As is the case for any year of the NBA lottery, some teams get out of the night in a much better spot than others. Along with this, depending on how the lottery balls fall, some players also have their draft stock affected by the draft order. There are two teams and one prospect that is not feeling great about draft night following the lottery.
Visit Site Bet $1 and Get $365in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
1. Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are arguably the biggest loser of the 2023 NBA lottery. After an early injury that left rising star player Cade Cunningham sidelined for almost the entire season, the Pistons had the best odds to get the first overall pick. However, the lottery balls did not fall in their favor.
Once everything was said and done, the Pistons would end up having the fifth overall pick in the draft. While they still will likely be able to find a very talented player in this range, there is a strong chance that they will not end up having the franchise-altering talent of Victor Wembanyama.
2. Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets also shared the highest chance of obtaining the number one overall pick on lottery night. However, like the Pistons, they would also take a steep fall. Houston would make out with the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft.
If they would have been able to obtain the top pick and select Wembanyama, they could have gone as far as being title contenders depending on how the rest of the offseason played out. Many rumors have been swirling that James Harden is more than willing to rejoin the team. If they had been able to draft Wembanyama and sign Harden, the front office could have traded a handful of young players and picks to add another superstar to the team.
3. Scoot Henderson
The final biggest loser from the 2023 lottery is Scoot Henderson. Coming into the lottery, Henderson was believed to be the consensus second-overall pick. However, with the Charlotte Hornets getting the second pick, the tide has begun to shift.
Brandon Miller is not the favorite to be selected second overall as a result of being a better fit. The Hornets already have a franchise point guard in LaMelo Ball, and with Henderson being too undersized to play a wing position, it would make more sense for the Hornets to select a small forward like Miller to join the team.
If Henderson does slip to the third overall pick, it would cost him around $3 million. Along with this, if the Portland Trail Blazers do not end up trading Damien Lillard or their third overall pick, there is a chance that they pass on Henderson as well.
If you wanna bet on future NBA games we got several payment options for you:
