The NBA Draft lottery stands as the leading event through which teams can obtain premium talent for roster reconstruction. The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery presents the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets with strong prospects of securing the valuable first overall draft selection. Where does the strongest opportunity lie between these two franchise?
NBA draft lottery determines which non-playoff teams will have first selection rights. Three teams with the lowest regular-season records each have a 14% chance of securing the No. 1 draft position. The NBA implemented this mechanism to discourage teams from intentionally losing games for improved draft placement.
Jazz vs. Hornets: A Breakdown of Their Odds
Due to their league standings as bottom-three teams Utah Jazz (17-65) and Charlotte Hornets (17-63) hold equal 14% probabilities of winning. The Jazz have a minor advantage over the Hornets due to tiebreaker rules, which give them the edge in case both teams miss out on a top-four draft selection.
Ten days away from the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, here are the odds to potentially land Cooper Flagg:
Jazz: 14%
Hornets: 14%
Wizards: 14%
Pelicans: 12.5%
Sixers: 10.5%
Nets: 9%
Raptors: 7.5%
Spurs: 6.7%
Rockets (via Suns): 3.8%
Blazers: 3.7%
Mavericks: 1.8%
Bulls: 1.7%
Kings: 0.8% pic.twitter.com/N7rQmon7Ax— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 2, 2025
While the Jazz and Hornets are strong contenders for the No. 1 pick, they are not alone. The Washington Wizards (18-64) also share the same 14% odds, making them another serious competitor.
Among NBA teams, the Philadelphia 76ers (10.5%) together with the New Orleans Pelicans (12.5%) maintain the fifth-best shot at winning this drawing.
Potential No. 1 Pick: Cooper Flagg
The 2025 draft prospect Cooper Flagg stands out from Duke University as a freshman forward who offers dual offensive and defensive abilities. He averaged 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game during the last season.
Flagg receives widespread admiration that matches the production level of top draft choices such as Zion Williamson and Paolo Banchero.
The future winner of the lottery draft will most likely use their first selection to choose Duke’s top-rated NBA 2025 prospect Flagg.
Flagg demonstrates skills as a forward that include elite scoring abilities, superior defensive performance and strong basketball intelligence making him a transformational talent for any franchise.
Because of its tiebreaker procedure, the Jazz have a slight advantage over the Hornets when it comes to potentially winning the No. 1 draft pick. However, the lottery’s unpredictable nature means that anything can happen on May 12, when the official draw takes place.
KEEP READING: Why College Basketball Players Keep Transfer Options Open After Declaring for the NBA Draft
The final results will provide major effects for both teams regarding their rebuilding efforts moving towards playoffs.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
