PHOTO COURTEIMAGES (GOLDESNY OF JUL BALLS); PHOTO COURTEIE SWAN (HORSESSY OF HOE); GETTY DREW
DZWONKOWSKI (PENNY); JOHN IACONO (LOTTERY)A LITTLE DRAFT LOTTERY LUCK can change
a franchise’s fortunes. A lot of draft lottery
luck can set it up for decades. Before
the 1992 NBA draft, the Magic won the
first pick after having the second-worst
record during the regular season. They
drafted Shaquille O’Neal and improved
dramatically from a 61-loss team to a.
squad. That’s what made it so surprising
when they won the draft lottery again in
’93, despite having the lowest odds of any
qualifying team (1.52%). They drafted Chris
Webber, then flipped him to the Warriors
for Penny Hardaway and three future first-
round picks! Despite that embarrassment
of riches, the closest Orlando came to
winning a title was getting swept by the
Rockets in the 1995 Finals.Lucky Penny
Luck Rating:
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