(CNN Philippines) — Looks like the tide is turning for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers learned that they will be picking second in the 2015 Rookie Draft after the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft lottery took place on Wednesday PHT (May 20).
The Minnesota Timberwolves, who had the worst record this season, were awarded the first pick. Philadelphia will choose third, followed by the New York Knicks at fourth.
Related: Timberwolves secure first pick in 2015 NBA Draft
The Lakers jumped from the fourth spot to second, keeping a pick they would have given to the Sixers if it fell outside the top five.
For Los Angeles superstar Kobe Bryant, it was fitting that the Lakers, who finished this season with a dismal 21-61 record – 14th in the West, got the second pick in the June draft.
“We played like crap all season so it’s only right we get the #2 pick,” Bryant said in a tweet.
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We played like crap all season so it's only right we get the #2 pick HA #lakerluck #goodday
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) May 20, 2015
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The Lakers only had an 11.9-percent chance of landing the top pick, but had a 37.8 -percent shot of getting in the top three.
The last time the franchise landed a top three pick was in 1982, which they used to select James Worthy as the first pick overall.
Former Duke center Jahlil Okafor and Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns are eyed as the top two prospects in the upcoming draft and Laker legend Magic Johnson was excited the Lakers could snag either one of them.
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Signing Okafor or Towns to play with Kobe, Randle, Clarkson and some good Free Agents will help the Lakers compete in the West!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 20, 2015
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Last year, the Lakers selected Julius Randle as the seventh pick but the rookie was sidelined for the whole season after he broke his leg in his NBA debut.
