Who are the team representatives at the 2017 NBA draft lottery?
There is a variety of personalities who will represent the 14 teams.
The 2017 NBA Draft Lottery is taking place on Tuesday night, when we’ll find out the order for the draft. There will be 14 representatives for the teams participating in the lottery.
Some names are more familiar than others, but overall it’s a good group for a night that will end up changing a franchise in the future. Let’s take a look at who’s going to be a good luck charm for each team.
Boston Celtics: Wyc Grousbeck - Co-owner
The Celtics are taking a more serious business route by having Grousbeck represent. The Celtics might be contending in the East, but the lottery and draft this year are going to be huge for them, as they own the Nets’ pick. Boston could end up with the No. 1 overall pick after being the No. 1 seed in the East. Danny Ainge and Co. will hope Grousbeck is a good luck charm.
Charlotte Hornets: Rich Cho - General manager
Cho deserves to be in the seat, as the Hornets are likely on the bottom end of the lottery. He helped the team go from the lowly Bobcats, to one that was in the postseason as recently as last year.
Dallas Mavericks: Michael Finley - Former player
Remember Michael Finley? He, along with Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, made for some entertaining basketball in the first half of the 2000s. Oh, and there was his 1997 dunk contest performance, which included a hilarious cartwheel dunk.
Denver Nuggets: Gary Harris - Shooting guard
The young guard represents the Nuggets, who have the second-worst odds out of the 14 participating teams. The number 13 typically isn’t lucky, but the Nuggets and Harris certainly need help. That’s probably why GM Tim Connelly isn’t there — he’s developing a plan to help right the ship in Denver.
Detroit Pistons: Jeff Bower - Pistons GM
Stan Van Gundy would have been a better choice here. Nothing against Bower. It’s just that we have a greater chance of getting something funny from Van Gundy than him. We like funny around here.
Forming a wall won’t help them get a better pick, though.
Los Angeles Lakers: Magic Johnson - President of basketball operations
Magic’s representation would be so much better if they had him live tweet his thoughts and insight during the event.
The only way San Antonio or Miami don't win the championship is if neither team makes the finals.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) March 7, 2014
Make it happen, Adam Silver.
Miami Heat: Alonzo Mourning - Former player
The Heat did not want to be here. They were oh so close to making the East’s final seed for the postseason, but they just couldn’t finish the deal. Now they find themselves at the bottom of the lottery. The team is sending Mourning and will hope whatever players are available later in the lottery can have a similar impact as he did in South Beach.
If it were up to us, Dion Waiters would totally be in that seat.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Andrew Wiggins - Guard/Forward
One piece of the future of the Timberwolves in Wiggins will help usher in what they will hope to be another. No team in the NBA has more promising young talent than Tom Thibodeau’s, and they’re in a good position to add even more. He’s also been known to wear some flashy suits, and we could expect to see one Tuesday night.
New Orleans Pelicans: Alvin Gentry - Head coach
While everybody’s hoping to strike gold Tuesday, Gentry really needs it. He left the Warriors to coach the Pelicans and Anthony Davis, where things haven’t gone quite as they would have liked up to this point. The Pelicans need to jump into the top three to keep their pick, which is unlikely to happen.
New York Knicks: Walt Frazier - Former player
Walt’s taking a break from selling hair products to rep the Knicks, who need all kinds of help. We can expect a well-groomed Frazier, who is always one of the more vibrantly dressed men in sports (hello, leather suit).
Orlando Magic: Frank Vogel - Head coach
Vogel is a fine choice for Orlando. The Magic don’t have any players currently who really stick out at you. They’ll keep their fingers crossed and wish that the odds work in their favor. Maybe then they won’t have to keep showing up to the lottery.
Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid - Center
This is the person you should be most excited to see at the draft lottery. The owners, GMs, current and former players are all different in their own ways, but Embiid is the one who really might make it a good time. He may be the least-shiest person in the NBA and will probably make the entire event more entertaining than just finding out the draft order.
Excited to represent Philly at the Lottery and also excited to see which young fella is gonna have this draft reaction when they get drafted pic.twitter.com/ljVqX2WhJw
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) May 9, 2017
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker - Shooting guard
The Suns’ choice to have Devin Booker as their representative is fitting. The team was clearly in tank mode as the season progressed, but that didn’t stop Booker from getting his 70-point game. He’s going to be one of the centerpieces for the team moving forward, and the team has the second-best odds for the top pick. Phoenix will hope its No. 1 can get it the No. 1 pick.
Sacramento Kings: Dave Joerger - Head coach
It’s safe to say that we shouldn’t have expected Vivek Ranadivé or Vlade Divac to be at the draft lottery. The Kings had a rough season and made a questionable trade that sent DeMarcus Cousins to New Orleans.
Joerger will represent the Kings as well as anybody else in the organization could. I mean, somebody’s gotta do it.

