New Orleans Pelicans have won the NBA draft lottery and the inside running to select Duke freshman forward Zion Williamson with the number one pick.
The draw gives the Pelicans, who had only a six percent chance of winning it, the first selection at the NBA Draft on June 20.
Williamson, the consensus College Player of the Year as a freshman last season, is the favourite to be picked at number one.
New Orleans had the top pick in 2012 and they selected Anthony Davis, who requested a trade in January.
The number-two pick went to Memphis Grizzlies, followed in order by New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns.
Williamson's Blue Devils teammate RJ Barrett, Murray State guard Ja Morant, North Carolina point guard Coby White, Virginia forward De'Andre Hunter, Texas Tech guard Jarrett Culver and Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland are among those projected to be drafted in the lottery.
Results of the revamped lottery were revealed in Chicago on Tuesday, two days before prospects take part in the draft combine on the city's south side.
Under rewritten lottery rules designed to prevent tanking, the Knicks, Cavaliers and Suns held equal 14 percent odds to select number one, by virtue of having the three worst regular-season records.
Chicago Bulls will pick seventh, followed in order by Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Atlanta again, Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics.
Reuters
