<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Richard Walker Freedom News Service CHARLOTTE ? When the NBA playoffs begin today, the Charlotte Bobcats will be more hopeful of their playoff future than perhaps any team in NBA history entering only its second season. It?s because when the Bobcats predictably missed the playoffs and the Cleveland Cavaliers surprisingly missed the postseason, it made Charlotte the owner of two lottery picks ? its own and that of the Cavaliers. The future stayed bright Friday even as the Bobcats lost a coin flip to break a tie with the New Orleans Hornets to determine the positioning for the May 24 NBA draft lottery to be held in Secaucus, N.J. The lottery will determine exactly where teams will be picking in the June 28 NBA draft. They?ll have the opportunity of having the No. 1 overall selection ? they have a 18.3 percent chance ? and are guaranteed of picking no worse than sixth and 14th. With their own pick, the lottery will determine whether the Bobcats will be picking first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth. The loss of Friday?s coin flip means it?s most likely Charlotte picks third. With the Cavaliers? pick, the lottery will determine whether the Bobcats will be picking first, second, third, 13th or 14th. It?s most likely that pick would be 13th. Having two lottery picks gives the Bobcats the opportunity to control the early part of the draft. They could pick where the lottery dictates or make trades to move up or down. Per terms of its expansion agreement, Charlotte was given the No. 4 pick in last year?s rookie draft. But it traded with the Los Angeles Clippers to move up to No. 2 and chose rookie of the year favorite Emeka Okafor.</div> I like the Bobcats' chances also, they should get at least 2nd/3rd pick with their first and 13th with the other.
