In the last 17 seasons, the team with the worst record in the NBA has only gotten the first pick in the NBA draft four times. Imagine the ignominy – your injured superstars rest in the second half of the season and you field a lineup of jokers all in the effort to tank and get the best player in the draft. And then you lose the lottery. This is not good news for the Miami Heat, who looked like an expansion team en route to 15 victories.

June’s draft is incredibly deep, but there are two clear-cut selections at the top, just like last year: Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley. Whereas last year everyone thought Greg Oden was the pick because dominant centers are few and far between, this one’s more of a tossup: Do you want the muscular, lightning quick point guard who was dominant in the Final Four, or the bruising power forward who we’ve long compared Derrick Coleman?

The awesome NBA postseason of Chris Paul has probably helped the cause of Rose, since the two do a nifty job of slithering into the lane and creating. D Wade has already expressed interest in Rose; but Seattle would take a long look too. Neither Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour, two Pac-10 point guards, seem like reliable starters. Then again, the potential of Beasley and Shawn Marion on the Heat up front could be instantly formidable in the meek East. And in the West, where some of the best power forwards roam (Amare, Duncan, Boozer, Dirk), Seattle could use the help. The draft will turn, though, on who lands the 3rd pick, and what they do with it. Brook Lopez, OJ Mayo, a Euro, Jerry Bayless … the opportunities are endless. We’ll be around in the NBA thread tonight talking about the envelope ceremony.

Oh, and Jay-Z will be there representing the Nets, not that it matters.