It has been nearly a month since David McDavid signed a letter of intent to purchase the Hawks, Thrashers and Philips Arena operating rights from AOL Time Warner. And it is expected to be nearly another month before the sale -- estimated at $350 million to $400 million -- is completed. So the Fort Worth-based automobile tycoon wants to make it clear that he is not the owner -- yet.

But, "we will be surprised if it doesn't close," McDavid said Friday afternoon from the spacious glass office in one of his many car dealerships in Texas.

This two-story building stands behind a huge red and white sign that reads "David McDavid Auto Group" and is easy to spot on West Airport Freeway in Irving. McDavid is sitting at as his cherry wood conference table, where an autographed basketball and an autographed Dallas Cowboys helmet serve as the centerpieces. A rubber chicken, seemingly misplaced, is resting near a mound of paperwork.

Since there are "a few points" still to be resolved -- including the approval of both the NBA and the NHL -- McDavid can't outline his plans for a team that technically is still owned by AOL Time Warner. But he was quick to point out what he thinks the Hawks, Thrashers and their fans need.

"They need some love," McDavid said with his Texas twang. "Somebody needs to love those teams. If the owner doesn't love them, why should anybody else? Our vision is to embrace the community. Embrace our fans [and] do the best we can to bring the best people we can find to have a winning team.

"We think that AOL has done the best they can do. But we think because it will be our 'core business,' if you will. We're going to be involved and interested in it," McDavid said, leaning back in a green leather chair. "If we lose, we're going to bleed. And if we win, we're going to be happy. We're going to live and die with those teams."

Nets assistant coach Eddie Jordan has been granted permission to interview with another team about its head coaching position sometime after the NBA Finals. Nets director of scouting Ed Stefanski may be on his way to Washington to take a job as Wizards general manager.

Most intriguingly, Stefanski may get hired in Washington and bring Jordan with him.
   
That was the fallout from a busy day in an NBA rumor mill that really got churning once the Wizards finally made it official and fired head coach Doug Collins.

Nets president Rod Thorn confirmed he had given approval to another NBA team to talk to Jordan about its head coaching vacancy, but Thorn would not say which team.

"We gave permission to talk at an appropriate time, yes," Thorn said. "I'm not going to say which team. There are nine possibilities."

There are nine teams with vacancies, but the Raptors, Hawks, Sixers and Clippers seem among the more likely candidates.

The NBA draft lottery Thursday was bad for the Hawks on two fronts.

First, they wound up empty-handed as the No. 8 pick went to the Milwaukee Bucks as compensation for the Glenn Robinson trade (given the Hawks' slim chances to get a top-three pick, that was pretty much expected.)

But second, and most importantly, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons won the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, respectively. Now two Central Division rivals will definitely be improved next season.

On the day he was fired, former Hawks general manager Pete Babcock joked that, considering the run of bad luck that expedited his exit, "the team will win the lottery" now that he's gone.

No, the bad luck continues without Babcock.

The Hawks did not win the NBA draft lottery Thursday --- that honor went to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who now can grab home-state high school phenom LeBron James. And the Hawks didn't get a lottery pick at all because of the trade Babcock made last summer to acquire Glenn Robinson.

Needing to secure a spot in the top three, the Hawks wound up at No. 8, meaning the Milwaukee Bucks get the pick as compensation for the Robinson deal.

"No such luck," Hawks director of basketball operations Billy Knight said from his hotel room in Secaucus, N.J. after NBA deputy com- missioner Russ Granik passed along the bad news. "It wasn't meant to be."

More troubling for Knight, the Hawks --- with a 3.37 percent chance --- came one ball from getting the No. 2 pick.

Remember the days when the Hawks picked out of the lottery because they had been to the playoffs?

This time, I knew it was different. With new ownership coming in, and the dark cloud gone from the franchise, things would change, luck would change.

As some of the Hawks faithful were treated (and treated well) by the Hawks to some dining, music, and fun at JR Crickets while awaiting the lottery fate, the vibe was that this could be a day that could change the franchise.

Jason Walker breaks down the evening's event, giving a play by play of the lottery as it unfolded Thursday night.

Who can help the Hawks more: high school phenom LeBron James, Final Four Most Outstanding Player Carmelo Anthony or Yugoslavian youngster Darko Milicic? Hawks director of basketball operations Billy Knight would be happy to get any of them.

"All three of them are the top players in the draft --- in any order that you want to pick them," Knight said from his office in the CNN Center. "Wherever they go, they're going to have an impact."

If Knight is unable to come up with one of the top three picks in tonight's NBA draft lottery in Secaucus, N.J., the Hawks' pick (anywhere from 4 to 13) would go to the Milwaukee Bucks as compensation for the Glenn Robinson trade.

Billy Knight is guaranteed two things: another year's salary from the Hawks and an expenses-paid trip to Secaucus, home of Thursday's NBA draft lottery for the right to draft LeBron James and supplement his $75 million contract with Reebok (give or take an insole).

Can't speak for Knight's karma, however. His positions (director of basketball operations/interim general manager) could disappear after David McDavid closes escrow. He doesn't believe in lucky charms or horoscopes. And the Hawks haven't exactly been Mojo Central.

So what's the chance the Hawks will land the first, second or third selection in the draft? In order: 2.9, 3.37 and 4.02 percent. To compute it another way, there's an 89.71 percent chance they draw something lower than the third pick and have to surrender it to Milwaukee to complete the franchise-defining Glenn Robinson trade.

Winning the lottery, Knight said, "Certainly would add a level of interest. But I can't quantify it. This isn't something you can plan on or design. If it happens, it happens. But it happened twice for Orlando."

Before heading up to Secaucus, N.J., where he hopes the Atlanta Hawks can secure one of the top three picks in the NBA draft lottery on Thursday, director of basketball operations Billy Knight will evaluate his first set of players for the draft positions the Hawks are assured of receiving June 26 --- Nos. 21 and 32.

Two-time Ivy League player of the year Ugonna Oneyweke of Pennsylvania, Ronald Dupree of LSU, Lavell Blanchard of Michigan and Prentiss Gates of the NAIA's Southern Polytechnic State University will work out for Knight and head scout Chris Grant this morning. The four players will undergo a series of basketball drills and take a psychological exam.

A second group of Ohio's Brandon Hunter, Arizona State's Tommy Smith, Jerome Beasley of North Dakota and Florent Pietrus of EB Pau-Orthez (France) will arrive Friday, with Detroit's Willie Green, Tony Bland of San Diego, New Mexico's Ruben Douglas and Notre Dame's Matt Carroll set to perform Monday. Unlike past seasons, the workouts will be closed to the media.

Nets president Rod Thorn says he has yet to receive any inquiries from teams looking to interview assistant coach Eddie Jordan for any vacant head coaching positions. Thorn expects that to change once the playoffs end for the Nets.

Jordan, however, isn't the only Net expected to be a hot commodity. Nets director of scouting, Ed Stefanski, Thorn's right-hand man, is drawing attention around the league for some of its general manager openings. Atlanta, Portland and Washington are some of the teams looking for a new GM. Stefan-ski may interview with the Wizards soon.

A Cook County jury convicted Atlanta Hawks basketball player Glenn Robinson on Thursday of domestic battery and assault charges involving his former fiance last summer in her Chicago Heights home.

He was found not guilty on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.

After the verdict, Judge Christopher Donnelly, who presided over Robinson's two-day trial in the Markham branch of Cook County Circuit Court, sentenced the 30-year-old forward to a year of conditional discharge, which means the conviction will be expunged from Robinson's record if he avoids trouble during the year.