Another year, another night of rooting for luck.
But for the Cavaliers, the NBA Draft Lottery parties need to end. This year, the event is scheduled for Tuesday at Bar Louie on West 6th Street in Cleveland. Doors open at 6 with the actual lottery at 8:30 p.m.
The site of last year’s lottery party is out of business, and the Cavs should take that to heart. After Tuesday, they should get out of the lottery business, too.
In order for that to happen, they need to make the playoffs.
But let’s focus on the good news: They do indeed get another high draft pick. They finished with the league’s third-worst record (24-58), meaning they have a 15.6-percent chance of landing the top overall draft pick.
They can finish no worse than sixth overall.
They have another first-round pick at No. 19 (from the Lakers). They also have gobs of available space under the salary cap.
So not only do they have assets to draft more young players, or trade the picks for veterans, they have the financial freedom to play the free-agency game come July.
And yes, Cavs general manager Chris Grant will consider all those options, and travel down all possible paths. In the world of Cleveland pro basketball, it’s winnin’ time.
The Cavs have already started that process, using the lottery to land All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving, improving power forward Tristan Thompson and dynamic shooting guard Dion Waiters during the past two off-seasons.
That’s a good foundation, and with another season of natural osmosis, and an uncharacteristic year of good health, the Cavs would stand a chance to make a run at the playoffs in 2013-14 as is.
But staying the course is only part of the plan. The Cavs need at least one more guy (whether it be a rookie or veteran) to come in and make an impact, like, yesterday.
Winning the lottery won’t solve everything. Not in this draft, where experts feel the top prospect is Kentucky center Nerlens Noel -- who missed nearly half his freshman season with a torn ACL and won’t be available for NBA summer play.
Then again, Irving missed all but 11 games of his lone year at Duke, and that’s worked out OK.
Anyway, the Cavs nor anyone else can really even begin to start plotting their summer until the lottery is complete. There’s a big difference between the first and sixth pick (and all points in between) -- and it would make little sense to formulate any grand plans, or make anything resembling a prediction, without first knowing the pecking order.
But after tonight, things can begin to take shape.
The Cavs will have an idea of the type of player they can draft early, start bringing players to town for a closer look and, of course, follow the advice of NBA scouting director Ryan Blake.
“If you get the No. 1 pick,” Blake said, laughing, in an interview with 92.3 The Fan, “don’t tell anyone (who you’re taking).”
The Cavs have a reputation around the league for secrecy (and that’s probably a good thing), so that likely wouldn’t be a problem.
So, enjoy the evening, Cavs fans. Enjoy the drama that this dose of NBA commotion provides. Embrace the idea that Grant is working hard behind the scenes to turn the Cavs into regular visitors to the postseason -- because he really is.
Then hope you don’t have to see another night like this for a long, long time.
It’s time for the Cavs to start winning at least as often as they lose, get a taste of the playoffs, and close the doors on rooting for luck. After Tuesday, it’s time for the Cavs to just get good.
Lottery odds
A team-by-team look at odds of winning Tuesday's NBA Draft lottery (team, record, odds):
• Orlando (20-62), 25 percent chance of winning.
• Charlotte (21-61), 19.9 percent chance of winning.
• Cleveland (24-58), 15.6 percent chance of winning.
• Phoenix (25-57), 11.9 percent chance of winning.
• New Orleans (27-55), 8.8 percent chance of winning.
• Sacramento (28-54), 6.3 percent chance of winning.
• Detroit (29-53), 3.6 percent chance of winning.
• Washington (29-530, 3.5 percent chance of winning.
• Minnesota (31-51), 1.7 percent chance of winning.
• Portland (33-49), 1.1 percent chance of winning.
• Philadelphia (34-48), 0.8 percent chance of winning.
• Toronto (34-48), 0.7 percent chance of winning. *
• Dallas (41-41), 0.6 percent chance of winning.
• Utah (43-39), 0.5 percent chance of winning.
* - pick goes to Oklahoma City if it falls anywhere between Nos. 4-13.
Twitter: @SamAmicoFSO
