2019 NBA Draft Lottery Guide

The pingpong balls are just about ready to determine the winner of the Zion Williamson sweepstakes.

The NBA's annual draft lottery will take place Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. ET, ahead of Game 1 of the Western Conference finals between the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers.

For the first time since 2005, the lottery odds have changed, drastically impacting the league-worst New York Knicks' chances of selecting first overall.

Lottery changes

In hopes of discouraging tanking efforts, the lottery odds were overhauled. The NBA's worst team went from having a 25 percent chance of securing the top pick to a 14 percent chance.

The first 10 teams can now theoretically drop as many as four spots from where they stand in the lottery as opposed to three. For instance, the Knicks could end up with the fifth overall pick, while one year ago, they could have sunk no lower than fourth.

The odds

Pick swaps

• The Grizzlies' pick is top-eight protected and will be acquired by the Boston Celtics if it falls. If the Grizzlies retain the selection, it becomes top-six protected in 2020.
• The Mavericks' pick is top-five protected and will be acquired by the Hawks if their lottery ball is not selected. If the Mavericks retain the selection, it remains top-five protected in 2020.
• The Celtics will receive the more favorable selection between the Philadelphia 76ers' 2019 first-round pick (No. 24) and the Kings' 2019 first-round pick. The Kings' selection is top-one protected for the 76ers and will go to the Celtics if it lands between Nos. 2-4 or 14th overall. Boston ultimately has a 2.4 percent chance of getting a top-three selection.

The top prospects

Zion Williamson - Duke, F

Few players in recent memory have received the sort of national attention that Williamson dealt with throughout his freshman season. The 6-foot-7, 285-pound tank is the coveted prize in the lottery, as he'll immediately become a dominant transition talent and a potentially game-changing defensive presence.

Ja Morant - Murray State, G

Though he didn't warrant the same hype as Williamson due to playing for a mid-major program, Morant forced his way onto the radar as a 6-foot-3 human highlight reel who threw down awe-inspiring dunks while leading the nation in assists. The All-American should develop into a top point guard in the Association when he's inevitably given the keys to an offense.

RJ Barrett - Duke, G/F

Barrett entered his freshman season among the favorites to be named National Player of the Year before he was overshadowed by Williamson. The Canadian star remained effective in his own right, receiving consensus first-team All-American honors thanks to his innate ability to get buckets anywhere on the floor.

Draft representatives