Following one of the weaker draft classes in recent memory, 2020, the 2021 NBA Draft is loaded with talent, led by Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Jalen Suggs, and Jonathon Kuminga, to name a few. Many teams have plummeted to the bottom of the standings this year with the hopes of landing some of this talent, and the results are in.
With a 14% chance to win the lottery, the Detroit Pistons did just that and now, chances are, will end up picking the consensus best player in the draft, Cade Cunningham. Cunningham is a 6’8″ point guard who has often been compared to Luka Doncic, and has an incredible amount of potential. Ironically, the Pistons winning the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery was predicted by NBA YouTuber Mike Korzemba, as nearly a year ago, Korzemba used NBA 2K and simulated the NBA to 2050 to predict how things would play out. In this prediction video, the Pistons won the lottery, which was amazing…but the 76ers also won a championship with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. That last one might not work out.
See below for yourself:
The Houston Rockets, who also had a 14% chance of landing the number one pick, finished second. After a subpar season that saw the team trade superstar James Harden and plummet to the bottom of the standings, the #2 overall pick will help the Rockets a lot… assuming they choose wisely.
Rounding out the lottery we have:
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Toronto Raptors
- Orlando Magic
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Golden State Warriors (via Andrew Wiggins–D’Angelo Russell trade)
- Orlando Magic (via Nikola Vucevic trade)
- Sacramento Kings
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Charlotte Hornets
- San Antonio Spurs
- Indiana Pacers
- Golden State Warriors
The Warriors and Thunder both made very smart trades, and now have two lottery picks each in this loaded draft class. If they choose wisely, they could end up with two All-Stars, or at least two quality players that will help their team in the future. We will have to wait and see who they choose.
In other news, the Boston Celtics have hired a new Head Coach, and it’s not who you think it is. Former assistant coach of the Brooklyn Nets Ime Udoka is going to become the Celtics new Head Coach, and hopefully lead their team into the future. Udoka played professional basketball in the NBA, the NBA D-League, and overseas in Spain. After his playing career, he was an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs and Greg Poppovich for seven years. After that, he was an assistant on the Philadelphia 76ers for Brett Brown for two years, and after that it was on to the Brooklyn Nets and Steve Nash. Now, as a 43-year old, Udoka has landed his first head coaching job, and part of that may have to do with the recommendations players gave him. Udoka coached the Team USA 2019 FIBA Team, and received high praise from Celtic stars Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart.
It will be interesting to see how Udoka does in his new role, and I wish him the best of luck. I also wish all the teams in the NBA Draft Lottery luck, and hope that they, like you, follow the NBA Blog, and have an awesome day!
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I like the Blog but I love the Celtics choosing Ike Udoka as their new Head coach. I wish him the best in his new role, I think he will have a successful career in Boston. I agree that this year’s draft class is loaded with talent. Another player I like is Luka Garza, the 6’11” player from the Iowa Hawkeyes, it looks like he has potential. Garza scored 102 points on 75 percent shooting through three games in 2020-21. He is the only Division I player in the last 25 years to score over 100 points on 75 percent shooting over any three-game stretch. I know critics say he lacks the mobility to play in the NBA but he definitely has the size and brute strength. Any thoughts?
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While I don’t think he’ll go in the lottery, he has the potential to be a backup or even starting center for a team that needs depth. It will be interesting to see where (or if) he gets drafted.
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Cade is no question a future NBA star
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