Fansided

Winners and losers of the 2014 NBA Draft Lottery

By Trisity Miller

Mar 8, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert speaks during the jersey retirement ceremony of former player Zydrunas Ilgauskas (not pictured) at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert speaks during the jersey retirement ceremony of former player Zydrunas Ilgauskas (not pictured) at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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WINNERS

Mar 20, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Andrew Wiggins (22) holds basketballs during their practice session prior to the 2nd round of the 2014 NCAA Men
Mar 20, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Andrew Wiggins (22) holds basketballs during their practice session prior to the 2nd round of the 2014 NCAA Men /

Milwaukee Bucks / Philadelphia 76ers

A year of extreme tanking has paid its dividends. While neither team landed the number one overall pick in a loaded draft, each still got their hands on a top-3 pick. Depending on who Cleveland kicks things off with, most reports pointing in the direction of Andrew Wiggins, each team will be greatest with a top free agent.

Based upon fits, Jabari Parker would be the best fit for the 76ers while Joel Embiid, especially if cleared by team doctors, is the perfect for the Bucks. And upon their arrival, it creates overlap at a position of value: Larry Sanders for Milwaukee and Thad Young in Philadelphia.

Neither would be immediate playoff teams despite the East not being so tough, but it’s a start and it creates building blocks going forward for the next few years.

Cleveland Cavaliers

1.7. Those were the Cleveland Cavaliers’ odds out of 100 of landing the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. And what did they get? The first overall pick in the draft.

Unlike the last few years, the Cavaliers decision on who they’ll eventually choose as the number one overall pick is an easy choice. With Kyrie Irving as the point guard of the future, that erases Dante Exum from the discussion leaving Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid, or Jabari Parker to choose from. And between those three, preference will be the deciding factor as each player is a perfect fit for a Cavaliers team who has attempted to force progression instead of letting it happen naturally.

The David Griffin era looks to be off to an excellent start. Not only does he seem to know what he’s doing, he looks to be a man with a plan, rather than replicating the freelance management that took place prior to him being promoted to general manager. Cavs fan have a reason to be happy. Things could finally be on the up-and-up.

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