FanHouse

By theory, the NBA Draft Lottery (tonight at 7:30 p.m. Eastern) is left to randomness. But what if, as the conspiracy-minded have insisted for more than two decades, David Stern dictated the results? Close your eyes and imagine such a world ...

#1 Pick: New York Knicks. No explanation is needed here.

#2 Pick: Charlotte Bobcats. Several moribund franchises need a kick start -- Indiana, the Clippers, Milwaukee. But Charlotte has all the ingredients of one of those single-season super swings: a serious coach, good talent, weak competition. If a hypothetical Stern were to fix a lottery, and he could -- with one fell swoop, really -- fix the Pacers, the Clips, the Bucks, or the Cats ... he'd pick Charlotte every time. "Thank you MJ, thank you Larry Brown, thank you Robert Johnson. Now sell some tickets!"

#3 Pick: Sacramento Kings. As mentioned in the karmic scale, the NBA is running the Maloofs' bid for a new Kings arena. By all accounts, the progress is swell. But there's negotiation to come. Would it be beyond a hypothetical Stern to grease the skids a bit by handing over an elite prospect? Does a tough economic sell become a little easier with a top-flight rookie in tow? Yes, methinks. < / homer>

Honorable mentions: Chicago (big market), Clippers (ditto), Memphis (retribution for gifting ABC an extra few weeks of the Lakers).

Join NBA FanHouse at 7 p.m. Eastern for a live blog of the lottery, hosted by Brett Edwards.