We think of the NBA Draft Lottery, first and foremost, as a way for the league's poor and downtrodden franchises to replenish their ranks and take the first steps toward meaningful winning years down the line.

Scouts continue to sound excited about the 2025 class. All of them are now in Chicago for G League Elite Camp and the NBA combine, where they will watch drills, scrimmages, athletic testing and sit in on interviews. Pro Comparisons: Jalen Johnson, Kevin Garnett

The lottery system is how the NBA determines the draft order for the teams that don’t make the playoffs. It only determines the first 14 picks of the draft and has no impact on the second round. The first four picks are determined by the lottery, and picks 5-14 are determined by the reverse standings of whoever is left.