NBA Draft Lottery: Cleveland Cavaliers Win No. 1 Pick; T’Wolves, Jazz Round Out Top 3

Surely that means a lot to Cavs fans. As does LeBron’s opinion on Kyrie Irving, who most think Cleveland will select with their No. 1 pick:

The Minnesota Timberwolves haven’t had the best luck in the NBA Draft in recent years. So it’s no surprise that SB Nation’s T’Wolves blog, Canis Hoopus, is skeptical about Minnesota’s second pick in the 2011 NBA Draft:

Fate is a cruel mistress, is she not? Once again, the Wolves fall in the draft order, surrendering poll position (and Kyrie Irving) to the Cavaliers. I have a feeling that five years from now, this will be written about in the same vein as just missing out on Shaq, or just missing out on Grant Hill. Once again, the Wolves are one pick behind the big talent dropoff in the draft.While no one’s comparing Kyrie Irving or Derrick Williams to Shaq or Hill, the pool of available players is certainly much shallower behind this draft class’ Big Two, not necessary Tom Ziller’s mock 2011 NBA Draft has the T’Wolves taking Williams at the second pick. So Minnesota’s not exactly the victim of fate’s uppercut.

Eric Pincus of HOOPSWORLD tried to further the Clips’ self-defense by explaining that the team couldn’t have legally protected the pick. But that’s just not true.

The NBA has what’s called the Stepien Rule, ironically (in this case) named after the disastrous former owner of the Cavs who repeatedly traded his first-round picks to bad effect. Now, teams cannot trade a future first-round pick if it would give them two consecutive years without one. If you have already traded your 2012 pick, for example, you can’t trade your 2011 or 2013 picks ... unless you have already acquired another 2011 or 2013 first-round pick.

Plus, with a roomful of uptight old white guys, a handful of disinterested players, and forced interviews from someone like Heather Cox, you’re just not going to do any better as far as unintentional comedy is concerned.

It’s why no matter what happens, year in and year out, the NBA Lottery’s about as ridiculous a show as you’ll find in any sport. As for last night’s rendition... It began with these fellas from Ernst and Young. Because nothing says “this totally isn’t rigged!” like two guys straight off Wall Street.

DraftExpress fears Kahn’s quotes were taken out of context, and posted video of the remarks. Now the question isn’t whether Kahn was joking -- it’s whether a man in Kahn’s position should be making jokes about NBA conspiracies and calling sick kids and widows good storylines.

Photos via @jose3030, including this one of him celebrating the Cavs win:

You may not know Nick suffers from Neurofibromatosis, a monstrous nerve disorder that’s already cost him the sight in one of his eyes and forced him to undergo brain surgery and chemotherapy. His father calls him his hero, as did ESPN’s Heather Cox while introducing each team’s lottery representative.

Also, a wing defender would be ideal. The Stephen Curry-Monta Ellis backcourt has functioned for now, but eventually, getting better defense at shooting guard is necessary.

On the off chance this would happen, Derrick Williams would be ideal in the Warriors’ up-tempo attack, assuming it actually is an up-tempo attack next season. Kyrie Irving is also a possibility, though that would necessitate trading Ellis.

If the Pistons decide that Stuckey isn’t the guy to man the position, they will have to find a replacement, and that has to be their No. 1 priority.

You’d have to think that they take Kyrie Irving and jettison Stuckey. Derrick Williams is a very good prospect, but I’m not sure how he fits with Monroe, and Detroit needs a floor general or a space eater more than a floor spacer. Enes Kanter would also be intriguing, especially because he could play well off Monroe, but this team needs a floor general more to make life easier for everyone else, and Irving is that guy.

The 2011 NBA Draft Lottery will be held on Tuesday, May 17. The top three picks in the June draft will be up for grabs, with 12 teams representing the top 14 picks in the derby crossing their fingers and praying for rain.

We’ll preview each team’s chances and biggest needs on Monday and Tuesday. Stay tuned.