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— CH. 1 · THE LOTTERY AND THE FIRST PICK —

2014 NBA draft

~3 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
6 sections

  • On the 20th of May 2014, the NBA held its draft lottery at Times Square Studios in New York City. The Cleveland Cavaliers won this drawing with just a 1.7% chance to secure the first overall pick. This outcome marked their third number-one selection over a four-year span from 2011 to 2014. The Milwaukee Bucks had the worst record and a 25% chance to win but finished second. The Philadelphia 76ers took the third spot after holding the second-worst record of the season. These three teams determined the top tier of selections for the upcoming event.

  • Nikola Jokić entered the league as the 41st pick in the second round. He later became the lowest draft selection ever to win both the MVP Award and the NBA Finals MVP award. Andrew Wiggins was selected first by the Cleveland Cavaliers on the 26th of June 2014. Nearly two months after the draft concluded, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. This transaction made him only the second player since the NBA-ABA merger to never play a game for his drafting team. Chris Webber faced the same fate when drafted first in 1993 before being traded minutes later.

  • The 2014 draft featured several unique achievements across different categories. Walter Tavares became the first Cape Verdean player to be selected in any NBA draft. Three Canadian players appeared within the top twenty picks including Andrew Wiggins, Nik Stauskas, and Tyler Ennis. P.J. Hairston marked the first time an NBA Development League player was chosen in the first round. Thanasis Antetokounmpo joined him as another D-League player selected that year. Sim Bhullar would become the first player of Indian descent to play in the league in April 2015.

  • The 2011 collective bargaining agreement established new eligibility rules for all draftees. Players had to be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft. Non-international players needed one year removed from high school graduation to qualify. International players were defined as those who permanently resided outside the United States for three years prior to the draft. A total of 45 collegiate players and 30 international players declared as early entry candidates before the deadline on June 16. Eighteen early entry candidates withdrew from consideration leaving 44 collegiate players and 13 international players available.

  • The physical event took place on the 26th of June 2014, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Commissioner Adam Silver announced selections while deputy commissioner Mark Tatum handled the second round. Twenty-one players sat in the green room including Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker. Joel Embiid was invited but could not attend due to an injury sustained before the draft. Isaiah Austin received a special invitation despite being diagnosed with Marfan syndrome days earlier. The league ceremonially selected him between the 15th and 16th picks so his name would finally be heard.

  • Pre-draft trades resulted in exchanges of draft picks between teams before the main event began. On draft day itself, additional transactions occurred involving drafted players. Andrew Wiggins was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves nearly two months after the selection. This three-team deal brought Kevin Love to Cleveland alongside the new pick. The Orlando Magic had previously drafted Chris Webber first overall in 1993 and traded him minutes later for future assets. That historical parallel remains one of only two instances where a number-one pick never played for their drafting team.

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Common questions

When did the 2014 NBA draft lottery take place and where was it held?

The 2014 NBA draft lottery took place on the 20th of May 2014 at Times Square Studios in New York City. The Cleveland Cavaliers won this drawing with just a 1.7% chance to secure the first overall pick.

Who was selected first by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 NBA draft?

Andrew Wiggins was selected first by the Cleveland Cavaliers on the 26th of June 2014. He was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves nearly two months after the draft concluded.

What unique achievements occurred during the 2014 NBA draft regarding international players?

Walter Tavares became the first Cape Verdean player to be selected in any NBA draft. Sim Bhullar would become the first player of Indian descent to play in the league in April 2015 following his selection that year.

How many players were available for the 2014 NBA draft after early entry candidates withdrew?

Eighteen early entry candidates withdrew from consideration leaving 44 collegiate players and 13 international players available. A total of 45 collegiate players and 30 international players declared as early entry candidates before the deadline on June 16.

Where did the physical 2014 NBA draft event occur and who announced the selections?

The physical event took place on the 26th of June 2014 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Commissioner Adam Silver announced selections while deputy commissioner Mark Tatum handled the second round.

