On Wednesday night, the New Orleans Hornets won the first pick in the 2012 NBA draft, leapfrogging the Cavaliers, Wizards and Bobcats to earn the right to (most likely) select Kentucky's Anthony Davis. It was the kind of thing that excites NBA conspiracy theorists, in part because the Hornets' pick carried a 13.7 percent chance of winning compared to Charlotte's 25.0 percent odds. But there's also another tiny, riotous detail: the league still owns the Hornets until New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson takes over in July. It's all rumor and hearsay – because we have to complain about something, don't we? – a hint of nuance and a boatload of jealousy. And in the midst of all that, Minnesota Timberwolves fans should be grateful.
At least it wasn't their team's pick.
The Hornets held the Timberwolves' lottery pick as well, a combination that had a 1.1 percent chance of winning them that No. 1 selection. That sounds like a long shot, but even long shots have a chance. In last year's lottery, when 19-63 Cleveland won the top pick over the 17-65 Timberwolves, it wasn't even with their own pick but with that of the Clippers, who had a 2.8 percent chance of winning.
That's why the lottery is fun, and this year, the fun didn't come at the direct expense of Minnesota.
So despite the fact the team had no stake in this year's pingpong ball extravaganza, click here or at the right for a look at the players the team might select if it elects not to trade the No. 18 overall pick it has acquired from the Utah Jazz. There will likely be a focus on shooting guards and small forwards, scorers and ballhandlers, but that's not to say the outside chance of the team looking for another big man won't come to fruition.
