December 25, 2024

2020 NBA Draft Lottery results, takeaways: Timberwolves win No. 1 pick, Warriors to select No. 2

Timberwolves #Timberwolves

Minnesota finished with the third-worst record in the NBA this season, but will pick first in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Timberwolves won the NBA Draft Lottery on Thursday and will have the No. 1 pick in the draft. 

As the teams with the worst three records in the 2019-20 season, Minnesota, Golden State and Cleveland each had a 14% chance of winning the first overall pick. Cleveland fell to fifth. Charlotte made the biggest jump by rising from No. 8 in the pre-lottery odds to earn the No. 3 overall selection. New York had the sixth best odds, but will pick at No. 8.

Ironically, it was D’Angelo Russell representing Minnesota. The Warriors traded Russell to Minnesota earlier this season. Now, he is positioned to team up with the No. 1 pick in the draft — as well as All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns — to help the Timberwolves become a contender in the crowded Western Conference. Towns was the No. 1 pick by Minnesota in 2015 —  the only other time the franchise won the NBA Draft Lottery 

1. Minnesota2. Golden State3. Charlotte4. Chicago5. Cleveland6. Atlanta7. Detroit8. New York9. Washington10. Phoenix11. San Antonio12. Sacramento13. New Orleans14. Boston from Memphis