CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers won't be going to the playoffs this year, but they did clinch an important position for the future in their loss to the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.
The Cavs fell to the Warriors 120-114, dropping their record to 19-61 this season. With that record, the Cavs clinched a top-three worst finish in the league, meaning the team now shares the best odds at the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
The Phoenix Suns and the New York Knicks accompany the Cavs in the bottom three. With the new format implemented by the league, each of the three teams hold a 14 percent chance to win the NBA Draft Lottery.
The Cavs’ NBA Draft Lottery past wins include:
- 1971: Drafted Austin Carr
- 1986: Drafted Brad Daugherty
- 2003: Drafted LeBron James
- 2011: Drafted Kyrie Irving
- 2013: Drafted Anthony Bennett
- 2014: Drafted Andrew Wiggins (traded in Kevin Love acquisition)
The nearly unanimous top three prospects for the 2019 NBA Draft are Duke stars Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett, and Murray State’s Ja Morant.
Teams will find out their picks on May 14 at the Draft Lottery in Chicago. The 2019 NBA Draft takes place on June 20.
