SECAUCUS, N.J. - The night would begin with Bryan Colangelo having a big smile on his face, a natural state when one is provided with a long-awaited contract extension.
The night would end with Colangelo trying to put on a brave face, a look of disappointment that was somewhat concealed by the reality of the evening’s events.
This annual process of selecting the top-three slots in the NBA’s yearly draft amounts to blind luck, a fate determined by the bounce of a lottery ball, no matter how great a team’s chances may appear.
In fact, the chances of the Raptors dropping from their No. 3 position were greater than moving up, which is what precisely happened here at the NBA’s entertainment complex.
When Colangelo won the lottery in 2006, the Raptors had the fifth-best chance.
Tuesday night, the Raptors would fall to the No. 5 hole in a draft of many unknowns once you get beyond the two consensus blue-chip prospects in Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams.
Irving, whose grandfather is Rod Strickland, a former NBA point guard who had a brief run in Toronto, was in attendance as the Cavaliers won the lottery.
Interestingly, the Cavs’ winning pick was obtained from the L.A. Clippers when Cleveland acquired Baron Davis and his hefty contract in exchange for a package that included Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.
The Cavs ended the night with the first overall pick and No. 4, two key potential building blocks as they move forward in the post LeBron James era.
Immediately, the name Kemba Walker comes to mind if Toronto holds on to the No. 5 slot.
The UConn star who led the Huskies to the NCAA championship would be a hit in Hogtown with his fearless play, ability to score and create.
That’s not to say the Raptors have narrowed their choice to the scoring guard because they haven’t, but he’s a name worth watching as the June 23 draft draws nearer.
“If we weren’t moving up to No. 1 or the No. 2 slot, there might not be that much of a difference in the third or four, five or six,’’ Colangelo said.
A win in the lottery would have capped a memorable day for Colangelo, who finally has the authority to see his rebuild of the Raptors come to a completion.
The process, it goes without saying, would have been expedited had the ping pong balls gone Toronto’s way.
It didn’t and now the Raptors, led by Colangelo, have to figure out who is likely to go once Irving and Williams are taken.
Minnesota, which had never jumped forward in 14 previous visits to the lottery, continued their history by dropping to the No. 2 hole, a slot the T’Wolves should use on Williams, an explosive forward who can ride shotgun alongside Kevin Love.
Utah, which moved into the No. 3 hole by using New Jersey’s slot in the wake of the Deron Williams deal, can use a big man in the form of an Enes Kanter, but the Jazz also needs athleticism.
On Wednesday, the NBA’s annual pre-draft camp will begin in Chicago, where the annual crop gets tested, where prospects are interviewed and when individual workouts are arranged.
Colangelo and his staff will be present, the Raptors’ first opportunity to get a feel for what teams above them in the order are thinking.
By dropping two slots, the Raptors do save some money, funds that will be used to attract free agents whenever the NBA and its players comes up with a new deal.
Irving was no doubt the guy Toronto coveted, a point guard who would provide so much to a franchise that hasn’t had a dynamic floor general since the days of Damon Stoudamire.
Williams’ athleticism and ability to get to the rim would have been hard to turn down, but Ed Davis needs time to grow and Williams is projected as a scoring power forward.
“We’re a team that has a long way to go,’’ Colangelo said. “We’ll obviously look at all the circumstances, but we’ll take the best available talent.”
A lot could happen, a lot of speculation will circulate in the days leading up to the draft, but barring a trade it appears, at least for now, that the Raptors will get a prospect who will help a team with many areas to address.
Factor in the roster uncertainty and it’s certain that anything can happen, save for Irving and Williams being available.
Colangelo could have hit basketball’s equivalent of a homer had he won the lottery.
As it stands, he had to settle for a stand-up double.
He’ll get a guy in the draft who’ll be athletic, but it could have opened so many opportunities had the Raptors moved up and not down.
frank.zicarelli@sunmedia.ca
