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Today’s NBA Draft Lottery is Major for Memphis Grizzlies

By Christian Dudley

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 16: Former NBA player, Bruce Bowen and Alison Williams help host the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 16: Former NBA player, Bruce Bowen and Alison Williams help host the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 16: Former NBA player, Bruce Bowen and Alison Williams help host the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 16: Former NBA player, Bruce Bowen and Alison Williams help host the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The time has come and today the Memphis Grizzlies will learn how high of a draft pick they will receive after posting a 22-60 record this season. 

Today is the day!

The 2018 NBA Draft Lottery is finally here, Grizz Nation. It has been a long wait since the Memphis Grizzlies’ season ended on the evening of April 11th.

NBA teams attempt to do as much as they possibly can to draw good luck at the Draft Lottery. This year, the Memphis Grizzlies should have a great shot at being the luckiest of them all solely based off their representation.

The Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A Minor League Baseball team) bid good luck to the Grizzlies this past Saturday with a “Grit and Good Luck” night at the ball park. Even Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff got involved, which should surely swing some luck the Grizzlies’ way.

The Grizzlies will need it if they truly want the top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, but as discussed recently on Beale Street Bears, it may not be necessary in order to come away with the best talent.

Top Odds

The Memphis Grizzlies disappointed during the regular season with a 22-60 record. However, after things went sour (such as Mike Conley’s season-ending injury), their sole intention was to not disappoint on the night of the Lottery.

Tanking — even if the Grizzlies will not admit to intentionally losing — landed the Grizzlies the second-best chance of earning the No. 1 overall pick in the Draft.

Of the 14 franchises that failed to qualify for the postseason, these are the percentages each club has to snag the top selection:

Phoenix Suns – 25.0%

Memphis Grizzlies – 19.9%

Dallas Mavericks – 13.8%

Atlanta Hawks – 13.7%

Orlando Magic – 8.8%

Chicago Bulls – 5.3%

Sacramento Kings – 5.3%

Cleveland Cavaliers – 2.8%

New York Knicks – 1.7%

Los Angeles Lakers – 1.1%

Charlotte Hornets – 0.8%

Detroit Pistons – 0.7%

Los Angeles Clippers – 0.6%

Denver Nuggets – 0.5%

This is an incredibly deep draft class and quite a few of the prospects could easily become NBA All-Stars within the next few years. If you are into the whole “tanking” deal, this was certainly a year to go all-in for it.

Viewing

ESPN will air the one-hour 2018 NBA Draft Lottery — live from Chicago, Illinois — beginning at 6:30 PM Central Time. Beale Street Bears will provide a full recap of the results regardless of the way the ping pong balls drop.

Go Grizz! 

Next: The Grizzlies can relate to Toronto's firing of Dwane Casey

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