Tweet
Raptors Win Lottery, No. 1 Pick in NBA Draft
New general manager Bryan Colangelo got a huge boost in his effort to rebuild the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night, winning the NBA lottery and the No. 1 pick in next month's draft.
The Raptors, who had the NBA's fifth worst record at 27-55, jumped four slots in winning the lottery for the first time.
"For us to have this kind of luck is a symbol of a reversal of fortune going forward," Colangelo said. "...We have our work cut out. This will help."
The Chicago Bulls added to the Knicks' season of misery by getting the second pick for the June 28 draft in New York.
The Knicks traded their first-round pick to the Bulls in a preseason deal for center Eddy Curry. Chicago (41-41) obviously got the best of the exchange, getting rid of an unhappy player, making the playoffs in the process and getting the No. 2 pick, which New York had earned with a 23-59 record in Larry Brown's first season.
The mark was the Knicks' worst since 1985-86, Patrick Ewing's rookie season.
John Paxson, the Bulls executive vice president, called the trade an emotional decision, but one which hinged on Chicago getting the Knicks' first-round pick.
"Eddy Curry is a very good basketball player," Paxson said. "We made the deal and we're lucky we got in the lottery."
Charlotte will have the third pick, which coincides with its third-worst record.
Portland, which had the league's worst record at 21-61, was the lottery's big loser. Despite a 25 percent chance of winning the pingpong ball drawing, the Trail Blazers slipped all the way to fourth.
Trail Blazers President Steve Patterson believes his team will still get a good player.
"You may find a player with as big an impact at No. 4 or even No. 6 as you may at No. 1," Patterson said.
New Orleans guard Chris Paul was the fourth pick in last year's draft and he won the rookie of the year award, averaging 16.1 points, 7.8 assists and a league-best 2.2 steals.
The Hornets slipped two spots in last year's lottery.
Atlanta dropped from No. 4 to fifth in this year's drawing. The other nine teams in the lottery stayed in the same order as their records.
Minnesota is sixth and will be followed by Boston, Houston, Golden State, Seattle, Orlando, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Utah.
There doesn't seem to be a definitive No. 1 pick for the June 28 draft to be held in New York.
Underclassmen Adam Morrison of Gonzaga, Texas center LaMarcus Aldridge and LSU forward Tyrus Thomas are considered top candidates.
Under the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement, this is the first year high school players won't be eligible for the draft.
Colangelo was hired as general manager and president by the Raptors in February, a day after resigning a similar position with the Phoenix Suns - a team in which his father, Jerry Colangelo, is chairman and chief executive.
His departure came less than a year after he was chosen the NBA's 2005 executive of the year for retooling the Suns' roster and winning a league-high 62 games.
Toronto had fired general manager Rob Babcock on Jan. 26.
Source: AP
The Raptors, who had the NBA's fifth worst record at 27-55, jumped four slots in winning the lottery for the first time.
"For us to have this kind of luck is a symbol of a reversal of fortune going forward," Colangelo said. "...We have our work cut out. This will help."
The Chicago Bulls added to the Knicks' season of misery by getting the second pick for the June 28 draft in New York.
The Knicks traded their first-round pick to the Bulls in a preseason deal for center Eddy Curry. Chicago (41-41) obviously got the best of the exchange, getting rid of an unhappy player, making the playoffs in the process and getting the No. 2 pick, which New York had earned with a 23-59 record in Larry Brown's first season.
The mark was the Knicks' worst since 1985-86, Patrick Ewing's rookie season.
John Paxson, the Bulls executive vice president, called the trade an emotional decision, but one which hinged on Chicago getting the Knicks' first-round pick.
"Eddy Curry is a very good basketball player," Paxson said. "We made the deal and we're lucky we got in the lottery."
Charlotte will have the third pick, which coincides with its third-worst record.
Portland, which had the league's worst record at 21-61, was the lottery's big loser. Despite a 25 percent chance of winning the pingpong ball drawing, the Trail Blazers slipped all the way to fourth.
Trail Blazers President Steve Patterson believes his team will still get a good player.
"You may find a player with as big an impact at No. 4 or even No. 6 as you may at No. 1," Patterson said.
New Orleans guard Chris Paul was the fourth pick in last year's draft and he won the rookie of the year award, averaging 16.1 points, 7.8 assists and a league-best 2.2 steals.
The Hornets slipped two spots in last year's lottery.
Atlanta dropped from No. 4 to fifth in this year's drawing. The other nine teams in the lottery stayed in the same order as their records.
Minnesota is sixth and will be followed by Boston, Houston, Golden State, Seattle, Orlando, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Utah.
There doesn't seem to be a definitive No. 1 pick for the June 28 draft to be held in New York.
Underclassmen Adam Morrison of Gonzaga, Texas center LaMarcus Aldridge and LSU forward Tyrus Thomas are considered top candidates.
Under the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement, this is the first year high school players won't be eligible for the draft.
Colangelo was hired as general manager and president by the Raptors in February, a day after resigning a similar position with the Phoenix Suns - a team in which his father, Jerry Colangelo, is chairman and chief executive.
His departure came less than a year after he was chosen the NBA's 2005 executive of the year for retooling the Suns' roster and winning a league-high 62 games.
Toronto had fired general manager Rob Babcock on Jan. 26.
Source: AP