12/18/24
May 18, 2011
Cavs Get 1st, 4th Picks in NBA Draft Lottery: A 2.8 percent chance acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers paid off for the Cleveland Cavaliers, giving them the first pick in the NBA Draft Lottery along with the fourth pick. Nick Gilbert, the 14-year-old son of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, represented the team onstage as the lottery was announced. Nick Gilbert may have coined the team's next slogan in his interview. When asked about being his dad's hero for how he's battled the disease Neurofibromatosis all his life, he said, "What's not to like?" Minnesota Timberwolves general manager David Kahn, called to the stage with the Cavs and Utah Jazz, said jokingly that he knew his team had no chance. "This league has a habit, and I am just going to say habit, of producing some pretty incredible story lines," Kahn said. "Last year it was Abe Pollin's widow and this year it was a 14-year-old boy and the only thing we have in common is we have both been bar mitzvahed. We were done."
posted by rcade to basketball at 09:07 AM - 8 comments
Nick willed the No. 1 NBA lottery pick to the team, using only the awesome power of his personal style.
posted by rcade at 10:24 AM on May 18, 2011
Kahn said it jokingly, and he was very quick to congratulate Nick once the picks were announced.
Watching the picks being announced, it was great to see Nick enjoying the experience.
posted by dviking at 10:48 AM on May 18, 2011
I can understand a little Timberwolf grumpiness on the matter. The Wolves have never once moved up in the draft lottery, but have been moved down several times.
I understand the point of the lottery, but why can't they just show the damn thing so people won't think it's rigged?
posted by TheQatarian at 05:12 PM on May 18, 2011
Even when they do show it people still think it is rigged.
posted by apoch at 05:27 PM on May 18, 2011
If I understand this story correctly, reporters are present when the lotto numbers are picked before the show.
One thing I don't understand from that link: Do teams know before the broadcast where they've landed? The story makes it sound like they do.
posted by rcade at 06:13 PM on May 18, 2011
The whole fact that they have to have a lottery or else teams will tank is a pretty serious blot on the NBA in the first place. Maybe they should just rotate and a new team will get the first pick in the draft every year. The best players go to the worst teams year after year and the same teams seem to end up in the lottery anyway.
posted by bperk at 06:33 PM on May 18, 2011
The whole fact that they have to have a lottery or else teams will tank is a pretty serious blot on the NBA in the first place.
I don't think so. You would have the same problem in the other leagues if single players could effect team performance as much as stars entering the NBA. I think the lottery is a good solution.
posted by tron7 at 10:45 AM on May 19, 2011
Sounds like sour grapes from Kahn. Besides what the Matt Millen of the NBA going to do with the first pick in the draft, pick another point guard?