New York: The Minnesota Timberwolves won the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday, becoming the first team with the worst record to be awarded the top overall pick since the Orlando Magic in 2004.
The Los Angeles Lakers moved into the top three and will pick second. The Philadelphia 76ers stayed put at number three, the New York Knicks get the fourth pick and the Magic round out the top five.
It marks the first time in team history Minnesota will pick first.
“We have a very young team and we will add one outstanding young player,” Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said. “We just want a young man with a great heart and a great mind.”
The top draft prospects include power forward Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky and centre Jahlil Okafor of Duke University.
Minnesota’s first pick will join forward Andrew Wiggins, who was recently named the NBA’s rookie of the year.
The Sacramento Kings will pick sixth, the Denver Nuggets seventh, the Detroit Pistons eighth, the Charlotte Hornets ninth, the Heat 10th, the Indiana Pacers 11th, the Utah Jazz 12th, the Phoenix Suns 13th and the Oklahoma City Thunder 14th.
The entry draft will be held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Centre arena on June 25.
