Without lottery luck, Warriors lose first-round pick
As their odds foreshadowed, the Warriors are giving up their first-round pick to the Portland Trail Blazers. The ping pong balls didn’t bounce the Warriors’ way on Sunday during the NBA draft lottery, as their selection landed at No. 14 — where Portland will pick. The only way the Warriors could have used the pick this year is if they had jumped from 14th into the top four of the lottery, an outcome with just a 3.37% chance based on the lottery’s odds. The Warriors traded their 2024 first-round pick in 2019 to Memphis in a package that included Andre Iguodala. The pick has changed multiple hands since, from Memphis to Boston to Portland, and will now end up with the Blazers. Because of its 46-36 record, Golden State was the lottery team with the lowest odds — less than 1% — of winning the top pick. While the Warriors didn’t beat the odds, Atlanta did. The Hawks, who finished 36-46 and had a 3% chance at landing the top pick, won the lottery and will have the opportunity to select French center Alex Sarr