Los Angeles Lakers: Their 2018 NBA Draft Lottery odds

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 16: Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a photo after drawing the #2 pick during 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 Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 16: Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a photo after drawing the #2 pick during 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 Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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What are the odds that the Los Angeles Lakers draft pick will be relayed over to the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers in the 2018 NBA Draft Lottery.

The Los Angeles Lakers have had some pretty good luck in the NBA Draft Lottery in recent years. Their playoff drought has been difficult to overcome, but it has provided them with some serious young talent.

The first playoff-less season resulted in the Lakers snagging Julius Randle with the No. 7 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Then started a streak of landing the No. 2 overall pick.

In 2015, the Lakers landed D’Angelo Russell. In 2016, it was Brandon Ingram who heard his name called when the Lakers were on the clock. Last year, Lonzo Ball‘s childhood dream came true when Los Angeles selected him.

Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka turned some of those assets into cap space and even more young talent, as Russell was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, along with Timofey Mozgov. In return, the Lakers landed Brook Lopez and the No. 27 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, who ended up being Kyle Kuzma.

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This was the fifth consecutive season that the Lakers missed the postseason. However, they will not have their first round pick this time around.

The Lakers have the No. 25 and No. 47 overall picks in the 2018 NBA Draft. However, their selection will be relayed either to the Boston Celtics of Philadelphia 76ers as stipulations from past trades.

The trade of the draft pick goes back to 2012 when the Lakers traded with the Phoenix Suns for Steve Nash. Now, that pick will be relayed to either Boston or Philadelphia. The Celtics will receive the selection if it falls between No. 2-5. The 76ers will receive it if it falls anywhere else.

Here are the odds for that happening:

  • 1st: 1.1 percent
  • 2nd: 1.3 percent
  • 3rd: 1.6 percent
  • 10th: 87 percent
  • 11th: 8.9 percent
  • 12th: 0.2 percent

The odds are clearly not in Boston’s favor for landing this pick. It is only a 2.9 percent chance that the pick lands at either No. 2 or No. 3, as the pick cannot fall at No. 4 or No. 5. While there is a chance it happens, it is likely that this selection will be sent over to the 76ers.

If that is what happens, the Celtics will receive a first-round pick from the 76ers in the 2019 NBA Draft. That is the final piece of the trade that the Celtics and 76ers completed last year when Philadelphia traded up to land the No. 1 pick in the draft and select point guard Markelle Fultz.

Boston will receive whichever is the better of the 76ers and Sacramento Kings’ pick. However, if either of those selections lands in the No. 1 spot in the NBA Draft Lottery, the Celtics will get the lower of those two selections.

Next: 50 Greatest Players In Lakers Franchise History

We will find out what happens tonight when the NBA Draft Lottery happens at 7:30 PM ET.