No luck for the Indiana Pacers on this night.
The scene for the 31st annual NBA Draft Lottery Tuesday evening.
Draft positioning was finalized Tuesday night at the Hilton Midtown in New York at the NBA Draft Lottery and it went as expected for the Blue and Gold. The Pacers hold the 11th pick in upcoming NBA Draft, slated for Thursday, June 25th from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
In addition to No. 11, the Pacers also officially have the 43rd pick.
Going into the lottery, this was the most likely outcome with odds at 90.7 percent. They had a 2.9 percent chance of a top three pick and a 0.8 percent chance of leaping up to No. 1.
For the first time since 2004, the team with the worst record — Minnesota in this instance — has the top overall pick.
The last time Indiana had a top three pick: 1988, when they took center Rik Smits out of Marist with the second overall pick.
Larry Bird represented the franchise on stage, and longtime Media Relations Director, David Benner, was back in the lottery room where the process played out.
The actual lottery, which is done off camera, is typically completed in the hour before TV airs the results live. (Click here to video of it, published by the NBA for purposes of full transparency.)
[Everything you need to know about the NBA Draft Lottery]
The Pacers have a strong history at No. 11. In 1987, that’s where they drafted Hall of Famer Reggie Miller.
Other notable selections at No. 11: Michael Carter-Williams (2013, Philadelphia), Klay Thompson (2011, Golden State), J.J. Redick (2006, Orlando), Jared Jeffries (2002, Washington), Bonzi Wells (1998, Detroit), and Allan Houston (1993, Detroit).
Prior to the unveiling, Bird was asked by ESPN about the draft class, including the six potential lottery picks on hand that were playing in Indianapolis last month at the Final Four.
“Well, I’d like to take a couple home with me,” Bird quipped. “But I know that’s probably not going to happen. … The talent pool this year is very good. There’s a lot of good players out there. All of us sitting up here should be happy about that.”
The Pacers were participants in the Draft Lottery for the first time since 2010. Represented by Danny Granger, the Pacers landed the 10th selection — which they went on to use to take two-time All-Star Paul George.
The Pacers held their first pre-draft workout on Monday with six players — including Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant, and draft riser Cameron Payne — all likely to be taken in the two-round draft.
2015 NBA Draft Order
- Minnesota
- Los Angeles (Lakers)
- Philadelphia
- New York
- Orlando
- Sacramento
- Denver
- Detroit
- Charlotte
- Miami
- Indiana
- Utah
- Phoenix
- Oklahoma City
- Atlanta (via Brooklyn)
- Boston
- Milwaukee
- Houston (via New Orleans)
- Washington
- Toronto
- Dallas
- Chicago
- Portland
- Cleveland
- Memphis
- San Antonio
- Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston)
- Boston (via Los Angeles Clippers)
- Brooklyn (via Atlanta)
- Golden State
Larry Bird sharing a laugh with @APlayersProgram’s @iAmSJ… Perhaps they’re talking about @solohill. (via @NBA snap) pic.twitter.com/KTVL18vym4
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) May 19, 2015
[Photo via @BrettEP]
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Pacers have 11th pick in 2015 NBA Draft | Vigilant Sports