Tonight at 7:30 PM EST, the NBA Draft Lottery will take place. At this point, all teams can hope for is a little luck — the odds are locked in and the rest is up to how the ping pong balls will fall. All of the involved teams and their representatives will be clinging to their lucky charms, as they do every year, so we’ve created a list of hypothetical lucky charms, counting up from the team with the 10th worst odds of landing the No. 1 pick overall.
1. Pacers – Can Of Corn
The Pacers ruined their odds by not tanking like most other teams at the end of the season. As a result, they’re stuck with the worst odds to land the No. 1 pick of the worst 10 teams entering the lottery on Tuesday. As one of the nation’s major corn producing states, Indiana’s representative might want to bring a can of corn to the lottery to help produce a No. 1 overall pick. “Can of corn” also means “very easy,” which the Pacers could spin in their superstitious favor, as well.
2. Jazz (via Knicks) – Horseshoe
The Knicks (or Isiah Thomas) lacked foresight and picked a bad summer to have their potential No. 1 pick traded to another team – for Stephon Marbury no less. In the Summer of LeBron, and New York hoping to win him over, another No. 1 talent to play alongside would have been enticing bait. Instead, their 2.2% odds at the No. 1 pick belong to the Utah Jazz, forcing them to put all their hope in LeBron. Meanwhile, the Jazz may lose one of their stars to free agency (Carlos Boozer), so they could use as much luck as possible. They got this pick from the Knicks, so why not go with the Knicks’ lucky charm that helped them win the 1985 No. 1 pick and the rights to Patrick Ewing?
3. Clippers – No. 1/John Wall home and away Clippers Jersey-Blazer
Last year, the Clippers won the lottery and the rights to draft the consensus No. 1 pick, Blake Griffin. Obviously, the well-known Clippers curse doesn’t seem to affect their ability to get lucky on lottery night, so they might as well stick with what works. Last year it was the No. 1 home and away split Clippers jersey on the inside of Andy Roeser’s blazer, complemented with the split No. 23 on the other side. Their odds are just 2.3% to win the No. 1 this year, so they might as well try to put a pair of No. 1′s on the inside of their representative’s blazer this year.
4. Pistons – Not Joe Dumars
For most of the 2009-2010 season, it looked as if the Pistons were a lock for a top 3 pick. The main reason for the fall is the same reason for their climb to the top: GM Joe Dumars. He got too complacent with a core that wasn’t getting over the Eastern Conference Finals hump, traded away their franchise point guard last season for Allen Iverson, and then used all that cap money on two offense-only (if that) free agents. That only explains the past couple years, but Dumars has had tough luck in the draft during the entirety of his short GM career. As it seems his luck overall is running out, the 5.3% odds of the Pistons landing the No. 1 might seem like a lot more if Dumars is not in the room.
5. 76ers – Crystal Basketball
Speaking of trading for Allen Iverson, the best thing that happened to the 76ers as a result of the NBA Draft lottery was the small guard out of Georgetown in 1996. That year, Philadelphia owner Pat Croce brought a miniature crystal ball that he bought from Ireland. In 2001, Iverson led the 76ers to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1983. It might be too soon to repeat a recent lucky charm, but with another stud guard as the consensus No. 1 pick, it can’t hurt either.
6. Wizards – Toy Handgun
The Wizards plus the lottery has equaled an utter disaster in recent years. Lucky rabbits’ feet, horseshoes, underwear, and dragon’s claw, amongst other things, have all failed in not only getting the Wizards a No. 1 pick, but in most years, moving them up at all from their end of season position. I think it’s safe to say it’s time for them to mix things up and go with the reverse jinx. Their demise this season was the Gilbert Arenas gun fiasco, so why not take a toy handgun (because a real one wouldn’t fly) to the lottery and hope it brings some much needed luck. This will most likely be frowned upon, but it’d be a classic story, especially if it worked.
7. Warriors – Stephen Curry
The Warriors hit the jackpot in last year’s draft when Rookie of the Year runner-up, Stephen Curry, fell in their laps at the No. 7 spot. The frail guard probably has the six teams who passed on him saying the Warriors were lucky, and that’s fine, but they might as well milk Curry for all the luck he’s worth. Ironically, the Warriors probably would look to trade a No. 1 overall pick for proven talent considering John Wall is also a point guard and, well, Curry has that spot locked up.
8. Kings – Toy Story Movie
In 1998 the Sacramento Kings held a contest for fans to pick the lucky charm the team’s representative would take to the lottery. Interestingly enough, the winning charm was a Mr. Potato Head. Mr. Potato Head didn’t work, however, as the team lost the lottery and wound up drafting point guard, Jason Williams. Maybe the luck wasn’t in Mr. Potato Head, but in the two main toys of the movie that made Mr. Potato Head famous again, Toy Story (which came out three years before 1998, and Toy Story 2 was coming out in 1999). Sactown should consolidate all of those silly toys’ luck in one by just bringing the DVD to the lottery (and Toy Story 3 comes out the week before the draft).
9. Timberwolves – Folgers Coffee
I might pull a hamstring trying to stretch this one out, but bear with me. The Timberwolves have been in the lottery 13 times and have never improved their position. Of course, that’s caused their president of basketball operations David Kahn to downplay the hype of the lottery altogether. That didn’t stop the Timberwolves from distributing Lucky Charms cereal boxes with “lottery luck guaranteed” on the front. Instead of the cliche “lucky” cereal, why not try to wake up their lottery luck with some Folgers and make for a happy Wednesday morning?
10. Nets – Mikhail Prokhorov
As you know, the billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov recently bought the New Jersey Nets. The direction of the Nets franchise not only rests on Prokhorov and what he does with all that money, but quite possibly on how tonight’s lottery plays out. If the Nets want to increase their odds of winning the LeBron sweepstakes, they need to win the lottery so they can take John Wall at No. 1. Since 1985, the team with the best odds to win the lottery has only won four times. Selecting Mikhail Prokhorov as the Nets’ lucky charm seems like a cop out, but Prokhorov gives the Nets the beginner’s luck they desperately need, and the kind of luck money can’t possibly buy.

