When is the 2022 NBA draft lottery?
The 2022 NBA draft lottery is scheduled for May 17 at 8 pm ET (ESPN) in Chicago.
The city will subsequently host 76 prospects at the league’s annual draft combine from May 18-20.
What is the draft lottery?
The lottery determines the order of the first four selections for the June 23 draft. Eligible teams either did not make the playoffs this year or own the draft rights to one of 14 teams that failed to make the playoffs.
Fourteen ping-pong balls are placed into a lottery machine. The balls are spun at timed intervals before four are drawn. Teams are assigned a percentage of 1,000 possible four-digit combinations based on records.
(A 1,001st combination goes unassigned and is skipped if drawn).
The first drawing determines the No. 1 overall pick, and the process is repeated for picks 2-4.
The 10 teams that failed to win a top-four pick are slotted 5-14 based on records, starting with the worst.
NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum will unveil the 14 lottery slots in reverse order.
What are the draft lottery odds?
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Houston Rockets (20-62): 14% chance at the No. 1 overall pick (52.1% at a top-four selection)
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Orlando Magic (22-60): 14% chance at the No. 1 overall pick (52.1% at a top-four selection)
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Detroit Pistons (23-59): 14% chance at the No. 1 overall pick (52.1% at a top-four selection)
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Oklahoma City Thunder (24-58): 12.5% chance at the No. 1 overall pick (48.1% at a top-four selection)
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Indiana Pacers (25-57): 10.5% chance at the No. 1 overall pick (42.1% at a top-four selection)
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Portland Trail Blazers (27-55): 9% chance at the No. 1 overall pick (37.2% at a top-four selection)
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Sacramento Kings (30-52): 7.5% chance at the No. 1 overall pick (32% at a top-four selection)
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*Los Angeles Lakers (33-49): 6% chance at the No. 1 overall pick (26.3% at a top-four selection)
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San Antonio Spurs (34-48): 4.5% chance at the No. 1 overall pick (20.3% at a top-four selection)
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Washington Wizards (35-47): 3% chance at the No. 1 overall pick (13.9% at a top-four selection)
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New York Knicks (37-45): 2% chance at the No. 1 overall pick (9.4% at a top-four selection)
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**Los Angeles Clippers (42-40): 1.5% chance at the No. 1 overall pick (7.1% at a top-four selection)
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Charlotte Hornets (43-39): 1% chance at the No. 1 overall pick (4.8% at a top-four selection)
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Cleveland Cavaliers (44-38): 0.5% chance at the No. 1 overall pick (2.4% at a top-four selection)
Which teams do not own their lottery pick?
*The New Orleans Pelicans own the Lakers’ first-round draft pick (via the 2019 Anthony Davis trade) if three teams behind them in the lottery order do not jump into the top four and the selection remains in the top 10.
*The Memphis Grizzlies own that Lakers’ pick if it falls between 11-14 (via the 2021 Steven Adams trade).
**The Thunder own the Clippers’ first-round pick (via the 2019 Paul George trade).
Who are this year’s top-four draft prospects?
The 2022 draft class features as close to a consensus on the top-four prospects as you will find, and any one of them could be selected No. 1 overall. The most probably lottery prizes are (in alphabetical order):
paolo banchero
Ht./Wt.: 6-10, 250 pounds | Class: Freshmen | Duke: 17.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.2 apg
Banchero, 19, is a potential apex predator wing who blends length, versatility and skill as a creator and facilitator. He has room for improvement defending both bigs in the post and guards on the perimeter.
Chet Holmgren
Ht./Wt.: 7-0, 196 pounds | Class: Freshmen | Gonzaga: 14.1 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 3.7 BPG
The long and lanky 20-year-old has every tool in his box. He can score at all three levels, facilitate as a primary or second playmaker and protect the rim on defense. Strength is his biggest question mark on him.
Jaden Ivey
Ht./Wt.: 6-4, 195 pounds | Class: Sophomore | Purdue: 17.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.1 APG
Ivey, 20, is an electrifying athlete who brings both power and skill to the combo guard position. He has shades of Ja Morant’s finish ability, Donovan Mitchell’s strength and both of their defensive weaknesses from him.
Jabari Smith
Ht./Wt.: 6-10, 220 pounds | Class: Freshmen | Auburn: 16.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG
Smith turns 19 years old Friday and is the highest upside pick. He should score at an elite level from the outset of his NBA career, including from 3-point range, where he shot 42% on 5.5 attempts per game.
Follow Yahoo Sports NBA’s Krysten Peek for her latest mock draft and more insight on this year’s class.
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Ben Rohrbach is a staff writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach