NBA Draft Lottery: T-Wolves Grab Top Spot, Sixers Get Third

The basketball Gods must not think tanking is the best philosophy.

For the second straight year, the Philadelphia Sixers will be selecting third overall, after the ping pong balls did not go their way on Tuesday night.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, who had the league's worst overall record will be selecting first overall, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers who leapfrogged into the top three.

The Sixers finished with the third worst record in the NBA, which means they are technically drafting where they are supposed to be.

The New York Knicks who made some questionable decisions that would surmise a "tanking" strategy wound up outside the top three with the fourth overall selection.

The Sixers did not wind up conveying either of their protected picks from the Miami Heat, nor the Lakers and will have to wait another season to reap benefits.

Still, it's not all disappointing for the Sixers.

The team is in dire need of back court help and with the top two selections expected to be twin towers in Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor, the Sixers should have their choice at the best available guard.

Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell and mystery guard Emmanuel Mudiay are expected to be the first two guard taken in next month's draft.

The Sixers also possess five second round picks, including picks 35 and 37.

The 2015 NBA Draft will be held on June 25, 2015 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Here is the complete drafting order of the first round:

1. Timberwolves
2. Lakers
3. 76ers
4. Knicks
5. Magic
6. Kings
7. Nuggets
8. Pistons
9. Hornets
10. Heat
11. Pacers
12. Jazz
13. Suns
14. Thunder
15. Hawks (from Nets)
16. Celtics
17. Bucks
18. Rockets (from Pelicans)
19. Wizards
20. Raptors
21. Mavericks
22. Bulls
23. Trail Blazers
24. Cavaliers
25. Grizzlies
26. Spurs
27. Lakers (from Rockets)
28. Celtics (from Clippers)
29. Nets (from Hawks)
30. Warriors

--PG