With the season no officially over, let's check in on where we are in the lotto.
The following teams will finish in the top 7 in some order, and for the purposes of the Kings' pick, the order doesn't matter:
1) e-Houston Rockets
2) e-Detroit Pistons
3) e-Oklahoma City Thunder
4) e-Orlando Magic
5) e-Minnesota Timberwolves
6) e-Cleveland Cavaliers
7) e-Toronto Raptors
The other teams that can/will finish out of the playoffs (and therefore can/will be in the lottery) but are relevant for the Kings are:
8) Chicago Bulls (30-40), @Nets Sat, Bucks Sun
9) e-Sacramento Kings (31-39), @Grizz Fri, Jazz Sun
10) e-New Orleans Pelicans (31-39), @Warriors Fri, Lakers Sun
11) Washington Wizards (32-38), Cavaliers Fri, Hornets Sun
12) p-San Antonio Spurs (33-37), Suns Sat, Suns Sun
13) p-Indiana Pacers (33-37), Lakers Sat, @Raptors Sun
14) p-Charlotte Hornets (33-37), @Knicks Sat,
@wizards Sun
The remaining teams that make the play-in games (3 in the West, 1 in the East) will finish ahead of the Kings, and therefore if they lose in the play-in games will pick later than the Kings.
There is only ONE guaranteed win among the six teams that the Kings are still jostling for lotto position with. That comes on Sunday when the Hornets play the Wizards.
Kings best possible finish: 8th, 60 lotto combos, 26.3% chance of top-4 (Kings lose 2, Bulls win 2, Pelicans win 1 or 2)
Kings worst possible finish: t-11th/12th/13th, 15 lotto combos, 7.1% chance of top-4 (Kings win 2, Pelicans lose 1 or 2, Wizards lose 2, Spurs lose 2 and lose play-in, Pacers lose 2 and lose play-in)