Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) celebrates after a shot against the Orlando Magic during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)
After the Portland Trail Blazers clinched a win against the Charlotte Hornets last night, their draft position has become clear.
Barring a sudden surge from either the Charlotte Hornets or the San Antonio Spurs in the final stretch of the season, Portland is set to claim the fifth position in the draft.
Here’s a recap of the updated lottery standings:
- Â Toronto Raptors (23-53, leading by 3 games)
- Â Portland Trail Blazers (20-56)
T3. Charlotte Hornets (18-58, trailing by 2 games)
T3. San Antonio Spurs (18-58, trailing by 2 games)
Interestingly, Charlotte’s loss on Wednesday was equally beneficial for them as it was for Portland, as it solidified their tie with the Spurs for the third position. Now, these two teams can maintain their standings by losing their remaining six games.
Portland’s slim chance of moving up in the draft largely relies on the performance of the Spurs in their remaining games. While the Hornets face teams eyeing playoff berths in their last six games, the Spurs encounter matchups against the Grizzlies and Pistons, potentially leading to additional losses.
Additionally, Portland has two final games against teams out of playoff contention: the Houston Rockets on April 12th (likely eliminated by then) and the Washington Wizards in Washington DC tomorrow night.
