Q: How does the lottery work?
A: One thousand numerical combinations are assigned to the 14 teams by a computer. Fourteen pingpong balls numbered 1 through 14 are put in a drum. Four balls are drawn. The team with the matching combination, regardless of the order the balls are pulled, will have the No. 1 pick in the draft. The process will be repeated to determine the second pick and again for the third.
Q: What happens to the other 11 teams?
A: Anyone not among the top three will be placed in inverse order of regular-season record. So Memphis (22-60) can pick no lower than fourth, Boston (24-58) no lower than fifth, and so on.
Q: What does that mean for the Kings?
A: They can end up one, two, three, 10, 11, 12 or 13. The greatest probability, at 84.62 percent, is 10th. They have a 1.8 percent chance of moving all the way to first, 2.12 percent of getting second and 2.55 percent of third. Getting worse than 10 will require one or more teams behind them -- Indiana, Philadelphia, New Orleans and the Los Angeles Clippers -- beating tremendous odds to take a spot among the top three.