The Mavs had just a 1.8% chance to land the top pick. Duke forward Cooper Flagg is the consensus best player in this year’s draft.

Flagg has been the obvious No. 1 pick all season, but Harrison's decision to trade the 25-year-old Dončić for a 31-year-old Anthony Davis suggested that Dallas was all-in on the present. Had that been the case, Dallas could have offered Flagg for a number of veteran All-Stars, most notably Giannis Antetokounmpo should he become available.

Monday night's NBA Draft Lottery was arguably one of the most surprising in history leading up to a draft with one of the better classes this decade, highlighted by the Dallas Mavericks getting the No.

It would be easier to be hopeful about the Sixers’ prospects with this draft’s prospects if they had a history of making smart decisions when at the mercy of those pingpong balls.

“I think the pope should be focusing on the Bulls because they’ve got the [NBA Draft] lottery,” Counsell said. “First pick in the lottery and getting Cooper Flagg is what the pope should focus on – for Chicago sports fans.”