The NBA conducted its draft tiebreakers on Friday evening, further cementing the draft order for 2019. While we’ll have to wait until the May 14 draft lottery to determine the exact order for this year’s event, we now know what most of the 60 selections look like.
Listed below is the pre-lottery 2019 NBA draft order. Each lottery team’s chances of landing the No. 1 overall pick are noted in parentheses. We’ve also included notes for picks whose status remains up in the air — for instance, the Grizzlies‘ first-round pick could still technically end up with either Memphis or the Celtics.
For teams with identical records, Friday’s tiebreakers only determined the first-round order — that order is reversed in the second round. As such, some second-round picks may hinge on next month’s lottery results.
For instance, even though the Cavaliers won the tiebreaker vs. the Suns for the No. 2 spot in the lottery order, Phoenix could still leapfrog Cleveland in the lottery, in which case the Cavs’ second-round pick (owned by the Sixers) would move ahead of the Suns’ second-rounder.
We’ll update this list after the May 14 lottery once the official order is set, but here’s the tentative 2019 NBA draft order:
First Round:
- New York Knicks (14.0%)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (14.0%)
- Phoenix Suns (14.0%)
- Chicago Bulls (12.5%)
- Atlanta Hawks (10.5%)
- Washington Wizards (9.0%)
- New Orleans Pelicans (6.0%)
- Memphis Grizzlies (6.0%)
- Note: The Celtics will receive this pick if it falls out of the top eight (42.6% chance).
- Atlanta Hawks (from Mavericks) (6.0%)
- Note: The Mavericks will keep this pick if it moves up into the top four (26.2% chance).
- Minnesota Timberwolves (3.0%)
- Los Angeles Lakers (2.0%)
- Charlotte Hornets (1.0%)
- Miami Heat (1.0%)
- Boston Celtics (from Kings) (1.0%)
- Note: The Sixers will receive this pick if it moves up to No. 1 (1.0% chance).
- Detroit Pistons
- Orlando Magic
- Brooklyn Nets
- Indiana Pacers
- San Antonio Spurs
- Boston Celtics (from Clippers)
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Boston Celtics
- Utah Jazz
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Cleveland Cavaliers (from Rockets)
- Brooklyn Nets (from Nuggets)
- Golden State Warriors
- San Antonio Spurs (from Raptors)
- Milwaukee Bucks
Second Round:
- Brooklyn Nets (from Knicks)
- Phoenix Suns
- Philadelphia 76ers (from Cavaliers)
- Note: Sixers would swap places with Suns if Phoenix gets higher first-round pick than Cleveland via lottery.
- Philadelphia 76ers (from Bulls)
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets (from Wizards)
- Dallas Mavericks
- Chicago Bulls (from Grizzlies)
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Note: If Mavericks or Grizzlies move ahead of Pelicans via first-round lottery, their pick(s) would fall behind New Orleans’ in second round.
- Sacramento Kings (from Timberwolves)
- Atlanta Hawks (from Lakers)
- Philadelphia 76ers (from Kings)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (from Heat)
- Atlanta Hawks (from Hornets)
- Note: If Kings or Heat move ahead of Hornets via first-round lottery, their pick(s) would fall behind Charlotte’s in second round.
- Detroit Pistons
- Orlando Magic (from Nets)
- Sacramento Kings (from Magic)
- Los Angeles Clippers
- San Antonio Spurs
- Indiana Pacers
- Boston Celtics
- Charlotte Hornets (from Thunder)
- Utah Jazz
- Philadelphia 76ers
- New York Knicks (from Rockets)
- Los Angeles Clippers (from Trail Blazers)
- New Orleans Pelicans (from Nuggets)
- Golden State Warriors
- Toronto Raptors
- Sacramento Kings (from Bucks)
Information from NBA.com and Tankathon.com was used in the creation of this post.
Suns about to go back to back #1s!
Curious, and I’m sure I’ll have some wise ass telling me how stupid I am but still gonna ask because there are a few people who actually answer others questions with their opinions or facts without being insulting with their answers lol.
But I’m a Lakers fan so I’m wonder with having a decent pick do you guys think this gives them a better chance at landing AD now? Especially with Griffin running the show there now. The guy loves Ingram, he’s raves about him, even recently so anyone think there is a legit shot now especially with a decent pick attached
You have a better chance to get AD if you land in the top 5. I still think the celtics have a leg up though. 4 first round picks and getting a player like Tatum (Celtics said they would trade him, but i dont think they will. I feel like they said that just so Pelicans wouldnt trade AD to Lakers).
Of they get Zion then yes they have a chance at AD
Def a better chance. Depends on how durable Lady Benson’s grudge is. High-salary stars have not been as easy to trade in recent years as one might think. It will probably require three teams, which will help Benson say that Griffin was really dealing with the other team not the Lakers!
I’m not sure anymore if the Knicks would trade ZionW for AD so that helps. Neither would the Cavs or Suns or maybe anyone, so that’s one competitor down (Whoever gets Zion).
If you’re the Celtics this is not the draft you want to have 4 picks outside the top 8 in… unless somehow Cam Reddish slides is there anyone with an ounce of upside after the top 5??
Bol Bol comes to mind but he’s kinda a wild card with the injury.
More like, outside the top 13!
Yes, but usually more promising on D than O.
celt’s with 4 of 22 picks don’t have roster spots you can expect they package these picks for a top 5 pick
All 4 put together ain’t worthy a top 5 pick, sorry dude!
I think 14,20 and 22 could net them the Wizards pick. They have a ton of roster spots and if they land 6 or 7 I think they’d move it for that package. No one is trading out of top 5 like cesc said. But pick #6, Memphis 2020 pick and Tatum is a conversation starter with any GM for anyone.