The 2010 NBA Lottery: Odds For The Favorites In The Race To Draft John Wall

Tonight, the 2010 NBA Lottery will take place at 8 PM on ESPN. The lottery is a watershed occasion during any NBA year, but this particularly in 2010, with a can't-miss prospect at the top of the Draft (John Wall), all eyes are on Seacaucus, New Jersey.

In more lean years, the Lottery can act as a footnote to a draft process that never had much fanfare to begin with. But when there are players like John Wall and Evan Turner available, everyone's ears perk up.

Because whatever happens tonight, there's a realistic chance that it'll shape the NBA landscape for the next few years. At least. So what goes on to make the NBA Lottery happen?

Well, it's simple, really...

An ever evolving process, the lottery now determines only the top three selections, with the remaining teams picking in inverse order of their regular season record. The 14 certified, weighed and sized white balls, numbered one through 14, are placed in a drum similar to those used in state lottery contests. Four balls are drawn, comprising the winning combination, without regard to their order of selection.

Did reading that give you a headache? Well, here's what it means for the teams involved.

1. New Jersey Nets 25.0% chance at the No. 1 pick
   
2. Minnesota Timberwolves 19.9% chance
3. Sacramento Kings, 15.6% chance
4. Golden State Warriors, 10.4% chance
5. Washington Wizards, 10.3% chance
6. Philadelphia 76ers, 5.3% chance
7. Detroit Pistons, 5.2% chance
8. L.A. Clippers, 2.3% chance
9. Utah Jazz, 2.2% chance
10. Indiana Pacers, 1.1% chance
11. New Orleans Hornets, 0.8% chance
12. Memphis Grizzlies, 0.7% chance
13. Toronto Raptors, 0.6% chance
14. Houston Rockets, 0.5% chance

So, after a year where scouts drooled mercilessly over John Wall, who gets to finally draft the guy? Tonight at 8, the NBA will find out. Stay tuned for updates here from myself and Derek Bodner, SB Nation's correspondent on the ground in New Jersey.