NBA Draft Lottery 2015: Preview, Odds and Top Teams to Watch at Tuesday's Event

The Association's lottery system works its magic Tuesday at the NBA draft lottery, altering the landscape of the league and the fortunes of teams in the process. 

For the 31st time, the league will use a lottery machine behind the scenes to align the draft's top 14 selections, with those thereafter slotting in based on record. 

Of course, landing the top pick is the objective of the sometimes controversial affair, so here's a look at the teams in the lottery and their odds:

Team	Odds for No. 1 Pick
Minnesota Timberwolves	25 percent
New York Knicks	19.9 percent
Philadelphia 76ers	15.6 percent
Los Angeles Lakers	11.9 percent
Orlando Magic	8.8 percent
Sacramento Kings	6.3 percent
Denver Nuggets	4.3 percent
Detroit Pistons	2.8 percent
Charlotte Hornets	1.7 percent
Miami Heat	1.1 percent
Indiana Pacers	0.8 percent
Utah Jazz	0.7 percent
Phoenix Suns	0.6 percent
Oklahoma City Thunder	0.5 percent

A total of 14 ping pong balls go in the machine and fight it out for a possible 1,001 combinations. NBA.com explains the formal drawing process:

"

All 14 balls are placed in the lottery machine and they are mixed for 20 seconds; then the first ball is removed. The remaining balls are mixed in the lottery machine for another 10 seconds, and then second ball is drawn. There is a 10-second mix, and then the third ball is drawn. There is a 10-second mix, and then the fourth ball is drawn. The team that has been assigned that combination will receive the number one pick. The same process is repeated with the same ping-pong balls and lottery machine for the second pick and then again for the third pick.

"

The actual Tuesday broadcast promises to entertain as the league unveils the results of the lottery.

Keeping with the trends of past years, a star-studded lineup will represent each team. Players such as Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Nerlens Noel (Philadelphia 76ers) will represent their teams, while big names such as Vlade Divac (Sacramento Kings) and Alonzo Mourning (Miami Heat) will represent theirs.

Here's a look at the most intriguing teams attending the Tuesday spectacle.

Teams to Watch 

Los Angeles Lakers

Weird, right?

The Los Angeles Lakers made a top-five pick last year with Kentucky's Julius Randle, yet figure to do so again this year as they follow through on a normal rebuilding plan. It might turn out for the better, too, considering the franchise's past instant-gratification ways produced the Steve Nash and Dwight Howard debacles.

Speaking of Nash, Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times notes what is at stake for the Lakers Tuesday:

For general manager Mitch Kupchak and the front office, it's imperative to hang on to this top selection and grab another elite talent. Pairing a Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor with Randle down low, or maybe even an Emmanuel Mudiay or D'Angelo Russell to run the offense would work wonders.

Two top-five talents on the roster not only braces for a future without Kobe Bryant, it helps to lure top free agents to the team this summer and the next. There's not a team with more riding on Tuesday's lottery.

New York Knicks

President Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks find themselves in a similar boat.

Unlike some may want, though, general manager Steve Mills will represent the 17-win franchise, not Jackson. For Mills' part, he says the team will come away with a good player regardless of the result.

"We think whatever happens in the draft, we're going to end up with a good player," Mills said, per Newsday's Al Iannazzone. "It's an opportunity to see what ultimately happens, so it's exciting for the franchise."

The Knicks can only hope. Last season turned much, much sourer than anyone predicted, and now the front office needs to find a way to surround Carmelo Anthony with top-flight talent in order to lure more to town while sparring with the Lakers and others for top free agents. 

Miami Heat

It wasn't so long ago the Miami Heat were reeling in titles with big-name superstars.

Now the franchise needs a big lottery draw to stay relevant. A stumble Tuesday could prove catastrophic for the franchise and help the rest of the league to more talent.

Chris Bosh isn't going anywhere, but radio silence on Dwyane Wade's end about next year's player option might be cause for concern, per his interview with the Associated Press (via Yahoo Sports). Keep in mind prized point guard Goran Dragic heads to free agency, and while he figures to be back, a hiccup in the lottery paired with ideal money and contending status elsewhere may make it tough for the Heat to keep him around.

It's an interesting situation for the franchise to find itself in, not to mention quite rare. Talented depth behind Wade and at a few other spots is a must, so if the Heat can trump the odds and move into the top five, the Heat may return to contending status in a hurry.

Either way it shapes out, every fan should be watching the Heat Tuesday—the rest of the league will be.

Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.