When is the NBA Draft Lottery? Date, time, odds, how to watch

The NBA Draft Lottery is two months away, and it promises to be a franchise-altering night for multiple franchises. Victor Wembanyama has the game of a generational prospect, and Scoot Henderson could be a multiple-time All-Star. It is an elite top-two and strong field that has multiple teams praying to the lottery gods already.

The Dallas Mavericks could be part of the 2023 draft lottery. They are clinging to a spot in the Play-In Tournament with just 12 games to go with no guarantee of an actual playoff spot. The Mavs season could come down to one game, which could spell doom given their wildly inconsistent play.

Here is a look at all the specifics of the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery before diving into the Mavs’ current lottery odds and why they must make the playoffs.

When is the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery?

Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Time: 7:00 p.m. CT

How to watch: ESPN, Watch ESPN, or ESPN app

What are the Dallas Mavericks NBA Draft lottery odds right now?

The Mavs are currently eighth in the Western Conference and are projected to make the playoffs. If they lose two straight games in the Play-In Tournament and find themselves in the lottery, Dallas would have just a 2.4 percent chance of keeping their selection if the current standings held.

Why the Dallas Mavericks need to make the playoffs and avoid the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery

The Mavs owe their 2023 first-round draft pick to the New York Knicks from the original Kristaps Porzingis trade. It is top ten protected, so Dallas would have to move up into the top four to keep it. Even if they slip to 12th in the Western Conference over the finals weeks, the Mavs would have just a 10.3 percent chance of moving into the top four and a 65.9 percent shot at selecting tenth.

The Dallas Mavericks are not going to tank down the stretch, so they need to make the playoffs. Their odds of keeping their pick will likely be in the single digits if they are in the lottery, which means Dallas will miss the playoffs and not have the lottery pick to add to their roster.

The Mavs missing the playoffs could have larger implications too, like on Kyrie Irving’s free agency and Luka Doncic’s happiness in Dallas. It is somewhere they do not want to go, so they must get healthy and win games down the stretch.