Chicago Bulls win surprise first pick in Draft

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Chicago Bulls won the draft lottery held on Tuesday and will get the first pick in next month's NBA Draft.

The Bulls, who had only a 1.7 percent chance of winning the right to pick first after posting a 33-49 regular season record, will select ahead of the Miami Heat.

The Heat, who at 15-67 owned the NBA's worst record, had a 25 percent chance among the 14 eligible teams to get first pick but were drawn to go second.

Minnesota will choose third and Seattle fourth, followed by Memphis, New York, the Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee.

The talent-rich draft, which is the primary way NBA teams stock their squads, this year features forward Michael Beasley of Kansas State and University of Memphis point guard Derrick Rose as the likely top two selections.

"Our operators are standing by to take season-ticket orders," Bulls vice president Steve Schanwald said in a TV interview after winning first choice having been rated the ninth best chance in the sweepstakes.

Other top prospects in the June 26 draft include guards Jerryd Bayless of Arizona and O.J. Mayo of University of Southern California, and center Brook Lopez of Stanford.

Among leading international players in the draft is Italian forward Danilo Gallinari.

(Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Ed Osmond)