The Hornets Lottery Conspiracy
As a Hornets fan, I can't stop thinking thinking about the team somehow landing the number one pick, and then being subjected to an overwhelming amount of conspiracy theories. David Stern rigged the draft. The ping pong balls have magnetic inner cores. It would be more than worth it to get Anthony Davis, but that doesn't mean hearing about "conflict of interest" won't get annoying after the 15th loop of Sportscenter. But why do the Hornets have the only chance for possible corruption? If Stern wants to control things for the Hornets, he could do it for any team.
New Jersey/ Brooklyn Nets
On PTI the other day, they asked Charles Barkley what team getting Anthony Davis would benefit the league most, or something of that nature. The first team he mentioned was the Nets, and I have to agree with Sir Charles. After that really dumb Gerald Wallace trade where they traded a lottery pick (top three protected) in a highly touted draft, the Nets need to make a splash before they move into the borough. Deron Williams can get out fast enough, and apparently the fans throw MVP chants at the opposing team. The last thing the NBA wants is a completely lost team as the obvious second banana in a basketball loving city. It might scare Stern into a little Patrick Ewing frozen envelope redux.
Charlotte Bobcats
So Michael Jordan was greatest player ever, but he's not too great at the whole drafting thing. But the number one guy here is so clear not even I could screw it up. Jordan doesn't want his career to be overshadowed by how bad he was as a front office guy, (Isiah Thomas) so he tells Stern:
"Look, I made you. So let me have this pick, and then we might be even."
The Bobcats have the highest mathematical chance at the pick so they have an alibi. It's the perfect plan.
Sacramento Kings
Now I could say they could fix the draft as an attempt to save basketball for deserving Sacramento fans, but I'll go with something more logical. Everyone always says Stern is evil, so just to screw with us, he gives the Kings the pick. We all gasp at the idea of Davis being ruined by the team, while he wonders how he ended up with a bunch of players who are the antithesis of him, who need the ball constantly.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Kyrie Irving is cool and all, but man, that Lebron thing really did suck for them. Have a second consecutive lottery win to make up for it.
I don't necessarily think any these scenarios will happen. They're all pretty ridiculous. But I also think they're all close to being on the same level as the Hornets being given a top pick. I know most people don't actually believe that. It's more just a way of illustrating the complications of a league owned team, and that's justified. No matter what though, there will still be blogs and writers and Skip Baylesses (Baylessi?) who will give it some serious air.
Realistically though, does the league office really have any more to gain by giving the Hornets the number one pick? Financially, other teams like the Nets have much more at stake with their billion dollar arena, and image wise, the Bobcats could use something to make them seem like they should even be in the NBA. These are much more serious problems than the now owned and stabilized Hornets. Stern feels that by finding an owner he has fixed the whole problem in New Orleans. He even threw an All Star game for the trouble. The Hornets, or whatever the name might be in six months, are on their own, hoping the balls fall the right way just like every other lottery team.
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