Asked in a feature interview where he’d like to play if he could rub a magic lamp and transport himself to another NBA city, Andrea Bargnani told Italy’s Sky Sports: “I want to stay in Toronto, at least this is the politically correct answer. If (I am) to go somewhere else, I’d like a warm climate city and a team where I can actually play in my role.”

Bargnani spoke those sentiments in Italian; the translation was provided by a trusted source, fluent in both Italian and English, and confirmed as accurate by the journalist who conducted the interview, Alessandro Mamoli.

Enes Kanter -- who is projected as a top-five pick despite the fact that teams haven't seen him play since last year's Nike Hoop Summit in Portland -- convinced NBA executives that he has the stamina to play heavy minutes right away.

He lasted approximately 21 minutes on a brutal treadmill test that includes steep inclines, declines and sprints, putting himself atop the big man class when it comes to being dedicated about his body.

"He went 21-plus minutes on the treadmill test, and only five guys -- plus Enes -- [did that] and four of them were guards," Ergul told SI.com. "[NBA officials] said that was the first time in the draft in modern history that had happened, that no 6-11-plus guys ever finished 21-minutes-plus on the treadmill test ... People don't realize how prepared this kid is, how dedicated he is."

Yet the talk surrounding Kanter in Chicago had much more to do with the fact that he didn't sit down for interviews with Utah (No. 3, No. 12 picks), Toronto (No. 5) and Milwaukee (No. 10). Those non-meetings raised questions about whether Kanter's camp was avoiding certain teams, but Ergul said that wasn't entirely the case. They were only avoiding the Bucks.

"The only one I really didn't care for him [to go to] is Milwaukee," Ergul said. "I'll be honest ... it came out all wrong. [Utah general manager] Kevin [O'Connor] knew about it ... We called them, and it was because in next two weeks I had a feeling we were going to see each other extensively, so there's no reason for that [interview].”

Raptors center Amir Johnson will have surgery next week to take care of a “ligament issue,” president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said Tuesday night.

Johnson, who missed the last week of the regular season with an ankle issue, will have the surgery within the next week in North Carolina and it will be conducted by the same doctor who performed foot surgery on Reggie Evans, Colangelo said.

Johnson will be ready for the start of training camp, Colangelo added.

Ten months after LeBron James left the team as a free agent, the Cavaliers took a major step toward rebuilding their franchise by winning the first overall pick in Tuesday's draft lottery.  

Ironically, the ping pong ball that bounced Cleveland's way was attached to the Clippers' selection, which the team acquired in the Baron Davis trade, not their own. The latter pick fell to fourth despite the Cavaliers having the second-best chance at taking one of the top three spots, given that the team owned the league's second-worst record.   

The Wolves, with the NBA's worst record, took the second selection and the Jazz will pick third, by way of the pick Utah acquired from New Jersey in the trade of Deron Williams to the Nets.

Full lottery results are as follows:

1.  Cleveland (via Clippers)

2.  Minnesota

3.  Utah (via Nets)

4.  Cleveland 

5.  Toronto

6.  Washington

7.  Sacramento

8.  Detroit

9.  Charlotte

10.  Milwaukee

11.  Golden State

12.  Utah

13.  Phoenix

14.  Houston

Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo is sticking around.

Colangelo confirmed on Tuesday afternoon, ahead of the NBA's draft lottery that he has "agreed in principle" to a contract extension.

Colangelo's contract was set to expire on June 30 and though it was announced last week that he would represent the team at Tuesday's draft lottery, his status had been unclear for months.

The Toronto Sun first reported on February 15th that: "While there is no timetable for an announcement," according to a source with knowledge of the thinking of the upper echelon of the MLSEL board, “It is 99% certain that (Colangelo) will be re-signed before the end of his current contract.”

It took a while, but that information proved correct in the end, though Colangelo had faced strong opposition from Glen Silvestri, a board member representing majority owner Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan and others.

Bryan Colangelo is closing in on a new multi-year deal to remain in charge of Toronto’s basketball operation, multiple NBA sources said Tuesday.

“It’s happening,” said one person with knowledge of the negotiations.

Colangelo, who was en route to the New York area on Tuesday morning, has declined comment on his contract status in recent days.