The Denver Nuggets got lucky Monday. Or did they?
The Nuggets, who at 17-65 tied Cleveland for the worst record in the NBA this season, won a drawing with the Cavaliers. If neither team gets one of the top three picks when the June 26 draft order is determined at the May 22 lottery, Denver will select No. 4 and Cleveland No. 5. But, obviously, the Nuggets are hoping the drawing ends up meaning nothing.
Tom Reid of the Akron Beacon-Journal and Chris Tomasson of the Rocky Mountain News report: At a news conference on Friday afternoon, 18-year old St. Vincent-St. Mary High School star LeBron James officially announced that he is declaring for this June?s NBA Draft.
James, who is likely to be the first player selected in the draft, held the conference at his high school and it was broadcast by the Ohio News Network and ESPN2
He has wanted to play in the NBA since grade-school and is happy to take the first steps towards being drafted.
``It's been a longtime goal, and I'm happy it's finally coming true,'' James said.
At the news conference, James also said that he will play for the team that drafts him and believes he can make an immediate impact on the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Denver Nuggets.
``Whatever team decides to pick me on June 26, 2003, I won't let them down,'' said James. ``I'll look to be a leader on a team that is looking to get better from season to season.''
"If I get drafted by the Cavs, they will be a lot better team than they were a year ago," James said. "As for Denver, the same thing goes."
With the draft lottery coming up in about a month on May 22, James figures his future home is close to being decided and hopes to get acquainted with his new team as soon as possible.
"Hopefully, everybody says I'll be the No. 1 pick," James said. "I'll get to know a lot of my teammates when the (lottery) balls drop. Once those balls drop, I'm going to go build a relationship with the coaches and the team. It's not a lock that I'm going to be the No. 1 pick. But I want to get in some spring training."
"Whatever team picks me won't be disappointed.?
Chris Tomasson reports on the tie breakers being drawn for lottery postion.
The Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers will go head-to-head Monday to see who will receive the higher pick should they both be unlucky enough to fail to secure a top 3 pick according to Chris Tomasson of the Rocky Mountain News.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank announced that Stu Jackson will draw ping pong balls from a half basket to determine the tie breaker. At this time, other ties between teams in the standings will be broken.
Both teams, though, will have the same chance of landing the top pick- 22.5%.
Should both fail to stay in the top 3, the worst either could pick would be fifth.
Jim Armstrong reports on Marcus Camby, the Denver Nuggets as well as free agent Lamar Odom.
Chris Tomasson interviews Kiki Vandeweghe about the future of the Nuggets and next seasons goal.
Marc Spears reports on Kiki Vandeweghe's meeting w/ Juwan Howard and the rest of the Denver players.
Woody Paige has some questions about Denver coach Jeff Bzdelik. His best argument and paragraph follow:
"The experts said we'd win nine or 12 games this year," Bzdelik said. I hope he wasn't gloating about 17 victories. The Nuggets lost 56 of their last 68 and won only four games all season on the road. They scored fewer than 80 points 31 times. They scored fewer than 70 in seven games, and they scored fewer than 60 twice. They were the worst two-point shooting team in the NBA, the worst three-point shooting team, the worst free-throw shooting team. They had the most personal fouls and turnovers, and they averaged only 84.2 points a game and allowed an average of 92.5.
They were what they were.
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