2008 NBA Draft

Draft lottery

The lottery, held on May 20, 2008, in Secaucus, New Jersey, determined the first three picks among the 14 teams that missed the playoffs. The Chicago Bulls, with the ninth-worst record and a 1.7% chance, won the first pick—the second-largest upset in lottery history. The Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves, holding the worst and third-worst records, received the second and third picks respectively. Remaining picks were assigned in reverse order of win–loss records, with ties broken by a random drawing on April 18, 2008.

Eligibility

Forty-four players filed as early-entry candidates: 39 from U.S. colleges and 5 international players. The collegiate early entrants included freshmen Michael Beasley, Jerryd Bayless, Eric Gordon, Donté Greene, JJ Hickson, Davon Jefferson, DeAndre Jordan, Kosta Koufos, Kevin Love, O. J. Mayo, Anthony Randolph, Derrick Rose, Bill Walker, and Russell Westbrook; sophomores Ryan Anderson, Darrell Arthur, D. J. Augustin, Brook Lopez, Robin Lopez, JaVale McGee, and Marreese Speights; and juniors Joe Alexander, Mario Chalmers, Chris Douglas-Roberts, C. J. Giles, Jamont Gordon, Kalem Grimes, Richard Hendrix, George Hill, Reggie Huffman, Shawn James, Luc Mbah a Moute, Trent Plaisted, Bruce Price, Brandon Rush, and Walter Sharpe.

International early entrants were Alexis Ajinça, Nicolas Batum, Danilo Gallinari, Serge Ibaka, and Ante Tomić. Players not meeting international criteria were automatically eligible if they had no remaining college eligibility, if four years had passed since their high school class graduated without enrolling in a U.S. college, or if they had signed and played under a professional contract outside the NBA.

Invited attendees

The NBA invited 16 prospects to attend the draft in person, selected through collective voting by team presidents and general managers. The invited players were Joe Alexander, Darrell Arthur, D. J. Augustin, Jerryd Bayless, Michael Beasley, Danilo Gallinari, Eric Gordon, and DeAndre Jordan. The 2008 draft was the 30th to use the green room system.

Trades involving draft picks

Multiple trades involving draft rights were executed on draft day. Memphis acquired the rights to third pick O. J. Mayo, Marko Jarić, Antoine Walker, and Greg Buckner from Minnesota for the rights to fifth pick Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins. Portland acquired the rights to 11th pick Jerryd Bayless and Ike Diogu from Indiana for the rights to 13th pick Brandon Rush, Jarrett Jack, and Josh McRoberts (finalized July 9, 2008).

Toronto acquired Jermaine O'Neal and the rights to 41st pick Nathan Jawai from Indiana for T. J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovič, Maceo Baston, and the rights to 17th pick Roy Hibbert (finalized July 9, 2008). In a three-team deal, Portland got the rights to 25th pick Nicolas Batum from Houston; Houston got the rights to 33rd pick Joey Dorsey from Portland and the rights to 28th pick Donté Greene plus a 2009 second-rounder from Memphis; Memphis got the rights to 27th pick Darrell Arthur from Portland.

Other trades involved Detroit, Miami, Chicago, San Antonio, Boston, Cleveland, and the L.A. Clippers exchanging draft rights for cash considerations or future picks.