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Los Angeles Clippers: The chances of landing in the top three in the lottery

By Jason Reed

SHENZHEN, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Steve Ballmer, owner of Los Angeles Clippers speaks to media during the press conference before the match between Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers as part of the 2015 NBA Global Games China at Universiade Centre on October 11, 2015 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHENZHEN, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Steve Ballmer, owner of Los Angeles Clippers speaks to media during the press conference before the match between Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers as part of the 2015 NBA Global Games China at Universiade Centre on October 11, 2015 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Clippers own two lottery picks in the 2018 NBA Draft. Although they are both at the latter end of the lottery, a top-three pick is possible.

The Los Angeles Clippers own both their own and the Detroit Pistons’ 2018 first-round pick. Los Angeles acquired Detroit’s pick in the Blake Griffin trade, with that pick being top-three protected. That pick is the 12th-best heading into the draft. The Clippers’ is 13th.

Heading into the NBA Lottery, the Clippers do not have the best odds in getting lucky. However, the odds are not necessarily terrible and some miracle could happen; we have seen it before, we may see it again.

According to Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Clippers have a 0.6 percent chance of being the first overall pick and a 2.2 percent chance at landing in the top three. When it comes to the Pistons pick, there is a 0.7 percent chance that the pick is number one and a 2.5 percent chance of landing in the top three.

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Not much difference there between the two picks.

When it comes to the Pistons’ pick, the Clippers are obviously going to want to get unlucky. Any order within the top three will lose the selection and practically guarantee that their own pick doesn’t land in the top-three.

It would be typical Los Angeles Clippers luck though if the Pistons pick somehow landed first overall and the Clippers had to forfeit the pick that they received for Griffin.

Thus, the Clippers’ odds of landing in the top three are not increased by having two selections.

Los Angeles has just the 0.6 and 2.2 percent chances mentioned earlier. However, when compared to other things, that is not all bad. Here are a few things that are less likely to happen than the Clippers getting a top-three pick.

  • Chances of getting struck by lightning in your lifetime (0.033 percent) per National Geographic.
  • Chances of having twins (1.5 percent) per TwinsUK.
  • Chances of getting a Royal Flush in poker (0.00015 percent) per ThoughtCo.

Now I do not want to get too optimistic here, but I am liking the Clippers chances. There sure are a lot of people that get struck by lightning. I’ve met quite a few twins in my life and I even got a royal flush once on video poker.

Next: Clippers' ideal draft selections at 12 and 13

Joking aside, the Los Angeles Clippers have a pretty minimal chance of getting a top-three pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. As cool as it would be, do not expect anything crazy.

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