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All sources

103 references cited across the entry

  1. 1web2013–14 National Basketball Association Important Dates
  2. 2webNBA Draft will be held at Barclays Center againApril 25, 2014
  3. 3web2014 NBA Draft Order
  4. 4web2014 NBA Draft Coverage
  5. 5web2014 NBA Big Board: Wiggins leads deepest draft in yearsSeptember 26, 2013
  6. 6webActivation strong around NBA draftJune 23, 2014
  7. 7webBobcats Acquire Ben Gordon, Future First-Round Pick From PistonsJune 26, 2012
  8. 8newsCharlotte Hornets get ninth pick in NBA lotteryRick Bonnell — May 20, 2014
  9. 9webSixers Acquire Rights to Nerlens Noel and a 2014 First-round Pick in Trade With New OrleansJuly 12, 2013
  10. 10webNew Orleans Pelicans unable to beat NBA lottery odds, surrender first-round pick to PhiladelphiaJohn Reid — The Times Picayune — May 20, 2014
  11. 11webSixers Acquire Joel Embiid, Dario Saric in the First Round of the 2014 NBA DraftJune 27, 2014
  12. 12webBulls acquire McDermott via draft night tradeAdam Fluck — June 26, 2014
  13. 13webNuggets acquire five players, three picks in three-team tradeFebruary 22, 2012
  14. 14webKnicks Acquire Four-Time All-Star Carmelo AnthonyFebruary 22, 2011
  15. 15webMagic Acquire Six Players, Five Draft Picks in Howard TradeAugust 10, 2012
  16. 16webKnicks miss out on 12th pickIan Begley — May 20, 2014
  17. 17webBulls receive Murray and Law for ThomasFebruary 18, 2010
  18. 18webBulls may be closing in on Bobcats' first-round pickMark Strotman — January 6, 2014
  19. 19webCeltics Complete Trade With Brooklyn NetsJuly 12, 2013
  20. 20webSuns Acquire Okafor, First-Round PickOctober 25, 2013
  21. 21webLakers Acquire First Round Draft Pick from Dallas in Exchange for Lamar Odom & Second Round Draft PickDecember 11, 2011
  22. 22webRockets Make Pair Of Deadline DealsMarch 15, 2012
  23. 23webThunder Acquires Martin, Lamb and Multiple Draft Picks from RocketsOctober 27, 2012
  24. 24webJazz Acquires Biedrins, Jefferson, Rush and Five Future Draft Picks in Three-Team TradeJuly 10, 2013
  25. 25webUConn's Shabazz Napier has surgerySeptember 10, 2012
  26. 26webNapier: "It will be an honor"FIBA Americas — April 7, 2014
  27. 27webPrzybilla, Cunningham, Marks, 2 First Round Picks Acquired from PortlandFebruary 24, 2011
  28. 28webHeat Acquires Shabazz Napier in the 2014 NBA DraftJune 27, 2014
  29. 29webSuns Make Important Trade for FutureJuly 27, 2013
  30. 30webFrance Defeat Germany in U16 Warm-UpsFIBA Europe — June 23, 2010
  31. 31webCavaliers Select Irving and Thompson with First and Fourth Overall Picks in The 2011 NBA DraftJune 24, 2011
  32. 32webCeltics Acquire Olynyk, IversonJune 28, 2013
  33. 33webKnicks Acquire Calderon, Three Others in Dallas TradeJune 25, 2014
  34. 34webGrizzlies acquire draft rights to Jarnell StokesJune 26, 2014
  35. 35webSuns Sign Gordon to Offer Sheet, Trade NashJuly 11, 2012
  36. 36webWolves Trade Wes Johnson To PhoenixJuly 27, 2012
  37. 37webBucks Acquire Luke Ridnour in a Three Team DealJuly 11, 2013
  38. 38webRaptors Deal James Johnson To KingsJuly 16, 2012
  39. 39webSixers Acquire Two Second-Round Picks in 2014 NBA Draft From Cleveland CavaliersFebruary 20, 2014
  40. 40webWolves Acquire Antonio Daniels from New OrleansSeptember 9, 2009
  41. 41webRockets Make Trades OfficialJuly 11, 2012
  42. 42webHeat Trades Michael BeasleyJuly 12, 2010
  43. 43webWolves Complete Five Draft-Night TradesJune 24, 2011
  44. 44inlineBrooklyn Nets Acquire Draft Rights to Markel Brown, Xavier Thames and Cory Jefferson
  45. 45webLakers Acquire Draft Rights to Jordan ClarksonJune 26, 2014
  46. 46webCeltics Acquire Draft Rights to JohnsonJune 23, 2011
  47. 47newsMavericks officially secure rights to Ricky Ledo in trade with 76ersJune 28, 2013
  48. 48webPelicans Acquire Draft Rights to Russ Smith in 2014 NBA DraftJune 27, 2014
  49. 49webSuns Acquire Haddadi, Second-Round PickFebruary 21, 2013
  50. 50webBucks Acquire Two Second-Round Draft PicksJuly 10, 2013
  51. 51webHawks Trade To Get Lamar PattersonJune 27, 2014
  52. 52webCavaliers Acquire Pargo and 2014 Second Round Pick From GrizzliesJuly 25, 2012
  53. 53webMuhammad Embraces Move To TimberwolvesJune 27, 2013
  54. 54webDraft Haul Includes Capela, Johnson and GentileJune 26, 2014
