Thank you Isiah!
The Raptors went into the lottery with only an 8.8% to take the top spot and got it. Meanwhile, the Knicks went into the lottery with the 2nd worst record in the league but ended up with the second pick… but whoops, they traded that pick to Chicago for Eddy Curry. Oh, and Chicago has the right to swap picks next year because of the trade for… Eddy Curry.
When the trade happened, Isiah Thomas said that they had to gamble on the type of talent and size that Eddy Curry possessed and that a guy like him comes along every 15 to 20 years. The Bulls got an absolute steal with this deal. They had to trade Curry because he refused a DNA test to determine the likelihood of future heart problems. The Knicks were unconcerned about Curry’s heart problems, and they were right about that — it turns out Eddy Curry has no heart — especially on defense.
Here’s the full first round draft order.
- Toronto
- Chicago (from New York)
- Charlotte
- Portland
- Atlanta
- Minnesota
- Boston
- Houston
- Golden State
- Seattle
- Orlando
- New Orleans
- Philadelphia
- Utah
- New Orleans (from Milwaukee)
- Chicago
- Indiana
- Washington
- Sacramento
- New York (from Denver through Toronto and New Jersey)
- Phoenix (from L.A. Lakers through Atlanta and Boston)
- New Jersey (from L.A. Clippers through Denver and Orlando)
- New Jersey
- Memphis
- Cleveland
- L.A. Lakers (from Miami)
- Phoenix
- Dallas
- New York (from San Antonio)
- Portland (from Detroit through Utah)
Links:
[USA Today]: Bulls turn Knicks’ pick into No. 2, lottery win
[ESPN]: Raptors claim No. 1 pick for June’s NBA draft