The Boston Celtics (20-5) sit atop the Eastern Conference, while the Phoenix Suns (16-8) currently have the best record in the Western Conference. This season, there will be more eyes on the worst teams in the NBA with the busy draft class entering the league in June, led by generational talent Victor Wembanyama.
It’s still a long NBA season and a lot can happen, but whether it’s through a rebuilding process with a young team, injuries, or offloading talent from the franchise last summer, there are a handful of already well positioned to land a 14% chance. of getting the No. 1 pick on May 16 draw night.
As the race to the bottom begins, Yahoo Sports takes a look at seven teams that could land at Wembanyama next June and how they started the season.
(Records through Dec. 5 games; odds of getting No. 1 pick among Tankathon.)
Current recording: 5-20
Odds of landing the No. 1 pick: 14%
The Magic are in rebuilding mode. They had the No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft, choosing former Duke forward Paolo Banchero. The previous year, they added point guard Jalen Suggs with the No. 5 pick and winger Franz Wagner at No. 8. They haven’t had a winning season since 2018-19.
The Magic may not win many games, but they’re a fun team to watch with a starting lineup of 7-foot-2 Bol Bol, 6-11 Mo Wagner, 6-10 Banchero, 6-10 Franz Wagner and 6-4 Markelle Fultz. Maybe adding 7-4 Wembanyama to this young squad would be a dream scenario. Size and length would be unmatched in the Eastern Conference.
The Magic are 1-10 in their last 11 outings and currently have six injured players: Suggs (ankle), Gary Harris (hamstring), Chuma Okeke (knee), Mo Bamba (back), Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) and Jonathan Isaac (knee).
Current recording: 6-19
Odds of landing the No. 1 pick: 14%
The Pistons are rebuilding toward 2021 No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham and added a talented guard to play alongside him in the backcourt with 2022 Draft No. 5 pick Jaden Ivey. Unfortunately, Cunningham has been sidelined with a shin injury and could undergo surgery this season.
“It’s up to the medical group and Cade to decide what’s best for his health,” head coach Dwane Casey said. “I totally agree. Whatever he decides to do, I’m 100% behind him.”
The Pistons are 3-7 in the last 10 games and won just three games in November. If Cunningham decides to have surgery and sit out the rest of the season, that could keep the Pistons in good stead to land Wembanyama. The Pistons haven’t made it past the first round of the playoffs since the 2007-08 season and have made the playoffs only twice in the past 10 years.
Current recording: 6-18
Odds of landing the No. 1 pick: 14%
Spurs made some off-season moves to be in a good position to land Wembanyama. The organization went into rebuilding mode when it traded All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks and added Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley, all just 19, in the 2022 draft.
Young Spurs had a spirited start to the season, going 5-2, but have since cooled off. San Antonio has won just one of its last 12 games, and the injury-worn Spurs are even without head coach Gregg Popovich, who is recovering from a minor medical procedure. Sochan (quad), Wesley (knee), Doug McDermott (ankle), Romeo Langford (ankle), Jakob Poeltl (knee) and Josh Richardson (ankle) are all currently out for Spurs.
Spurs have always been known as an organization that does a great job of developing young talent and having Hall of Famer coach and guide Popovich Wembanyama as he enters the league would be worth the painful season leading up to the 2023 draft.
Current recording: 7-17
Odds of landing the No. 1 pick: 11.5%
This is the Rockets’ third-season rebuild after trading Russell Westbrook in December 2020 and James Harden in January 2021. Unlike the Spurs and Thunder, who are struggling with injuries, the Rockets have only one player left. away, winger Jae’Sean Tate.
The Rockets have plenty of young talent with Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. leading the team in scoring. Houston lacks size and experience in the frontcourt with rookie Jabari Smith Jr. and sophomore center Alperen Sengun. The Rockets would like to add Wembanyama to this young core next season, potentially transforming the franchise.
Current recording: 7-17
Odds of landing the No. 1 pick: 11.5%
The Hornets are the dark horse in the race to the bottom and are still without star point guard LaMelo Ball, who re-injured his ankle after stepping on a fan’s foot Nov. 16. Gordon Hayward, who averaged 15.9 points and 3.6 assists last season, is also out indefinitely after suffering a broken shoulder.
Charlotte finished above .500 last season for the first time since 2015-16 and seemed to be turning a corner. The Hornets started the season with a string of injuries and currently have five players sidelined: Ball (ankle), Hayward (shoulder), Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle), Mark Williams (ankle) and Cody Martin (knee).
Current recording: 11-13
Odds of landing the No. 1 pick: 3.8%
General manager Sam Presti knew what he was doing when he executed 14 trades during the 2019-20 season and offloaded star players, amassing 38 draft picks for the next seven years. Over the past two drafts, the Thunder have added Josh Giddey, Aleksej Pokusevski, Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams to build around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort.
The Thunder were eager to move on after winning a total of 46 games in the previous two seasons, but bad news came in the offseason when No. 2 pick Holmgren suffered a season-ending foot injury. at a pro-am game in Seattle. OKC fans are forced to be patient for another year in hopes of landing another talented prospect projected to lead the draft.
Wembanyama and Holmgren faced off in July 2021 at the FIBA U19 World Cup. Homgren and Team USA took the win, but Wembanyama was the best prospect on the court, finishing with 22 points, eight rebounds and eight blocks. Adding Wembanyama in the frontcourt with Holmgren 7-1 and 7-foot Pokusevski would be the final piece of a rebuilding puzzle for the Thunder.
Honorable mention
Current recording: 15-8
Odds of landing the No. 1 pick (via Lakers): 7.5%
The Pelicans are in a unique situation this season and regardless of their record or whether they make the playoffs. Pelicans fans will be more tuned into the Los Angeles Lakers’ pre-draft record with LA’s pick going to New Orleans, thanks to the Anthony Davis trade. According to Tankathon. The more games the Lakers lose, the closer the Pelicans are to adding a ridiculously talented Wembanyama alongside 2019 No. 1 pick Zion Williamson.