Beat the odds and get ready to add a potential franchise-changing player, picking from the top of a draft class that is receiving universal praise. Fail to do so and you’ll have to wait until the second round and 40th pick overall to add a player. There is no in-between.
That’s the all-or-nothing scenario facing the New Orleans Pelicans entering Tuesday’s 2017 NBA Draft Lottery (7:30 p.m. Central, ESPN). New Orleans (34-48 in 2016-17) has been placed in the No. 10 pre-lottery slot, which carries 1.1 percent odds of winning. However, the more critical percentage for the Pelicans and fans to focus on is actually 4.