Timberwolves snag first overall NBA draft pick, Lakers second

MANILA, Philippines – The Minnesota Timberwolves secured the first overall pick for the 2015 NBA Draft while the Los Angeles Lakers won the second in the lottery on Wednesday, May 20 (Tuesday, May 19 in the US).

Minnesota, which had a 25% chance of winning the first pick, will have a shot at the top selection for the first time in franchise history. It is also the first time since 2004 that a team with the worst record won the first overall pick.

The Philadelphia 76ers rounded up the top 3 for this year’s draft that will take place on June 25.

The Wolves, which finished 16-66 this season, will have a crack at selecting top big men Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky and Jahlil Okafor of this year’s national champion Duke.

Team with worst record in NBA wins Draft Lottery for 1st time since Magic in 2004. No. 1 pick that year was Dwight Howard

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 20, 2015

If the Timberwolves hold onto the No. 1 pick, they will have the last three No. 1 overall picks (Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett)

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 20, 2015

Timberwolves become 4th team in 22 years to win NBA draft lottery with best odds.

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 20, 2015

Los Angeles, which went 21-61 in one of the franchise’s worst seasons, zoomed to the second spot instead of the projected fourth with their 11.9% odds.

An unlucky New York (17-65) fell just outside of the top 3 despite their second-best winning odds of 19.9%.

The 76ers, which were 18-64 this year, remained at third.

Knicks and Lakers will each pick top-5 for 1st time since 1979. Lakers took Magic Johnson. Knicks, Bill Cartwright https://t.co/PQrAkVCONU

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 20, 2015

Injury-plagued Lakers star Kobe Bryant also weighed in on the draft lottery result.

We played like crap all season so it’s only right we get the #2 pick HA #lakerluck #goodday

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) May 20, 2015

Below is the full draft lottery results:

1. Minnesota Timberwolves

2. Los Angeles Lakers

3. Philadelphia 76ers

4. New York Knicks

5. Orlando Magic

6. Sacramento Kings

7. Denver Nuggets

8. Detroit Pistons

9. Charlotte Hornets

10. Miami Heat

11. Indiana Pacers

12. Utah Jazz

13. Phoenix Suns

14. Oklahoma City Thunder

– Rappler.com