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New Orleans Pelicans get first pick in NBA Draft Lottery, Sixers’ slim chance at Zion Williamson fizzles out and Kings’ Twitter rejoices

It was the first year in which the NBA’s lottery reform went into effect, with each of the league’s four worst teams having equal odds at the first pick, with the percentage chance for each falling from 25 percent to 14.

Duke's Zion Williamson arrives for the NBA basketball draft lottery Tuesday, May 14, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nuccio DiNuzzo)
Duke's Zion Williamson arrives for the NBA basketball draft lottery Tuesday, May 14, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nuccio DiNuzzo)Read moreNuccio DiNuzzo / AP

Hopefully Zion Williamson likes Cajun food.

In a surprising NBA Draft Lottery, the New Orleans Pelicans secured the first pick on Tuesday despite having just a six-percent chance at it going into the night.

The pick will give them the chance to draft Williamson, the consensus No. 1 prospect after an impressive freshman season at Duke.

The Pelicans’ front office is currently dealing with All-Star Anthony Davis’ trade request made in the regular season. The first pick could either jumpstart the team’s rebuild, or entice Davis to rescind his request and sign a contract extension before he reaches free agency next offseason.

It was the first year in which the NBA’s lottery reform went into effect, with each of the league’s four worst teams having equal odds at the first pick, with the percentage chance for each falling from 25 percent to 14. The New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Phoenix Suns all suffered from the change. The Knicks finished with the third pick, the Cavs with No. 5 and the Suns with No. 6.

The Lakers jumped into the Top four, along with the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies got the second pick, and the Lakers got No. 4.

The Sixers had a one percent chance at the first pick, thanks to the right to swap picks with the Kings thanks to a 2015 trade that brought the Kings cap relief and brought Sam Hinkie legend status in the city. Instead, the Kings’ pick conveyed to the Celtics as a part of the trade that brought the Sixers Markelle Fultz and the Celtics Jayson Tatum and, now, the No. 14 pick in this year’s draft.

The Kings’ Twitter account had its fun at the Sixers’ expense.