The NBA Draft Lottery determined that Zion Williamson will likely begin his career in New Orleans. The Pelicans jumped to No. 1 even though they only had a 6% chance to do so.
Congrats to them. And I mean that sincerely. Yes, it would’ve been better for the NBA to have Williamson in Los Angeles (with LeBron James) or New York (with, perhaps, Kevin Durant). But watching a small market whose superstar (Anthony Davis) screwed them midseason with a trade demand get lucky and gifted with another superstar was pretty cool.
Again, good for them.
At this point, I’d guess, the draft will start with the fourth pick because, barring a surprise, Williamson, Ja Morant and RJ Barrett, in that order, will be the first three players off the board. It just makes sense from a best-player-available perspective and from a team-need perspective. So the real question is what will the Lakers do at No. 4. Select a player? Or package the pick for a veteran to help LeBron now? That’s what Rob Pelinka has to figure out. I wish him luck.