Clippers Defy Odds in Lottery

SECAUCUS, N.J. — Luck smiled Wednesday night on the Clippers, who emerged as the unlikeliest winners in the NBA draft lottery and wound up with the No. 2 pick in the June 24 selection process.

Defying long odds, the Clippers were the only team that improved on its original draft position, based on records from last season.

Slated to pick fifth based on their worst-in-the-West 28-54 record, they had less than a 22% chance of landing one of the top two picks. They had a far better chance of falling to sixth, seventh or eighth than they did of moving up.

But a combination of numbered pingpong balls favoring the Clippers was drawn from a drum, and only the Orlando Magic will pick ahead of them.

This will be the second consecutive year in which the team with the worst record received the top pick after 12 consecutive years in which it did not. The Magic, which was 21-61 last season, had a 25% chance of retaining the No. 1 pick.

The Clippers leapfrogged the Chicago Bulls, who fell from second to third, and the Washington Wizards, who dropped from third to fifth. The expansion Charlotte Bobcats, who did not participate in the lottery, will pick fourth.

“Obviously, the field has widened as to potential picks for us,” said Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy, who represented the club in the lottery at the NBA Entertainment Studios. “We have a lot of options, and we’ll explore them all.”

Said General Manager Elgin Baylor, who watched the lottery from Los Angeles: “Any player we want, with the exception of one, we can have.”

Unlike two years ago, when Yao Ming was the top pick, or last year, when LeBron James was the lottery prize, there seems to be no clear-cut No. 1.

“It’s not like 12 years ago, when you sit here and you know Shaq’s coming,” Magic senior vice president Pat Williams said, though he still triumphantly raised his arms when the Magic drew the top pick. “But there’s good talent.”

Emeka Okafor of Connecticut and high school star Dwight Howard from Atlanta have been mentioned as the probable top picks. But each has drawbacks -- Okafor an iffy back, Howard his youth -- and both are power forwards, which could dissuade the Clippers. Elton Brand, their best player, is a power forward.

Luol Deng of Duke, who also has been mentioned as a top-three pick, is a small forward, the same position Corey Maggette plays.

Still, Baylor said, “You go into the draft trying to get the best player you think can help your team, regardless of the position he plays.”

The Clippers’ most pressing need is for a point guard, but none in this draft is considered worthy of the No. 2 pick, which leaves open the possibility, of course, that the Clippers could package the pick in a trade.

“We have a lot of holes that we need to fill,” Dunleavy said.

And lottery picks don’t guarantee success. The Clippers have made a league-high 16 since the process was introduced in 1985 and they have yet to win a playoff series. They have reached the playoffs three times in 20 seasons.

They have drafted five players with first or second picks: Danny Manning, Michael Olowokandi, Danny Ferry, Antonio McDyess and Tyson Chandler. Manning was a two-time All-Star, Olowokandi was a bust and the others were traded before they ever played for the Clippers.

Holding the No. 2 pick, however, “gives us flexibility,” Dunleavy said. “We should ensure ourselves that it’s going to turn into a good player for us.”

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NBA Draft Order

Where teams are picking in the first round of the NBA draft on June 24:

*--* 1. Orlando 15. Boston 2. Clippers 16. Utah-a 3. Chicago 17. Atlanta-b 4. Charlotte Bobcats 18. New Orleans 5. Washington 19. Miami 6. Atlanta 20. Denver 7. Phoenix 21. Utah-c 8. Toronto 22. New Jersey 9. Philadelphia 23. Portland-d 10. Cleveland 24. Boston-e 11. Golden State 25. Boston-f 12. Seattle 26. Sacramento 13. Portland 27. Lakers 14. Utah 28. San Antonio 29. Indiana

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Note: Minnesota’s first-round pick has been forfeited

a -- from New York through Phoenix; b -- from Milwaukee through Denver and Detroit; c -- from Houston; d -- from Memphis; e -- from Dallas; f -- from Detroit