[-STAT-]

Wembanyama to San Antonio a few years back is another one that everyone saw coming.

Didn't see this one with Dallas, but it's always teams in large markets or advantageous situations for the league getting the #1 pick, unless it's a really weak draft, in which case teams like Atlanta or Charlotte get their turn(s).

Fun fact: Denver, Utah, Memphis, Miami, Indianapolis, and Oklahoma City have never had the #1 overall pick. Charlotte had the #1 once very early in their franchise's history. The Atlanta Hawks have been around since 1968 and have been pretty terrible but only had the #1 twice-- 1975 and 2024 (when no one was interested in a trade).

You bring up a great point CJ. Only when the draft classes are weak, is when you see the small market teams get the #1 pick. 

Another interesting case is Lebron. Cleveland is far from a big market like L.A/New York but the powers that be knew what it would mean for the city, but above all else what it would mean for the league publicity wise, and financially. Hometown kid, generational talent going #1 to his hometown team? It only made sense for that to happen. But like you said, in most every other case, when it's a generational talent like we've got this year, especially after a team gets fleeced in a trade, then they get the #1 pick.