What you need to know about the Pacers' pursuit of a top 4 NBA draft pick
· Yahoo Sports
Here is everything you need to know about the Pacers' pursuit of a top 4 draft pick:
Visit freshyourfeel.org for more information.
Why do the Pacers need to secure a top 4 pick?
The Pacers traded a protected first-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the package to acquire Ivica Zubac. If the pick falls between 5-9, it goes to the Clippers. If the Pacers get a top 4 pick, they get to keep it and an unprotected 2031 first-rounder goes to the Clippers.
What happens if the Pacers drop to 10th or lower in the draft?
They can't. The "best" the Pacers can do is finish with the fifth-worst record in the NBA. That means the lowest they -- or in this case, the Clippers -- can pick is ninth.
Why doesn't it matter where the Pacers finish as long as they're in the bottom 3?
The teams with the worst three records in the NBA all have a 52% chance of getting a top 4 pick. The lottery determines the top 4 picks so either the Pacers' number comes up or they pick fifth or worse and it goes to the Clippers.
For example, the Pacers currently have the second-worst record in the NBA. If their number doesn't come up, they pick 5th (if the Washington Wizards land in the top 4) or 6th (if the Wizards also miss out on the lottery). In either situation, the pick goes to the Clippers.
What do the Pacers need to do to have one of the three worst records?
The worst Utah and Sacramento can do is finish 21-61. The Pacers are 18-59, so they win two or fewer games over the final five, they'll secure the 52% chance at a top 4 pick.
What are the odds of the Pacers getting the No. 1 pick?
As one of the three worst teams, they'd have a 14% chance of getting the No. 1 pick. The Pacers have never picked first in the NBA draft.
What happens if the Pacers finish with the fourth-worst record?
Their odds for a top 4 pick slip to 45.2% and 11.5% for the No. 1 pick.
Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers draft pick: What you need to know about lottery odds