As NBA Draft is set, Timberwolves GM hints at conspiracy

(CBS/What's Trending) - In the NBA, worst doesn't mean first. So even if you have a 2.8 percent chance of getting the first pick during the NBA Draft, you can still win the prize, which is exactly what happened.

This year's NBA Draft will be the first time the Cavaliers have the first overall pick since they drafted a little known high school player out of Akron -- the same MVP who would later break their hearts when he "took his talents to South Beach" without bringing home a championship. (Okay, he was never little known,and I'm obviously talking about LeBron James.)

Anyway the Cavs are on the clock and can start looking at who to pick number one overall, but now, some people are claiming there is an NBA conspiracy behind the draft pick lottery.

David Kahn, the Minnesota Timberwolves GM, is one of those hinting at some rigging. The Timberwolves had the best odds of winning the lottery with a 25 percent chance. Kahn told reporters after the draft order was announced, "I also felt that when the 14-year-old hit the dias with us we were dead. We were just dead. There was no way... this league has a 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. We were done. I told Kevin: 'We're toast.' This is not happening for us and I was right."

Fans, including ESPN's Jason Shepherd, went on Twitter to say they might agree with him.

The Minnesota T-Wolves were quick to say that it was a tongue and cheek comment, and it wasn't meant that way. They included a YouTube clip with the full statement from Kahn.

@ZaslowShow brought up the point that the odds were against the T-Wolves.

It doesn't matter. Ever since the lottery has started there has been controversy. The NBA Draft lottery began because people suspected the Houston Rockets of losing on purpose so they could get the top overall pick Hakeem Olajuwon.

But, since 1994 -- when the current format was instilled -- the team with the sixth best odds of winning has had the number one overall pick as many times as the teams who go in with the best odds. Only twice in the past 15 years has the team with the worst record actually won the lottery. And, even with the new rules to prevent fixing the lottery in place,  many still suspected the fix was in. THe New York Knicks won the first lottery -- and future Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing -- after they finished with the third worst record. Some speculate that since that the Knicks were in a major market, were struggling and needed a big name to jump start the franchise so someone helped them out with the lottery. There was also some talk when the Chicago Bulls won the number one overall pick and drafted hometown point guard Derrick Rose. That year they only had a 1.8 percent chance of winning.

ESPN's Sports Guy, Bill Simmons is one of the people who believe something was up. He, like others, even pointed out how the envelopes were handled during the lottery. He broke down the video to help back this theory: 

4:49: The hired accountant from Ernst & Whinney bangs one of the envelopes around around on the rim of the drum, presumably creasing one of the corners. Every other envelope goes in cleanly.

5:28: Stern reaches in and grabs a handful of envelopes, turns them over to look at them, and then drops all but one of them. The one he picks up is the one with the crease in the corner (pause it at 5:31 to see it). That envelope is placed at the #1-spot.

8:22: Stern announces that the Pacers get the 2nd pick, and thus, the Knicks have the first. Everyone in the building seems surprised but David Stern, who just looks guilty.

You can watch the video here:

But, for the Cavaliers only one question that matters to them: Who do you take with the number one pick, Arizona forward Derrick Williams or Duke guard Kyrie Irving?