Don't Wanna Say I Told You So, But ?
Stern Fails To Disappoint With Lottery Shenanigans
Several hours before the NBA would hand-deliver its No.1 overall draft pick to Michael Jordan's Wizards, I received a phone call. The voice was familiar; it was a fellow NBA conspiracy theorist named Ray. We discussed the forthcoming lottery and speculated about what would happen. We both agreed that Stern's awarding the first pick to Jordan would be entirely too obvious. We were wrong.
Stern has absolutely no shame. He scoffs at scrutiny and thumbs his nose at critics. Stern must be a Vince McMahon wannabe -- or vice versa.
We should have known better. Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause, who benefited from the lottery conspiracy just two years ago, should have known better too. The Bulls had the worst record in the league and best chance to win the lottery. But for the 11th consecutive year, the odds were defied. Krause looked as if his local Krispy Kreme franchise had burned down when NBC's Ahmad Rashad announced that Chicago was displaced to fourth in next month's draft. If only we could have seen his face when it was announced that it was Jordan who was the winner.
Many observers believe that the first pick in this draft is not as luxurious as it has in past years. I do not agree. Assuming that Jordan and Charles Barkley return to the league next season as Wizards -- an assumption that is quickly becoming more accepted every day -- along with the possibility of signing a free-agent like original Dream Teammate Patrick Ewing, this first pick will be quite important on several levels:
- The most certain draft-eligible player available to make an immediate impact is Duke's Shane Battier, whose intensity, work ethic and defensive prowess -- not to mention good citizenship -- will positively affect his future team. Think of Scottie Pippen but without the ego and constant whining. Battier would be a perfect complement to a potential starting lineup of Jordan, Barkley, Ewing and the Wiz' best returning player, Richard Hamilton.
- Washington will not be forced to take a risk on a younger player with possibly greater potential because of the salaries that top picks formerly could command. Five years ago, there would have been pressure to choose a player with superstar possibilities instead of a player who can contribute immediately. With the new collective bargaining agreement, the salaries of first-round selections are dictated without negotiating or holdouts. The Wizards will be able to choose whichever player they want without overpaying because of the selection position.
- Stern will attempt to use Battier's No.1 status as damage control. With players abandoning college for the pros at a record pace, Stern will prop up Battier as a poster-boy for staying in school. After Kenyon Martin was selected first overall last year, a Battier selection would give the league its first back-to-back senior top picks in more than 10 years. Also, the image-conscious Stern will appreciate posing for photos with a player who lacks tattoos and cornrows.
Washington will have in place a team that will instantly reverse its dismal misfortune. And Jordan will try to win a championship for his buddies whom he beat down en route to his numerous titles in Chicago. How is that for charity?
But, ultimately, Commissioner Stern knows exactly what he is doing. And he will be smiling as much as the future millionaires who will share the stage with him on draft night. Just do not challenge him or get in his way because you will be made an example like Dallas owner Mark Cuban or the entire Minnesota Timberwolves franchise.
Stern will get another shot at the latter during next month's draft. I would expect nothing less from him than to put the Wolves on the clock for the 18th overall pick as a tease and then announce that the pick has been forfeited as penalty for the illegal Joe Smith contract. Because if it were his Knicks who would have been stupid enough to screw up their cheating, there would have been no more than a symbolic wrist-slap.
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Ryan Sirvio is a guest columnist whose opinions are regularly published here. When not obsessing about all things sport, he enjoys music, movies and spending time with his family. Feel free to send him an e-mail and let him know what you think of his latest musings.
