The NBA needs to make the lottery draw and results a public media event...

[chambers]

Seriously,
how slimey is David Stern's reputation?
Kahn has a very good point about story lines and I am not one for conspiracy theories... but there is absolutely no reason to not do the lottery draw publicly and have government supervisors overlooking the event.

The administration of this league are so frustrating sometimes.

[bopna]

I know they do it close doors and each team in the lottery has a representative while the draw is happening, I think it was Wyc himself who was at there in 2007 so i really do not understand why are we all complaining. Unless Wyc is on it as well with all the conspiracy theories, then we would have heard him say foul as well.

[Chris]

Kahn is an idiot whose ego is way too big.  First off, he should be happy that he does not have the decision of whether the go with Rubio or Irving...that probably would have been the last nail in the coffin for him.  But beyond that, its just ridiculous.  The league goes to great lengths to make sure the drawing is legit, including having witnesses from every team in the room when it takes place.  Kahn just needs to shut up, and start trying to win games rather than relying on pingpong balls.

[chambers]

they need to make it a public event that is scrutinized by an outside organisation (ie the government or a commission of some kind.)
I don't understand why they don't do it that way.

[Who]

Kahn is an idiot whose ego is way too big.  First off, he should be happy that he does not have the decision of whether the go with Rubio or Irving...that probably would have been the last nail in the coffin for him.  But beyond that, its just ridiculous.  The league goes to great lengths to make sure the drawing is legit, including having witnesses from every team in the room when it takes place.  Kahn just needs to shut up, and start trying to win games rather than relying on pingpong balls.

I just saw Kahn's comments ... unbelievable!

That deserves at least a seven figure fine.

[slamdunk]

The reason they don't do the drawing publicly is because it doesn't make for good tv. They have team representatives present for the drawing and that's good enough for me.

[Chris]

they need to make it a public event that is scrutinized by an outside organisation (ie the government or a commission of some kind.)
I don't understand why they don't do it that way.

Because it is a waste of taxpayers money.  If having a representive of every team in the room is not enough, then nothing will be enough.

[17wasEZ]

they need to make it a public event that is scrutinized by an outside organisation (ie the government or a commission of some kind.)
I don't understand why they don't do it that way.

Just wondering why the government would have to be involved in the process?  The more they are involved in things, it seems, the less efficient it becomes and the more red tape seems to be added.

I'm sure league and team executives can figure out a way of making changes on their own if they deem it necessary.

[Roy H.]

The reason they don't do the drawing publicly is because it doesn't make for good tv. They have team representatives present for the drawing and that's good enough for me.

Yeah, a lot of folks don't know how the process works.

First, the #1 pick is done.  Four balls come out, resulting in a four digit combination.  That combination is then compared to 1000 possible combinations (each of which belongs to a team, in proportion to team record).

Then, the #2 pick is done.  If the four balls come out, and that combination belongs to the team that won the #1 pick, they do the drawing for the #2 pick again.  The same is done for the #3 pick.

It kills any drama, and would in fact be pretty boring.

[mc34]

It would be really boring to watch. And Kahn is an idiot. Nothing that comes out of his mouth should ever be taken seriously

[FLCeltsFan]

Not saying they do, but ping pong balls is one of the easiest ways to rig a lottery even with everyone watching.  You just need to put a little extra paint on the numbers you don't want to come up.  So even doing it in full view of everyone, they can rig it as long as they do the ping pong ball thing. 

[Steve Weinman]

they need to make it a public event that is scrutinized by an outside organisation (ie the government or a commission of some kind.)
I don't understand why they don't do it that way.

This is already the case.

A representative from Ernst and Young - in addition to representatives from each lottery team that wants to be represented - oversees the proceedings.

Of that much, I am certain.  I believe that in the case of last night, there were four media members allowed in the drawing room as well.

-sw

[NoraG1]

I just think it is interesting how well Cleveland did in BOTHtheir picks is itluck or something else? NBA already has a bad rep.

[soap07]

Kahn is an idiot whose ego is way too big.  First off, he should be happy that he does not have the decision of whether the go with Rubio or Irving...that probably would have been the last nail in the coffin for him.  But beyond that, its just ridiculous.  The league goes to great lengths to make sure the drawing is legit, including having witnesses from every team in the room when it takes place.  Kahn just needs to shut up, and start trying to win games rather than relying on pingpong balls.

I just saw Kahn's comments ... unbelievable!

That deserves at least a seven figure fine.

Did you watch the video? Kahn was very clearly joking and it got blown out of proportion.

[Steve Weinman]

I just think it is interesting how well Cleveland did in BOTHtheir picks is itluck or something else? NBA already has a bad rep.

This isn't a particularly accurate assessment and it speaks to Roy's point about understanding how the process works.

As Roy notes, the lottery itself consists of only the first three picks, and the rest of the draft order is determined by record just as the odds are.  This prevents any team from falling more than three spots down from where their record dictates they would pick if the draft were done strictly by reversal of the standings.  

By rule, the worst-case scenario for Minnesota, Cleveland and Toronto (the teams with the three worst record in the league in 2010-11) would have been to select fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

Cleveland got remarkably lucky with the pick acquired from the Clippers that won the lottery, yes.  But as far as "how well Cleveland did in BOTH their picks" [emphasis yours], the only possibility that would have been worse for the Cavaliers' other selection would have been fifth.

I don't say that to suggest that Cavs fans should gripe about selecting first and fourth but in demonstration of the premise that conspiracy intimations are a bit silly.

-sw