Again? Cleveland Cavaliers win 2014 NBA draft lottery

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/draft/2014/05/20/lottery-order-no-1-top-pick/9340891/



NEW YORK — Again? The Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA draft lottery for the second consecutive year and third time in four years.

The Cavaliers had a 1.7% chance to win the No. 1 pick but outdid the two worst teams, the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, who fall to second and third in the lottery process.

Last year, the Cavaliers selected Anthony Bennett out of UNLV first overall. In 2011, they took All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving first. They also had the No. 1 pick in 2003, when they drafted LeBron James.

The Cavaliers' jump from the ninth slot meant the Detroit Pistons fell to No. 9, giving the pick to the newly renamed Charlotte Hornets. The pick had top-eight protection.

The 76ers own the New Orleans Pelicans' pick, slotted 10th, which made for an awkward moment when draft representative and Hall of Famer Julius Erving thought his team's pick (guaranteed to be in the top five) had slipped all the way to 10th.

It's unclear who will be the top pick in this year's star-studded draft class. Small forward Andrew Wiggins and center Joel Embiid both are trying to become the first No. 1 pick from Kansas since Danny Manning, while Duke small forward Jabari Parker also is considered a potential top pick.

The Cavaliers had weaknesses at small forward and center last season.

"Being a competitor, I think I should go No. 1," Wiggins told USA TODAY Sports. "If I don't go No. 1, I want it to be Joel."

"I want to be rookie of the year," Embiid said. "I want to be a Hall of Famer."

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said this draft class will "have a special place in my heart" with next month's draft being his first since he took over for David Stern. Silver has spent the last month answering questions about embattled owner Donald Sterling, who was banned for life after a racist audio recording surfaced, but he says the NBA's best years are to come.

The full first-round order:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Milwaukee Bucks
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. Orlando Magic
5. Utah Jazz
6. Boston Celtics
7. Los Angeles Lakers
8. Sacramento Kings
9. Charlotte Hornets (from Detroit Pistons)
10. Philadelphia 76ers (from New Orleans Pelicans)
11. Denver Nuggets
12. Orlando Magic (from New York Knicks via Denver Nuggets)
13. Minnesota Timberwolves
14. Phoenix Suns
15. Atlanta Hawks
16. Chicago Bulls (from Charlotte Hornets)
17. Boston Celtics (from Brooklyn Nets)
18. Phoenix Suns (from Washington Wizards)
19. Chicago Bulls
20. Toronto Raptors
21. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Dallas Mavericks via Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers)
22. Memphis Grizzlies
23. Utah Jazz (from Golden State Warriors)
24. Charlotte Hornets (from Portland Trail Blazers
25. Houston Rockets
26. Miami Heat
27. Phoenix Suns (from Indiana Pacers)
28. Los Angeles Clippers
29. Oklahoma City Thunder
30. San Antonio Spurs

 

Bill Simmons Reaction Said It All

 

As good as this draft can be I rather pick 3 or lower, embid and wiggins could be great, neither a sure thing, Parker is the1 sure thing but doubt his ceiling is best player on a nba title contender ,randle is a animal but he can't fix Cleveland , Gordon from zona could be a star or never develop international players are always dark horse the pg exum I've seen play not sold give me the levin from ucla, do like the lefty from ucla having said all that I try trading down to 10 get young from ky or McDermott creighton either steps in as rook small forward and be very good,,

 

This may be a case of Lebron Guilt.

 

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