Via NBA Communications:
NEW YORK, May 30, 2012 – Following are the results from the 2012 NBA Draft Lottery, which was conducted this evening at the Disney/ABC Times Square Studio. The New Orleans Hornets, who had a 13.7 percent chance of obtaining the first selection, will have the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, which will be held in Newark, N.J. at Prudential Center on Thursday, June 28, 2012.
This news came with sarcasm from many reporters, players, and fans that the NBA Draft Lottery is rigged. The NBA sold the Hornets franchise to Tom Benson in April and then awarded the city the 2014 NBA All-star weekend for the second time in six years (2008). Now they have been awarded, excuse me, they won the the number one pick in this year’s draft with just a 13.7% chance of that having been the outcome.
There just seem to be a lot of coincidences that occur in the NBA.
For the probable number one pick, Anthony Davis, he has been saved from the disaster that should have been his fate as a member of the Charlotte Bobcats. Charlotte had a the best odds of winning the lottery at 25% but ended up with the number two pick.
Somewhere in this world Michael Jordan is throwing Nikes at a picture of David Stern.
Davis will now have the opportunity to grow under head coach Monty Williams who is already regarded as a great teacher and player’s coach. He will also get to become the face of the franchise in the wake of Chris Paul’s exodus, alongside Eric Gordon (should the Hornets pick up his contract as they are expected to).
With all of that said it does beg to question why the NBA refuses to actually televise the ping pong balls being drawn during the lottery, instead settling for the reveal of sealed envelopes after the results are already in.
Congratulations are in order for the New Orleans Hornets and condolences are in order for the Charlotte Bobcats.
Here is the final order for the first round:
1. New Orleans
2. Charlotte
3. Washington
4. Cleveland
5. Sacramento
6. Brooklyn (To Portland)
7. Golden State
8. Toronto
9. Detroit
10. Minnesota (To New Orleans via LA Clippers)
11. Portland
12. Milwaukee
13. Phoenix
14. Houston
15. Philadelphia
16. New York (To Houston)
17. Dallas
18. Utah (To Minnesota)
19. Orlando
20. Denver
21. Boston
22. LA Clippers (To Boston via Oklahoma City)
23. Atlanta
24. LA Lakers (To Cleveland)
25. Memphis
26. Indiana
27. Miami
28. Oklahoma City
29. Chicago
30. San Antonio (To Golden State)