Exactly 4.4 percent.
That was the chance the Nets had to get the first pick in the NBA Lottery. But with the team’s administration in turmoil, no head coach, the organization received a huge break (that’s right, the Nets) yesterday by winning the right to choose first in the NBA draft June 28 in Minneapolis.
“This is the beginning of something good,” said Nets owner Lewis Katz, who pumped his fist when Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik announced the Grizzlies got the second pick, guaranteeing the Nets the top choice for the first time since 1990, when they selected Derrick Coleman. “We’ve got a new administration, a new coach. Maybe the tide is turning.”
Now the Nets have to figure out who to take, or if they should trade down.
“I expect to be fielding calls until the day of the draft,” said general manager John Nash, who is part of the potential shakeup.
The Nets finished with the seventh-worst record in the league (31-51), but Nash wouldn’t say what they would do.
“It would be inappropriate for me to really say anything, since the people who will help in making the decision aren’t with us yet,” Nash said. “And I’ve already had somebody whisper in my ear.”
That someone, according to Katz, was the Magic, which has the fifth and 10th picks.
If they do hang on to it, though, the player at the top of almost everyone’s list is Kenyon Martin from Cincinnati. The 6-9 power forward was the national Player of the Year, before breaking his leg in the Conference USA tournament, missing the NCAA tournament. If any team might be wary of a player with leg troubles, it would be the Nets. Can anybody say Jayson Williams?
“I’m sure Kenyon Martin will be scrutinized by our medical people,” Nash said. “Anybody can injure themselves. I don’t think that will have any impact on our decision.”
The Nets will work out Martin, who is not expected to suffer any long-lasting effects from his injury. But Nash already sounded impressed.
“I saw him play the most awesome five minutes I’ve seen,” Nash said. “If you could see the tape of them against DePaul, he single-handedly put that team on his back and brought them back in the game.”
But he immediately followed that statement with words of caution.
“I don’t want to rule out the possibility of drafting others,” Nash said.
Among the players Nash said the Nets would consider were Marcus Fizer, a 6-9 power forward from Iowa State; Stromile Swift, 6- 8 from LSU; Chris Mihm, a 7-foot center from Texas; Mo Peterson from national-champion Michigan State; Courtney Alexander from Fresno State and DePaul’s Quentin Richardson.
The team has already brought in Joel Przybilla from Minnesota, but likely won’t select him unless they trade the pick – a pick that no one expected.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Katz said. “I can’t tell you how excited I am right now. It hardly seems real.”
One official knew two hours before anyone else in the organization did and likened the experience to winning the recent “Big Game” $360 million jackpot.
“It’s just like that, like you want to check your ticket,” said acting president Finn Wentworth, who was on the fourth floor in a locked room with representatives from the other teams. “My throat got dry. We did much better than we thought.”
Wentworth, who said the search for new management will not be altered because of the good fortune, is also the president of YankeeNets. The combination of the two organizations wasn’t lost on him.
“The Yankees have such good karma about them,” Wentworth said. “Maybe some of that will rub off.”
Apparently, it already has. And that may have started during the last regular season game. The Nets and Cavaliers had the same record before the Nets lost. Now the Nets have the first pick and Cleveland has the eighth.
Still, these are still the Nets and most fans are probably assuming something will go wrong – like Martin’s leg shattering in his debut – and some of Katz’ final words sounded almost ominous.
“We won’t blow it,” Katz said. “I promise.”
2000 NBA DRAFT ORDER
The order of selection for the 2000 NBA draft to be held June 28 at the Target Center in Minneapolis:
First Round
1. Nets
2. Vancouver
3. L.A. Clippers
4. Chicago
5. Orlando (from Golden State)
6. Atlanta
7. Chicago (from Washington)
8. Cleveland
9. Houston
10. Orlando (from Denver)
11. Boston
12. Dallas
13. Orlando
14. Detroit
15. Milwaukee
16. Sacramento
17. Seattle
18. L.A. Clippers (from Toronto through Atlanta, Philadelphia and Knicks)
19. Charlotte
20. Philadelphia
21. Toronto (from Minnesota)
22. Knicks
23. Utah (from Miami)
24. Chicago (from San Antonio)
25. Phoenix
26. Utah
27. Indiana
28. Portland
29. L.A. Lakers
Second Round
30. L.A. Clippers
31. Dallas (from Chicago)
32. Chicago (from Golden State)
33. Chicago (from Vancouver through Houston)
34. Chicago (from Atlanta)
35. Washington
36. Nets
37. Denver (from Cleveland)
38. Houston
39. Boston
40. Atlanta (from Denver)
41. San Antonio (from Dallas)
42. Seattle (from Orlando)
43. Milwaukee
44. Detroit
45. Sacramento
46. Toronto
47. Seattle
48. Philadelphia
49. Milwaukee (from Charlotte)
50. Utah (from Knicks)
51. Minnesota
52. Miami
53. Denver (from Phoenix)
54. San Antonio
55. Golden State (from Utah)
56. Indiana
57. Portland
58. Dallas (from L.A. Lakers)
