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What if the Charlotte Hornets win the NBA draft lottery?

By Jerry Stephens

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number nine overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number nine overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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The odds are against them but what if the improbable happens and the Charlotte Hornets end up winning the 2017 NBA Draft lottery?

After finishing 36-46 this past season, the Charlotte Hornets are back in the lottery for the first time since 2015.  With the 11th worst record in the league, they will have a 0.8% chance of getting the first overall pick and a 2.9% chance of getting a top three pick this summer. (BleacherReport.com) The team selected 22nd overall last year but this time around, they will have a chance to get a star player if everything falls their way.

While it is super unlikely that they win the lottery, it is not impossible. Since the lottery system was implemented in 1985, only once in NBA history has a team with the 11th worst record won and the was the Orlando Magic back in 1993. It’s safe to say that the 11th worst team is well overdue to win the lottery.

The Charlotte Hornets’ franchise has only lottery win was in 1991 when they had the fifth worst record and 10.61% chance of getting the top pick. They selected team legend, Larry Johnson, that year. Since then, the team has not won since despite being in the lottery a whopping 14 times. (RealGM.com)

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During those 14 instances, Charlotte’s been one of the five worst teams in the league five times but have never gotten the first overall draft pick. Even when they had one of the worst seasons in NBA history going 7-59 in the 2011-12 season, they still didn’t get the first overall pick and instead, they were forced to settle for second overall. In controversial fashion, New Orleans (who was controlled by the league at the time) won the lottery and got Anthony Davis.

The Hornets have not had the best luck with the lottery but with one of the most loaded draft classes in recent history, this would be the perfect year to win. Even getting a top-three pick would be an amazing victory for the organization. Even when they’ve gotten good picks, they have selected poorly for about the past decade or so. Aside from Kemba Walker and Cody Zeller, every player picked hasn’t panned out. (Basketball-Reference.com)

If Charlotte was to somehow get a top-three pick with their 2.9% odds, they would have their choice of Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and Josh Jackson as those are the top prospects. (DraftExpress.com) Grabbing one of these players would give the Hornets a star with loads of potential which is something they haven’t had in some time. Fultz would be the perfect fit with the team’s current roster makeup as he could play alongside Kemba and he would also add shooting and scoring. Although, getting Ball or Jackson would be a huge boost to the team.

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In all honesty, the league owes a win to the franchise. They have been passed over multiple times in somewhat controversial style. It’s time the NBA gives them a break. May the odds forever be in the Charlotte Hornets’ favor when the lottery takes place on May 16th.

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