Rem, the lottery was started because bad teams were known for tanking some of their games at the end of a grueling season.
In other words, if Tim Duncan was at the top of the draft and you were a game ahead of the team with the worst record... well, wouldn't you shuffle the sneakers a little more to "catch up?" Plus an upgrade to one of five players (NBA) on the court is more substantial in that sport than drafting an NFL star, which improves one of 22 starters, in theory.
I guess there's some question about who will go first this year: Along with Beasley from Kansas State, I guess Derrick Rose of Memphis seems to have some momentum because of what he did in the tournament.
Try the following link in the next paragraph. It's kind of fun. (Note: a detailed NBA post from HawkCharger. Remember this spot: It's about as common as a spotted zebra.)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/lotte
ry2008/mockdraft
Miami Heat
Odds of winning the lottery: 25 percent
Seattle SuperSonics
Odds of winning the lottery: 19.9 percent
Minnesota Timberwolves
Odds of winning the lottery: 13.8 percent
Memphis Grizzlies
Odds of winning the lottery: 13.7 percent
New York Knicks
Odds of winning the lottery: 7.6 percent
Los Angeles Clippers
Odds of winning the lottery: 7.5 percent
Milwaukee Bucks
Odds of winning the lottery: 4.3 percent
Charlotte Bobcats
Odds of winning the lottery: 2.8 percent
Chicago Bulls
Odds of winning the lottery: 1.7 percent
New Jersey Nets
Odds of winning the lottery: 1.1 percent
Indiana Pacers
Odds of winning the lottery: 0.8 percent
Sacramento Kings
Odds of winning the lottery: 0.7 percent
Portland Trail Blazers
Odds of winning the lottery: 0.6 percent
Golden State Warriors
Odds of winning the lottery: 0.5 percent
My slogan -- Clipper Fever: They seem to have found a vaccine.
A shaman taught me a chant for lottery luck. I shall chant it now...
"Reg-rahck-wah"