NBA Lottery Odds 2012: Breaking Down the Percentages for Tonight's Lottery

In just a matter of hours, the fate of the top 14 picks will be decided for the 2012 NBA draft. The draft lottery will put teams into position to make franchise-altering decisions, select organization-defining players and gain or lose prime positioning in the biggest event of the offseason.

The question is, who will end up where? For those in need of a more in-depth look, how will they get there?

The following slides will answer both of those questions and more.

Charlotte Bobcats

Since the NBA draft lottery was created in 1985, just four of the NBA's worst teams have won the rights to the first overall draft choice. That's four out of 27, good for a mark of 14.8 percent.

So you tell me, what's so encouraging about these 25.0 percent odds? Contrarily, very much, as the Orlando Magic won the rights to the first overall draft pick with those very odds in 2004.

Will the Bobcats land this year's Dwight Howard?

Odds of Winning Lottery: 25.0 percent

Washington Wizards

The 2009 Los Angeles Clippers won the rights to the first overall draft choice with the second-best odds. Three years later, the Washington Wizards are poised to land the top draft pick for the first time since they chose Kwame Brown in 2001.

As for how likely it is that the Wizards land the selection, it's worth noting that five of the past seven lottery winners had odds less than 10 percent. This does not bode well for the supposedly favored teams, such as the Wizards.

It is worth noting that, however, that Washington has 2.2 percent greater odds than the Clippers did in '09.

Odds of Winning Lottery: 19.9 percent

New Orleans Hornets

Despite the percentile odds, the New Orleans Hornets may just have the best chance at landing the first overall draft choice. With two lottery picks, both of which guaranteed to remain in the Hornets' possession, the Hornets' chances at pulling a 2011 Cleveland Cavaliers is rather elevated.

The Cleveland Cavaliers won the rights to the first overall draft choice through the Los Angeles Clippers, who had a 2.80 percent chance of pulling it off. While the Hornets' second pick has a lesser chance of winning, at 1.10 percent, their first pick is at 13.70 percent.

So who's feeling lucky?

Odds of Winning Lottery: 14.8 percent

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers hit the lottery in a major way last season, landing the first and fourth overall draft picks. They landed two franchise cornerstones in point guard Kyrie Irving and power forward Tristan Thompson.

This time around, the Cavaliers could complete their Big Three with Anthony Davis. There's a 13.8 percent chance that they do so. Considering the past two winners have had lower odds than Cleveland, don't count them out so quickly.

Odds of Winning Lottery: 13.8 percent

Sacramento Kings

For those history buffs, the Sacramento Kings landed the first overall draft choice in 1989 with the sixth-worst record in the NBA. In 2012, they have the chance to duplicate that success with the fifth-worst record.

Just cut your Kings history short there, as the rest isn't too pretty.

With the Sacramento Kings facing more than enough drama for one year, the basketball gods could be in their corner. As could history, as four of the past seven lottery winners had worse odds than the Kings.

Odds of Winning Lottery: 7.6 percent

Brooklyn Nets

It's top three or nothing for the Brooklyn Nets, as their draft pick is currently in the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers. Fortunately for Nets fans, their percentile chances improve to 25.19 when weighing the possibility of their landing in the first three.

That's the only number that the Nets should be paying attention to, as nothing matters but retaining their first-round pick. Winning the Anthony Davis sweepstakes is just an added bonus.

Odds of Winning Lottery: 7.5 percent

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are in a precarious position, betting the future of their franchise on retaining rights to a top-seven protected draft choice. They're well-aware of this fact, as they've recently attempted to secure their draft choice via a trade with the Utah Jazz.

Their chances of winning the lottery are just 3.6 percent. That's .8 percent greater than the odds that the Los Angeles Clippers had prior to winning the draft lottery last year. It's also a number that increases to 12.66 when weighing their chances of making the top three.

Otherwise, they will select anywhere between Nos. 7 and 10. Fingers crossed for the top three.

Odds of Winning Lottery: 3.6 percent

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors have 3.5 percent odds to land the first overall draft choice and 12.32 percent odds to enter the top three. Should they fail to do so, they will end up on the outside looking in from anywhere between Nos. 8 and 11.

While Jonas Valanciunas' arrival would soothe any pain created by missing out on a big-time player in 2012, the Raptors are believed to be in need of an upgrade at the 3. Their ideal target, Harrison Barnes, would likely fall out of their reach should their choice fall to No. 8 or below.

A major turning point for Toronto.

Odds of Winning Lottery: 3.5 percent

Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are in an interesting position, as they have some solid pieces to build around but are far from being a playoff contender. Strangely, they possess just a 1.7 percent chance to win the draft lottery.

For a glimpse of hope, the 2008 Chicago Bulls won the rights to select Derrick Rose with the first overall pick with the same 1.70 percent odds. The Orlando Magic, meanwhile, won the 1993 draft lottery with 1.52 percent odds.

Anything is possible, as history has shown.

Odds of Winning Lottery: 1.7 percent

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have a 0.8 percent chance of winning the lottery. They have an additional 74.81 percent chance of owning the Brooklyn Nets' lottery pick, which will be in the top ten.

The draft lottery may not offer a team more to gain than the Portland Trail Blazers.

With this being noted, the Trail Blazers are in need of some help. Their current core has historically underachieved, and the burden LaMarcus Aldridge carries resulted in a hip injury in 2012. They need to find Greg Oden's replacement and an answer at the point.

Both picks are needed.

Odds of Winning Lottery: 0.8 percent

Milwaukee Bucks

Much like the Portland Trail Blazers, the Milwaukee Bucks must replace their former franchise center. Unlike the Portland Trail Blazers, the Bucks have just one draft choice to get the picking right.

Should the Bucks fail to win the lottery, which they have just a 0.7 percent chance of doing, their pick will end up between Nos. 12 and 14. That may not give them the opportunity to select Tyler Zeller, creating a possible trade-down scenario.

Just for the record, no team has ever won the lottery with that low of odds.

Odds of Winning Lottery: 0.7 percent

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns are in one of the more intriguing positions this time around. Falling in the draft may not be terrible, as the crop of guards is as deep as ever, but one cannot deny how close-but-far the Suns truly are.

Without Steve Nash, the "close" part disappears and the Suns will be far from contention. Here's hoping that 0.6 percent odds lead to a top-three pick and the salvation of a promising franchise.

Odds of Winning Lottery: 0.6 percent

Houston Rockets

Regardless of where the Houston Rockets end up, they are in prime position for a solid draft. Their possession of the 16th overall draft choice is reason for such excitement.

In all likelihood, the Rockets will own the 14th overall draft choice. On the off-chance that their 1.81 percent odds land them in the top three, however, this already well-built team could take a serious leap.

Just don't expect anything crazy—history tells you not to.

Odds of Winning Lottery: 0.5 percent