Cleveland Cavaliers look to strike gold again in 2012 NBA Draft Lottery

CLEVELAND - It’s hard to forget the moment when Nick Gilbert, wearing bow tie and distinctive glasses, was handed the card for the top pick after the Cavaliers won the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery.

Wednesday night, the Cavs will try to recreate that magic with the same people in place.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and his 15-year-old son Nick will be in Times Square, along with Cleveland sports figures Kyrie Irving, Bernie Kosar, Josh Cribbs and Joe Haden.

The Cavs have the third best odds of getting the first pick for a second consecutive year, a 13.8 percent chance.

After the worst season in NBA history, the Charlotte Bobcats have the best shot in the lottery, a 25 percent chance of winning.

Other top contenders are the Washington Wizards (19.9 percent chance) and the New Orleans Hornets (13.7 percent).

The top prize in this year’s draft is likely Kentucky center Anthony Davis. The 6-foot-10-inch forward led the Wildcats to a national championship and won a litany of honors as a freshman.

Last year, it was the Cavs who came away with two of the draft's top four picks. Irving, the first overall pick, has proven a good one, winning Rookie of the Year in his first season in wine and gold.

Wednesday night marks another opportunity for the Cavs to build on what Irving has started, a rebuilding process following the departure of LeBron James.

Gilbert will be back, presumably with his bow tie on, and the hopes of an entire city that the ping pong balls will go in their favor once more.

While the Cavs would love a second consecutive number one pick, they can fall no lower than the sixth pick in the first round.

The NBA Draft Lottery beings at 8 p.m.

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