Phoenix Suns Win 2018 NBA Lottery
For the first time in franchise history, the Phoenix Suns have won the NBA Lottery in 2018. The Sacramento Kings get the second pick and the Atlanta Hawks round out the top-3 three with the third pick. The Suns came in with the highest odds to get the first pick at 25 percent. They ended 2017-18 with a league-worst 21-61 record. The Memphis Grizzlies had the second-best chances to get awarded the first pick at 19.9 percent.
This is a huge windfall for the rebuilding Suns. Newly hired head coach Igor Kokoskov, the first European-born head coach in the NBA’s history, will have a lot preparing to do for the June draft. They can either keep the pick and select whoever they want in what’s believed to be a talent-loaded draft class or trade the pick to any of the many teams who will come knocking at their door. Kokoskov will have the luxury of a lot of flexibility at his disposal in his coaching debut.
The full order is as follows:
- Phoenix
- Sacramento
- Atlanta
- Memphis
- Dallas
- Orlando
- Chicago
- Cleveland
- New York
- Philadelphia
- Charlotte
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Denver
The Suns could get an NBA-ready big man in Arizona’s Deandre Ayton. Even though many an NBA scout has been singing praises about Real Madrid’s Luka Doncic, the Suns have some young talent at his position. Ayton will address their void at the center position.
If the Suns do end up passing on Doncic, expect Luka to be snatched up instantly by the Kings. GM Vlade Divac has kept a keen eye on the talent coming in from Europe. The Kings selected Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic with the 27th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Expect a busy June 21st as teams will be wheeling and dealing with an active offseason.