The Knicks lost Game 1 to the Hawks in their first-round series.
But New York bested Atlanta – and the Lakers and Trail Blazers – in tiebreakers for the 2021 NBA Draft.
The NBA held random drawings today to determine the order of three sets of first-round picks:
- 19/20: Knicks, Hawks
- 21/22/23: Knicks (via Mavericks), Lakers, Rockets (via Trail Blazers)
- 25/26: Clippers, Nuggets
The league also held drawings to determine lottery seeds among three sets of tied teams:
- 4/5: Thunder, Cavaliers
- 8/9/10: Bulls (Magic), Kings, Pelicans
- 11/12: Hornets, Spurs
Oklahoma City and Cleveland will each have equal odds of getting each of the top four picks. The Thunder will just pick ahead of the Cavs if neither team gets drawn in the lottery. Both teams have a 45% chance of picking top four.
Likewise, Chicago, Sacramento and New Orleans will each have equal odds of moving into each of the to four picks. All three teams have a 20% chance of landing top four. But the Bulls owe the Magic a top-four-protected pick. So, this tiebreaker really benefits Orlando.
Because there are an odd number of lottery combinations for the No. 11 and No. 12 lottery seeds to split, Charlotte gains a slight edge over San Antonio for moving into the top four. Far more likely, Charlotte will now draft No. 11 and San Antonio No. 12.
The lottery is scheduled for June 22 to completely resolve the draft order.
For now, here are the mostly set picks 15-60:
First round
15. Wizards
16. Celtics
17. Grizzlies
18. Rockets or Thunder (via Heat)*
*Houston will receive this pick if its own first-rounder lands top four (and therefore isn’t conveyed to Oklahoma City). Otherwise, the Thunder will get this pick.
19. Knicks
20. Hawks
21. Knicks (via Mavericks)
22. Lakers
23. Rockets (via Trail Blazers)
24. Rockets (via Bucks)
25. Clippers
26. Nuggets
27. Nets
28. 76ers
29. Suns
30. Jazz
Second round
31. Bucks (via Rockets)
32. Knicks (via Pistons via Clippers via 76ers)
33. Magic
34/35. Pelicans (via Cavaliers via Hawks) or Thunder
34/35. Pelicans (via Cavaliers via Hawks) or Thunder
36. Thunder (via Timberwolves via Warriors)
37. Pistons (via Raptors via Nets)
38/39/40. Pelicans, Kings or Bulls
38/39/40. Pelicans, Kings or Bulls
38/39/40. Pelicans, Kings or Bulls
41/42. Spurs or Pistons (via Hornets via Knicks)
41/42. Spurs or Pistons (via Hornets via Knicks)
43. Pelicans (via Wizards via Bucks via Cavaliers via Jazz)
44. Nets (via Pacers)
45. Celtics
46. Raptors (via Grizzlies via Kings)
47 Raptors (via Warriors via Jazz via Pelicans)
48. Hawks (via Heat via Kings via Trail Blazers)
49. Nets (via Hawks)
50. 76ers (via Knicks)
51. Grizzlies (via Trail Blazers via Mavericks via Pistons via Cavaliers)
52. Pistons (via Lakers via Kings via Rockets via Pistons)
53. Pelicans (via Mavericks)
54. Pacers (via Bucks via Rockets via Cavaliers)
55. Thunder (Nuggets via Warriors via 76ers)
56. Hornets (via Clippers)
57. Hornets (via Nets)
58. Knicks (via 76ers)
59. Nets (via Suns)
60. Pacers (via Jazz)
Tied teams will pick in inverse order in the second round from the first round. So, the lottery will effectively determine the 34/45 and 38/39/40 picks.