  55. 55webCenter Samuel Dalembert and 14th Draft Pick Highlight Trade with RocketsJune 27, 2012
  56. 56webBucks Acquire Draft Rights to Nate WoltersJune 27, 2013
  57. 57webSan Antonio selects Kyle Anderson in 2014 NBA draft; acquire rights to Nemanja Dangubic from 76ersJune 27, 2014
  58. 58webSixers Acquire Draft Rights To Jordan McRae From San Antonio SpursJune 27, 2014
  59. 59webThunder Acquires Mitch McGary, Josh Huestis and Draft Rights to Semaj Christon in the 2014 DraftJune 27, 2014
  60. 60webNuggets acquire Andre Miller, Jordan Hamilton, future pickJune 24, 2011
  61. 61webTrail Blazers Acquire Guards Raymond Felton, Nolan Smith And Jon Diebler In 2011 NBA DraftJune 24, 2011
  62. 62webMagic Trade Afflalo; Acquire Fournier and MarbleJune 26, 2014
  63. 63webKnicks Pick Early, Antetokounmpo in 2014 DraftJune 27, 2014
  64. 64webClippers Acquire Bobby Brown From New Orleans in Exchange for 2014 Conditional Second Round PickJanuary 26, 2010
  65. 65webSpurs Trade Jerrells To New OrleansOctober 18, 2010
  66. 66webKnicks Trade Brewer To OKC, Acquire 2nd Round PickFebruary 21, 2013
  67. 67webRaptors Acquire Three Players, Three Picks From KnicksJuly 10, 2013
  68. 68webRaptors Select Bruno Caboclo In First Round Of NBA DraftJune 27, 2014
  69. 69webBryce the AussieSeptember 22, 2025
  70. 70webHunter's memo to players details NBA CBAJeff Zillgit — December 7, 2011
  71. 71webArticle X, Section 1(b)(i)National Basketball Players Association
  72. 75webArticle X, Section 8(c)National Basketball Players Association
  73. 76webBylaw 12.2.4.2.1.1 Exception—Basketball—Four-Year College Student-Athlete, Men's BasketballNational Collegiate Athletic Association
  74. 77newsCollege players given extra time to mull NBA draft decisionJeff Goodman — January 13, 2016
  75. 79webNBA announces early entry candidates for 2014 NBA DraftApril 30, 2014
  76. 80web2014 NBA Draft Early EntriesApril 30, 2014
  77. 81webEighteen early entry candidates withdraw from 2014 NBA DraftJune 17, 2014
  78. 82web75 early entry candidates announced for 2014 NBA DraftA. Sherrod Blakely — CSN New England — April 30, 2014
  79. 83webIsaiah Austin has Marfan syndromeJune 22, 2014
  80. 84newsBehanan entering NBA draft a move CSU was planning forMatt L. Stephens — April 29, 2014
  81. 85newsDante Exum is an X factor from AustraliaBaxter Holmes — June 17, 2014
  82. 86webAnadolu Efes inks rising star SaricEuroleague Basketball — June 24, 2014
  83. 87webSix NBA D-League Alumni Eligible for 2014 NBA Draft Presented by State FarmApril 30, 2014
  84. 88newsFormer Tar Heel P.J. Hairston auditions for Charlotte HornetsTom Sorensen — June 4, 2014
  85. 92webOfficial 2014 NBA pre-draft combine invite listNorlander, Matt — 2014-05-12
  86. 93web2014 NBA D-League Elite Mini Camp: Day 2 Recap: Director Bob MacKinnon offers his take on the prospects who are set for a big summer.Kotloff, Brian — 2014-05-13
  87. 94webTies broken for NBA Draft 2014 order of selectionApril 18, 2014
  88. 95web2014 NBA Draft OrderMay 20, 2014
  89. 96webCavs continue lottery luck, get No. 1 pick againMay 20, 2014
  90. 97webWhat You Need To Know About The NBA Draft LotteryMay 20, 2014
  91. 98webNBA draft 2014 reaction: What they're saying around the leagueScott Branson — Cleveland.com — June 27, 2014
  92. 99webParker realizes that just happenedScoop Jackson — June 27, 2014
  93. 100webThe History of Nets Draft Caps
  94. 101webNBA Draft LIVE Blog: No Fireworks For CelticsMatthew Geagan — CBS Boston — June 27, 2014
  95. 102newsNBA draft 2014: Adam Silver shines with selection of Isaiah AustinJune 27, 2014
  96. 103newsDavis, Beal headline 14 players reportedly invited to 2012 NBA Draft Green RoomBen Golliver — June 25, 2012
  97. 104webNBA issues 'green room' invitationsChad Ford — June 18, 2011
  98. 105webA list of 2014 NBA Draft Green Room invitesBrett Pollakoff — NBCSports.com — June 22, 2014
  99. 106magazineTwenty prospects receive 2014 NBA draft green room invitationsBen Golliver — June 23, 2014
  100. 107webJoel Embiid has fractured footJeff Goodman — June 20, 2014
  101. 108newsAdam Silver invites Isaiah Austin to attend draftJames Herbert — June 23, 2014
  102. 109webNBA selects Isaiah Austin in draftJune 27, 2014
  103. 110web2014 Draft Trade TrackerNBA — June 27, 2014