May 20th, 2008 – Dr. J-Water
The Chicago Bulls tonight won the NBA Draft Lottery.
Yes, you read that correctly. After finishing with the leagues 9th worst record and a 33-49 regular season mark, the Bulls had only a 1.7% chance of winning the NBA draft lottery.
Since 1994 when the lottery format was brought in for the NBA draft, only twice has the team with the worst record in the regular season won the lottery. With that said, I still don’t think anyone was expecting the Bulls to come out of this one on top. I hope the Chicago Bulls owner tracks down that lucky ping pong ball for a souvenir, as the way it bounces may turn out to be worth millions.
The Miami Heat had a 25% chance to win the lottery with this seasons worst record at 15-67. The Heat ended up with the second pick in the draft. Although they dropped down a draft spot from the lottery odds, I doubt you will find many Miami Heat executives crying over their missed opportunity.
Why not?
Because this years NBA draft is pretty much a two horse race for the number one pick. If anything this alleviates all the pressure from the executives in the Heat front office. Now they won’t have to be the ones to decide between PG Derrick Rose and PF Michael Beasley. Whichever player the Bulls pick, the Heat will defacto take the other.
After the Chicago Bulls were announced as the winner of the draft lottery, their representative Steve Schanwald, executive vice president of business operations, was shown fist pumping then smiling for the remainder of the event.
Following the lottery Schanwald said: “After this season, we needed a break and I think we just got one tonight.” The Bulls had a rocky season after coming in to the year with high expectations. They made multiple roster moves, and even fired two Coaches in Scott Skiles and Jim Boylan. Earlier this month they were in talks with Mike D’Antoni about retaining his services for their head coaching position, although they were ultimately passed over in favour of the New York Knicks who could offer D’Antoni a bigger paycheque. Well maybe karma has a way of working these things out, as the Bulls tonight defied the odds and locked in their choice of future stars. I’m sure winning the lottery will accelerate the Bulls search to fill their vacant coaching spot.
Now the pressure is on the Bulls to decide between Beasley and Rose before June 26th. I’m sure that’s a dilemma that a lot of NBA executives would love to have right about now. Over the coming weeks we will hear a lot about who the Bulls should pick given their current roster. I assume after the stinker of a year Kirk Hinrich had at the PG position, the Bulls will go with the young and explosive Derrick Rose to run the point and have Hinrich back him up.
The draft will once again take place in New York. I’m sure June 26th can’t come soon enough for Bulls fans.
The full first round leader board is set as follows:
1. Chicago Bulls
2. Miami Heat
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Seattle Supersonics
5. Memphis Grizzlies
6. New York Knicks
7. LA Clippers
8. Milwaukee Bucks
9. Charlotte Bobcats
10. New Jersey Nets
11. Indiana Pacers
12. Sacramento Kings
13. Portland Trailblazers
14. Golden State Warriors
15. Atlanta Hawks (to Phoenix)
16. Philadelphia 76ers
17. Toronto Raptors
18. Washington Wizards
19. Cleveland Cavaliers
20. Denver Nuggets
21. Dallas Mavericks (to New Jersey)
22. Orlando Magic
23. Utah Jazz
24. Phoenix Suns (to Seattle)
25. Houston Rockets
26. San Antonio Spurs
27. New Orleans Hornets
28. LA Lakers
29. Detroit Pistons
30. Boston
