76ers jumping up a spot bumps Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves have never been very lucky when it comes the NBA draft lottery. That did not change on Tuesday night.
The Timberwolves dropped back one spot in the order and have the seventh pick in the first round of the draft. The Wolves entered the night in the No. 6 spot. In their previous 18 trips to the lottery, the Wolves had never seen their position improve.
The Timberwolves were bumped down a spot when the Philadelphia 76ers jumped into No. 3 pick.
The Boston Celtics, about to take on the Cleveland Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals, won the lottery, while the L.A. Lakers will pick second. Had the Lakers dropped past the Top 3, they would have had to trade it to Philadelphia.
Tom Thibodeau will still have plenty of options in one of the deepest drafts in years. Arizona sharpshooter Lauri Markanen, Florida State forward Jonathan Isaac and North Carolina State point guard Dennis Smith all could be available.
NBA DRAFT
First round order
1. Boston
2. L.A. Lakers
3. Philadelphia
4. Phoenix
5. Sacramento
6. Orlando
7. Minnesota
8. New York
9. Dallas
10. Sacramento
11. Charlotte
12. Detroit
13. Denver
14. Miami
15. Portland
16. Chicago
17. Milwaukee
18. Indiana
19. Atlanta
20. Portland (via Memphis)
21. Oklahoma City
22. Brooklyn (via Washington)
23. Toronto
24. Utah
25. Orlando (via L.A. Clippers)
26. Portland (via Cleveland)
27. Brooklyn (via Boston)
28. L.A. Lakers (via Houston)
29. San Antonio
30. Utah (via Golden State)
The draft will be held on June 22.