The likelihood is that nothing will change.
Chances are the balls will not bounce the Warriors' way and land them the top pick, deeming them the winner of the Blake Griffin Sweepstakes. Odds are they won't move down either, at least not significantly enough to drum up fuel for Golden State Is Cursed fodder. The smart money is on the Warriors staying right where they are, at No. 7. General Manager Larry Riley is fine with that.
"We're not going to get far off of seven," he said. "It's not that this draft is loaded up with a lot of great players. But all you've got to do is get one."
The NBA draft lottery, which determines the order of the first 14 selections, will take place tonight before Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. A lottery will determine the top three spots, and the remaining 11 spots will be filled in inverse order of regular-season record.
The Sacramento Kings, owners of the league's worst record have the best chance (25 percent), followed by the Washington Wizards (17.8) and the Los Angeles Clippers (17.7).
The Warriors finished with the seventh-worst record. They have a 4.3 percent chance of moving up to the top pick and a 15 percent chance of jumping into the top three. If one of the teams behind the Warriors jumps into the top three, the Warriors will fall a spot.
Griffin, a power forward from Oklahoma, is expected to be taken first in the draft, held June 28. Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet and Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio figure to round out the top three.
NBA insiders expect the Warriors to draft a point guard. Rubio would be long gone by the time the Warriors pick at No. 7. But Brandon Jennings, the heralded Arizona recruit who shunned college Basketball to play professionally in Europe, sharp-shooting Davidson point guard Stephen Curry and Memphis guard Tyreke Evans could be available for the Warriors .
Initially, the draft was thought to be weak after the top three. But the development of some collegiate players such as Arizona power forward Jordan Hill, Curry and Louisville forward Earl Clark and the early entry of some potential-laden freshman such as Evans and USC guard DeMar DeRozan has given the middle of the lottery some life.
Perhaps few are franchise changers, but teams in the middle of the lottery are feeling like they can get a solid player. The Warriors certainly do.
"We have a pretty good idea who (we want)," Riley said, "if we're there at seven."
