Cleveland Cavaliers get 4th overall pick in draft

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Posted: 05/30/2012

NEWARK, N.J. - Despite Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert sticking to his superstitions, Cleveland did not go back-to-back with number one picks.

With the third highest odds in the 2012 NBA draft lottery, the Cavs fell to the fourth overall pick.

The team was represented in New York by Gilbert’s son, Nick. Sporting bowties and wide-framed glasses, Browns players Joe Haden, Josh Cribbs, Bernie Kosar, and Kyrie Irving were also there to show their support.

The Cavs have the ammo to make a move in this draft. They own the Lakers first round pick at 22 and New Orleans second round pick at number 34. This will be general manager Chris Grant's chance to shape his legacy.

“Got four and four of the top 34 picks… Can’t wait to see who we pick,” Nick tweeted, who grabbed a lot of attention with his “What’s not to like” about Cleveland attitude. Last year, the team's lucky charm landed them the number one pick in the form of NBA rookie of the year Kyrie Irving.

The New Orleans Hornets nabbed the top pick, with the Charlotte Bobcats drafting second and the Washington Wizards third. Anthony Davis, the unibrow-clad center from the University of Kentucky, is expected to be the first selection of the draft.

The Cavs will now need to figure out what direction they are going to go in. Most think the top players in this draft are ready to play in the NBA.

After Davis, the pre-draft camps will shape the future of Thomas Robinson from Kansas, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist from Kentucky, Bradley Beal from Florida, and Andre Drummond from UConn.

The lottery selects the top three picks in the NBA draft lottery. The past two seasons the Cavs have had the second and third worst records. Both years the Cavs natural pick should have been a top three pick. Both years they have landed in the four position.

In 2011, the Cavs selected Tristan Thompson at number four. The Cavs did select number one overall in last year's draft with the LA Clippers selection. The pick had a 2.8 chance of winning the draft.