NBA Draft 2020: Biggest winners and losers from the Draft Lottery

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: (L-R) NBA Draft prospects Coby White, Zion Williamson, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Ja Morant and De'Andre Hunter stand on stage with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver before the start of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 13: P.J. Washington #25 of the Charlotte Hornets (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Winner: The Risers (Charlotte and Chicago)

What a win for two franchises who seriously needed a boost. The Hornets and Bulls were excluded from the NBA Restart, members of the “Delete Eight” sitting at the bottom of the standings and entering the drawing with the eighth- and seventh-worst records, respectively.

For a Charlotte franchise that lost Kemba Walker last summer, missed out on the chance to draft Anthony Davis in the 2012 draft despite putting together the worst win percentage in league history, and has been a bottom-barrel team since its mid-2000s rebirth, a five-position jump to third overall is a basketball miracle. Michael Jordan and Mitch Kupchak will have their pick of whichever top prospect falls past Minnesota and Golden State, be it Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, or James Wiseman, giving the organization a franchise cornerstone to build around long-term.

And for a Chicago team that perpetually picks seventh overall — Coby White in 2019, Wendell Carter Jr. in 2018, Lauri Markkanen in 2017 — and just underwent a top-down overhaul, the No. 4 pick is a great tool to give Artūras Karnišovas as he looks to tinker with the roster and figure out the best formula for the future.

The Bulls have plenty of question marks throughout the rotation, whether it’s the prospects of a White and Zach LaVine backcourt or the contract status of Otto Porter Jr. and Markkanen, but Karnišovas is primed to pick the best player available in his first year on the job.

Israeli forward Deni Avdija, French guard Killian Hayes, Auburn wing Isaac Okoro, and Dayton bigman Obi Toppin should all be considered at fourth overall, giving Chicago plenty of solid options regardless of the direction the front office ultimately chooses.

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