CHICAGO -- When the way the pingpong balls bounced is revealed to the world Tuesday night here at the Drake Hotel, the immediate focus will be on who gets the No. 1 pick -- and with it the chance to select consensus top prospect Zion Williamson. But how this NBA draft lottery shakes out will have far-ranging implications across the league well beyond whichever team gets the chance to choose Williamson.
For the first time, the top four spots will be determined by the lottery, rather than the top three. That additional factor, plus potential trade scenarios, have juiced the stakes.