Wizards Win Draft Lottery, Face Choice

Representing the Washington Wizards and her late husband, Irene Pollin's jaw dropped as she discovered the team had won the NBA draft lottery. Despite only a 10.3% chance, the Wizards will now have their choice of stars John Wall and Evan Turner, a good problem to have.

"I think it's the culmination of my husband's dream because he wanted another ring and maybe this will get us another ring," Pollin said. Wall and Turner are widely considered as the top two prospects. Wall played one year for the University of Kentucky and dazzled in his time there averaging 16.9 points per game and 6.4 assist per game. He also plays point guard which is considered the most important position in basketball. Turner is a shooting guard and was perhaps the best college player in the country averaging 20.3 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game at Ohio State. Wall is considered by most as the best pro prospect in the draft and expected to turn into a superstar player, but there is one thing standing in the way, Gilbert Arenas.

Arenas' mere presence continues to hurt the Wizards and now he has turned what looks like a no-brainer into a tough decision. The problem is that Arenas is the Wizards' current point guard. In order to rebuild this team, the Wizards need a starter and a possible star in the making from the draft. This is John Wall. Turner is a great player, but Wall is clear number one choice this draft. If the team is committed to keeping Arenas, as they claim to be, then unfortunately they will consider passing Wall for Turner who can start along side Arenas.

This is just stupid. Arenas has tainted the Wizards for too long and needs to go. They now have the opportunity to bring in a probable star at point guard and they cannot afford to pass that up. I am not down on Turner, but it is agreed among almost all NBA analysts that Wall should be the top pick. This is the team's chance to replace Arenas. They have cap space. With Wall and another superstar free agent pickup, you could see a new team next season. The Arenas era needs to come to an end because it has failed. I trust new owner, Ted Leonsis, who turned the Capitals organization around, to recognize what needs to happen and somehow push Arenas out the door.

As with all NBA stories these days, I also have to mention the possible impact this will have on Lebron's decision. The New Jersey Nets are named as one of the possible destinations for Lebron, but I feel the chances of that are now over. What New Jersey had to offer was a shot by winning the draft, but as they fell to number three I feel that is too low. Most likely the Nets will not get either Wall or Turner and so the appeal of New Jersey has now dropped tremendously. Owner Mikhail Prokhorov will do what he can to stay in the Lebron sweepstakes, but I think New Jersey's stock has now plummeted in Lebron's eyes because of the lottery.