BUCKING HISTORY
The Wolves entered this year's NBA draft lottery with the best chance — 25 percent — of winning the first overall pick in the draft. Of course, given the Wolves' history, who'd have guessed they'd actually get No. 1? In 18 previous lottery tries, the Wolves had moved down eight times, and in two previous times with the best odds at No. 1 overall, they got the second and third pick. Here is a look at their previous lottery woe:
1990: 22-60 (fifth-worst record)
Lottery pick: 6th
Draft pick: Felton Spencer
1991: 29-53 (seventh worst)
Lottery pick: 7th
Draft pick: Luc Longley
1992: 15-67 (worst)
Lottery pick: 3rd
Draft pick: Christian Laettner
1993: 19-63 (second worst)
Lottery pick: 5th
Draft pick: Isaiah Rider
Dropping three places to fifth, the Wolves took Isaiah Rider after Chris Webber, Shawn Bradley, Penny Hardaway and Jamal Mashburn went 1-4.
1994: 20-62 (third worst)
Lottery pick: 4th
Draft pick: Donyell Marshall
1995: 21-61 (third worst)
Lottery pick: 5th
Draft pick: Kevin Garnett
1996: 26-56 (fifth worst)
Lottery pick: 5th
Draft pick: Stephon Marbury (after trading actual pick Ray Allen and future first-round pick to Milwaukee to move up to No. 4 overall)
1999: 25-25 (fifth worst, strike-shortened)
Lottery position (via N.J.): 6th
Draft pick: Wally Szczerbiak
2005: 44-38 (14th worst)
Lottery position: 14th
Draft pick: Rashad McCants
2006: 33-49 (sixth worst)
Lottery position: 6th
Draft pick: Randy Foye (after trading actual pick Brandon Roy to Portland)
2007: 32-50 (sixth worst)
Lottery position: 7th
Draft pick: Corey Brewer
2008: 22-60 (third worst)
Lottery position: 3rd
Draft pick: Kevin Love (after trading actual pick O.J. Mayo to Memphis)
2009: 24-58 (fifth worst)
Lottery position: 6th
Draft pick: Jonny Flynn (after getting Ricky Rubio at No. 5 with Washington's pick)
2010: 15-67 (second worst)
Lottery position: 4th
Draft pick: Wes Johnson
2011: 17-65 (worst record)
Lottery position: 2nd
Draft pick: Derrick Williams
2012: 26-40 (10th worst)
Lottery pick: 10th
Draft pick: Traded to Clippers in Marco Jaric deal
2013: 31-51 (ninth worst)
Lottery position: 9th
Draft pick: Shabazz Muhammad (after trading actual pick Trey Burke to Utah; also yielded 21st pick Gorgui Dieng)
2014: 40-42 (13th worst)
Lottery position: 13th
Draft pick: Zach LaVine