Draft Larceny

Now it's getting interesting.

For the umpteenth time, the NBA lottery failed to give the top three picks to the three worst teams. Instead, the Chicago Bulls, which finished with the ninth-worst record last season, managed to beat the odds (1.7%) and stole the prized top pick away from the Miami Heat, Seattle Supersonics, Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks.

Now they are in an enviable dilemma: Choose from the homegrown Derrick Rose and the high-flying Michael Beasley.

Last season, it was the Portland Trailblazers and the Supersonics who were the biggest beneficiaries, as by winning the lottery they were able to draft college phenoms Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. And I vividly remember the disappointment and frustration of Jerry West, the President of Basketball Operations of the Grizzlies, when his worst-placed team could only come up with the fourth pick.

You'll have to bet that West will have more complaint this time around.

Ever since the current system began in 1994, only twice (in 2003 and 2004) did the worst team come up with the top selection. More often than not, the better teams were able to find a way to sneak up the draft order.

People have been crying foul for years, and many believe that there is a conspiracy going on in favour of the Knicks, as well as teams from other big cities, by the league.

But if that is the case, the Knicks should have won the lottery every year. And with a roster of players like Yao Ming, LeBron James and Chris Paul, they should have been a force in the league, but not the laughingstock they have been for years.

I see no problem in the current system, which is mainly to deter teams from throwing games late in the season, but also ensure that the worst team will pick no lower than fourth. In fact, after seeing how crazily the ping-pong balls have been going year in year out, teams will finally realize that tanking games will: 1. Annoy your fans; and 2. Not give you the much-coveted top pick.

After all, it's a lottery, where anything can happen.