Clippers Have the Fifth-Best Chance of Landing No. 1 Pick in NBA Lottery

The NBA holds its 12th annual lottery today in Secaucus, N.J., with the Clippers having the fifth-best chance to land the top pick for the June 26 draft.

Thirteen teams are participating in the complicated process--perhaps 14, since conditions from a trade will give Golden State’s pick to Orlando if the Warriors beat long odds and finish first, second or third in the lottery. The other exemption is that, per their expansion agreements, Toronto and Vancouver are not allowed to have the No. 1 choice this year and will go second if either wins today.

Philadelphia has the best chance (33.73%) to win. Milwaukee is second (20.24%), followed by Minnesota (12.98%), Dallas (12.82%) and the Clippers (7.42%).

Ping-Pong balls will be used to determine the top three picks, and the draft order from there is determined by inverse order of record. This guarantees that the Grizzlies will choose no worse than fourth, the 76ers fifth, and so on.