Hornets nab No. 1 pick in NBA draft lottery

NEW YORK (AFP) –

The New Orleans Hornets nabbed the top pick in next month’s NBA Draft, and will have first dibs on University of Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis, seen here on March 31, the national collegiate player of the year.

The New Orleans Hornets nabbed the top pick in next month’s NBA Draft as the draft lottery left the Charlotte Bobcats with the No. 2 selection.

The Bobcats, purchased two years ago by NBA legend Michael Jordan, endured the worst season in league history, finishing the lockout-shortened campaign 7-59 and losing their final 23 games.

Their .106 winning percentage was worse than the 65-year-old NBA’s old futility mark, the 9-73 season by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers that produced a .110 win percentage.

The Hornets had just the fourth-best chance to win the lottery for the top pick, but they will have first dibs on University of Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis, the Naismith Trophy winner as the national collegiate player of the year who has been touted as the likely top overall selection.

The Bobcats will pick second and the Washington Wizards third.

Cleveland and Sacramento gained the fourth and fifth selections in the draft, which will be held on June 28.

The Hornets will also have the No. 10 selection.

“We just feel blessed to be in this position,” said Hornets coach Monty Williams. “It’s great for our city and great for the state of Louisiana.”

The sixth through 14th picks went to the Nets, Warriors, Raptors, Pistons, Hornets, Trail Blazers, Bucks, Suns and Rockets, but the Nets’ No. 6 selection goes to the Trail Blazers because of a prior trade.