DRAFT LOTTERY REPORT

This year marks only the third time the Los Angeles Lakers were involved in the NBA draft lottery in franchise history.  The Lakers will make the seventh selection in this years draft.  Mitch Kupchak has his work cut out.   Whoever they select will be expected to contribute immediately.  Kobe Bryant is expected to retire following the 2015-16 NBA season.  Kobe isn't interested in grooming an unpolished product.  Kobe is looking to catch Michael Jordan and if possible surpass his six rings.  The Lakers are looking to win now.

This season multiple teams tanked down the stretch.  The Philadelphia 76ers were the main culprits this year.  Philly almost set an NBA record for consecutive losses.  The franchise has not seen futility of this magnitude since selecting Allen Iverson in the 1996 NBA Draft.  Michael Carter Williams has superstar potential.  His length should cause problems for guards around the league for years to come.  Nerleans Noel is healthy after missing the entire season with a torn ACL.  With two selections in the top ten, the Sixers have an opportunity to build a nucleus for the future.

The Boston Celtics will make the sixth overall selection.  Although Boston won a championship in 2008, the franchise has often been in the lottery since the Larry Bird dynasty came to an end in 1992.  Danny Ainge is arguably the best GM in the NBA.  He hates losing with a passion.  The Celtics are still in rebuild mode.  However, Ainge will expect improvement from last years 25-57 finish.

If the Cleveland Cavaliers are not a relevant NBA franchise in a few years they will have squandered a golden opportunity to build a championship level team from the ground up.  Four years ago Cleveland was as grim an NBA city as you can find.  The Cavaliers will make the first overall selection for the third time in the last four years.  Kyrie Irving is a legitimate NBA player.  He is one of the best players in the NBA under 25 years of age.  Anthony Bennett didn't play much during his rookie campaign.  This is a huge opportunity for Cleveland.  The city has not seen a professional championship since 1964.  Dan Snyder and company better not squander this opportunity.