The NBA Finals are now in the history books and the free agency does not begin for another two weeks, which means it's time to focus on the NBA Draft.
The draft takes place on 21 June in New York, where the Phoenix Suns have the number one pick, followed by the Sacramento Kings and by the Atlanta Hawks.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Draft night.
When is the 2018 NBA Draft?
The 2018 NBA Draft will begin at 7 p.m. EDT on Thursday, June 21. The event will be hosted by the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the home of the Brooklyn Nets, where each NBA Draft has been held since 2013.
Where can I watch the 2018 NBA Draft?
As usual, the NBA Draft will be covered by ESPN. The network will broadcast the draft on its TV channel, while live streaming will be available via WatchESPN.com and via the WatchESPN app.
Which team will pick first?
Phoenix holds the first overall pick for the first time in history, with the Kings and the Hawks completing the top three. Phoenix also holds pick number 16, which it received from Cleveland, while Atlanta also has picks number 19 and 30, which originally belonged to Minnesota and Houston respectively.
Memphis, Dallas and Orland are next in line, before the Cavs get to use the number eight pick they received in the Kyrie Irving trade from the Brooklyn Nets.
New York and the Sixers—who will use the pick they received from the Lakers—complete the top 10.
The order is set!
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 16, 2018
The @Suns win the 2018 NBA Draft Lottery! They hold the number 1 pick for the 1st time in franchise history! #NBADraftLottery pic.twitter.com/G3NIj3jDHb
Who were the winners and losers of the draft lottery?
The Suns went 21-61, recording the worst record in the league and had a 25 percent chance to land the first overall pick, which is exactly what happened. Sacramento also got lucky, landing the second pick, despite having the seventh-best lottery odds and just a 6 percent chance of doing so.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Mavericks recorded their worst record since the 1998-99 season and had the third best odds going into the lottery but landed the number five pick.
Who are the top prospects?
Arizona center Deandre Ayton and Real Madrid's point guard Luka Doncic are widely expected to be the first two players selected, followed by Duke power forward Marvin Bagley III and Michigan State big man Jaren Jackson Jr.
Missouri's forward Michael Porter Jr. has recovered well after having surgery to his back and is expected to be a top 10, although it remains unlikely he will land in any of the teams holding one of the first five picks.
What is the complete draft order?
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
- Atlanta Hawks
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Dallas Mavericks
- Orlando Magic
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers (from the Brooklyn Nets)
- New York Knicks
- Philadelphia 76ers (from the Los Angeles Lakers)
- Charlotte Hornets
- Los Angeles Clippers (from the Detroit Pistons)
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Denver Nuggets
- Washington Wizards
- Phoenix Suns (from the Miami Heat)
- Milwaukee Bucks
- San Antonio Spurs
- Atlanta Hawks (from the Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (from the Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Utah Jazz
- Chicago Bulls (from the New Orleans Pelicans)
- Indiana Pacers
- Portland Trailblazers
- Los Angeles Lakers (from the Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Boston Celtic
- Golden State Warriors
- Brooklyn Nets (from the Toronto Raptors)
- Atlanta Hawks (from the Houston Rockets)
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he ... Read more
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