http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/news/story?id=6560322

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Wolves general manager David Kahn said he knew Minnesota was "dead" when it got down to the final three of himself, Utah executive Kevin O'Connor and Nick Gilbert.

“This league has a habit, and I am just going to say habit, of producing some pretty incredible story lines. Last year it was Abe Pollin's widow and this year it was a 14-year-old boy and the only thing we have in common is we have both been bar mitzvahed.”

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It does seem that way in the NBA.

it did seem a little suspect.

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we have both been bar mitzvahed.

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Does this mean what I think it does? If so, adios.

I think it was in everyone's best interest that Minnesota didn't draft another point guard. Good job, David Stern.

Jay Bilas Twitter:

To rig the Lottery, you need NBA office, NBA Security, Ernst & Young, and every Lottery team rep in on it. Oh, and Arnold leading it.

The current NBA lottery system is pretty un-riggable with the chart on the wall, the lottery balls, and the team reps in the room viewing the entire thing as it unfolds along with I believe a few members of the media. The only one I think could have been rigged was the Patrick Ewing draft as there was some suspicious behavior involved in how that went down. That was before the ball system.

Don't several teams send special folks out there?

Had KJ and Sacramento won it, wouldn't they be complaining about that as well.

Also, any thread involving the T'Wolves GM needs this:

If it was rigged, the Knicks, Clippers and Celtics would have won it a whole lot more the last few years.

Knicks last #1 pick was Patrick Ewing.

The Celtics were the favorite for Tim Duncan, but the Spurs (with third most balls AND #47 TV market) won.

The Celtics last #1 overall pick was Chuck Share in 1950. But they have been in the lottery 9 times since Bird retired.

If it was rigged, this isn't exactly the year to do it.

[This message has been edited by Danny Duberstein (edited 5/18/2011 9:31p).]

if you believe it was rigged then you also believe osama bin laden is still alive...

Does Ernst & Young have a specific practice consulting on ping pong balls?

Dude is back tracking like crazy, says he was just joking.

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Does Ernst & Young have a specific practice consulting on ping pong balls?

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Sure... they're the same group that audits Plinko on the Price Is Right! Duh!

He was JOKING

Seems like I read somewhere that Minnesota has always fallen down from their projected lottery spot. Probably just joking to hide some frustration at this happening repeatedly...

Have you seen Minnesota's draft history? They don't deserve a good draft pick until they can prove they know what to do with it.

Yeah... because Dan Gilbert's management has made PHENOMENAL choices in the draft in the past. Lebron doesn't count... biggest no brainer pick since Duncan when he was picked.

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Have you seen Minnesota's draft history?

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Yes, they've been screwed by the lottery and then confounded it with bad picks.