Washington has failed to move up in lottery 12 out of 13 times
The Washington Wizards’ past and future will converge at this year’s NBA Draft Lottery. They hope the combination can finally bring about some good luck for a franchise that hasn’t had much lately, either in the NBA’s version of Powerball or on the court.
Irene Pollin, the widow of late team owner Abe Pollin, will represent the Wizards at the lottery drawing on Tuesday. New owner Ted Leonsis, whose purchase of the team should become official in the coming weeks, also will be in attendance with Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld.
“The Pollins have owned this team for 46 years, and there’s a smooth transition going on right now, and both parties will be there,” said Grunfeld.
Before the fourth quarter of Washington’s regular season finale in April, Irene Pollin made a speech from the owner’s box at Verizon Center, telling the crowd, “Next year is going to be better, I promise you that.”
After finishing the year with a 26-56 record, tied for fourth-worst in the league, the Wizards lost a coin flip with Golden State for an extra ping pong ball. As a result, Washington has the fifth-best chance (10.3 percent) of obtaining the first pick. The Warriors have a 10.4 percent chance. New Jersey, which finished with the worst record (12-70), has the best chance (25 percent) of earning the top pick.
Only the top three positions in the draft are determined by the lottery, meaning the Wizards can fall no further than eighth.
Regardless of the outcome, former Kentucky point guard John Wall is all but assured of being the first player chosen in the NBA Draft on June 24. The remainder is tilted toward talented frontcourt prospects but was characterized by one former coach as a “crapshoot” beyond Wall.
The Wizards have failed to move up in 12 of the 13 lotteries they’ve participated in, including dropping to the fifth pick last season despite finishing tied for the second-worst record. Only in 2001 did the Wizards land the top pick — they used it on Kwame Brown, who was a massive disappointment during his four-year stay in Washington.
| What’s at stake? |
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Unlike last year, the Wizards are in rebuilding mode and are expected to keep their top pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Regardless of what happens in the lottery, here are nine players who should end up among the top eight picks, of which Washington will have one: 1. John Wall, 6-4, PG, Kentucky » A franchise will be built around him, even if it means the end for Devin Harris in New Jersey. |
