And with their first-round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks select … Lamar Odom?
Sure enough, the lazy malcontent who helped wreck the Mavs’ title defense in 2012 is the reason Dallas won’t have a first-round pick next month.
Simply put, to acquire Odom from the Lakers late in ’11 they gave L.A. their ’14 first-rounder. That pick went from LA to Houston and now is owned by the Thunder, leaving the Mavs with only a pair of second-round picks – Nos. 34 and 51 – for the June 26 draft.
While the Mavs haven’t had legit Lottery drama since drafting Jim Jackson, Jamal Mashburn and Jason Kidd in the Top 5 back in the early ‘90s, a miracle did occur last night as the Cavaliers got the No. 1 pick with only a 1.7-percent chance.
So while Cleveland decides between drafting Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and Jabari Parker, the Mavs will have to strengthen their roster without the benefit of a primo pick.
Thanks again for nothing, Lamar.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.