The NBA Draft Lottery is tonight and one of the usual suspects won't be there. The Atlanta Hawks finished the season with a record of 37-45, which usually earns a team a spot in the draft lottery. This year, however, the Hawks were the eighth seed in the playoffs. They even made the Boston Celtics play a seven game series.
The Hawks had not made the NBA Playoffs since 1999. The Hawks would have a seat at the NBA Draft Lottery for the next eight years. The lottery was a microcosm of the futility of the Hawks as they secured a top-3 pick just three times (2003, 2005, and 2007) and had never won the first overall pick in an eight year span.
As the Hawks end the longest stay in the Lottery, they still do not hold the record for the most appearances in the Lottery. This distinction belongs to the woeful Los Angeles Clippers, who will be in the NBA Draft Lottery for the 18th time.
I hope the Hawks will remain away from the Lottery for years to come because they finally are good enough for me to watch with both eyes open.
I do have a prediction for the NBA Draft Lottery: Watch out for the Knicks.



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