Memphis Grizzlies (6%)
3. New York Knicks (14%)
4. Los Angeles Lakers (2%)
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (14%)
6. Phoenix Suns (14%)
7. Chicago Bulls (12.5%)
8. Atlanta Hawks (10.5%)
9. Washington Wizards (9%)
10. Atlanta Hawks via Dallas Mavericks (6%)
11. Minnesota Timberwolves (3%)
12. Charlotte Hornets (1%)
13. Miami Heat (1%)
14. Boston Celtics via Sacramento Kings (1%)

The rest of the first round (15-30) and the entire second round of the draft are determined in reverse order of regular season record. In 2018, Phoenix won the lottery and took DeAndre Ayton with the No. 1 pick.

This year’s NBA draft is June 20th.