2022 NBA draft lottery race: March 1 update for Rockets, Nets picks
The Houston Rockets have the worst record in the Western Conference and are out of the 2022 NBA playoffs. They have two first-round draft picks this year: their own and one from Brooklyn. The teams within three games of them in either direction in standings are the teams to watch. The best-case outcomes for draft odds and slots arise from having a worse record.
Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons are within three games of Houston.
There are games involving Magic, Pacers, Raptors, Nets, Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Bucks and Hornets on Monday.
The Rockets are 15-45, one game behind the No. 2 spot and one half game off the top. The Rockets and the Nets are tied for the first-round draft pick.
Brooklyn's current draft placement is 13th, Charlotte's 30-33, Atlanta's 29-31, Los Angeles Clippers' 32-30, Brooklyn's 32.30. Minnesota's 33-29, Toronto's 3-27, Timberwolves' 2-2, Raptors' 1-0. The NBA's lottery system draws for the first four picks by weighted odds. Brooklyn is not in the playoffs, so its draft pick is based on regular-season record. The playoffs cannot change a team's draft spot in NBA. It's possible that some of Brooklyn’s problems might be resolved by the playoff.