Total Pro Sports – Tonight is draft night, and while there is not much guessing as to who will go first overall, there are plenty of other questions that linger just hours before the picking begins.  Firstly, there are picks 2-60, which no one can seem to agree on.  There are also several different trade possibilities that remain, even after Wednesday night’s blockbuster saw Shaq go to the Cavs.  These both are important questions, but the one that remains on everyone’s mind is “who will make the 2009 NBA Draft’s biggest fashion statement?”

It is no longer a question of “if anyone will steal the spotlight with their suit,” but rather “who will do so?”  There is no better way to make a team ask themselves “did we make the right decision” than by walking towards the podium with something that will have people wondering whether you rented your tux from a Walt Disney character.  It is anyone’s guess who will dress to impress for tonight’s event, but I’m putting my money on Stephen Curry’s attire to have the most people talking when it’s all said and done.

Need some help refreshing your memory of the past fashion faux pas to grace the NBA Draft with their presence?  Here is our top 5 of all time:

5.  Jalen Rose – Red Suit with white pinstripes should be enough to get you on anyone’s top 5 list.

Jalen Rose rocks the red

4.  Drew Gooden – The Grizzlies must have wondered if they had made a mistake and accidentley drafted the Tin Man.

Drew does his Tin Man impression

3.  Samaki Walker – I’m not sure which was a worse decision.  The one made by the Mavs to draft Walker, or the big man’s decision to wear that suit.  Kind of reminds me of Rick Pitino.

Samaki with the ivory salesman look

2.  Joakim Noah – I am still trying to figure out whether it is funny because of the suit, or just because of the way Noah looks.  Either way, it makes this list easily.

Noah's suit compliments his looks.

1.  Chuck Person – There is two guys in that picture, but we don’t need to tell you which is Chuck.  Number one with ease!

In case you still have't realized, Chuck's in the white.

Well that’s what Jeremy Tyler a 6-foot-11 junior out of San Diego High School has decided to do.  Tyler who is only 17 will become the first American born High School basketball player to leave school early and play professional basketball overseas.

“Nowadays people look to college for more off-the-court stuff versus being in the gym and getting better,” Tyler told the Times. “If you’re really focused on getting better, you go play pro somewhere. Pro guys will get you way better than playing against college guys.”

Even with an offer from the #1 ranked Louisville Cardinals and Rick Pitino (infamous white mobster suit), Tyler has decided to opt out of his verbal agreement and follow former High School grad Brandon Jennings for Europe.  Jennings after playing one season in Lottomatica Virtus Roma, is projected to be a high pick in this years NBA Draft.

Hopefully this is the right decision for Jeremy Tyler and he has a long and successful basketball career.

With the NBA draft just around the corner, this is what Total Pro Sports think the first round could look like:

1. Bulls- Derrick Rose, 6-3 205, Memphis, freshman

• (14.9 PPG, 4.7 APG, 4.8 RPG, 1.23 SPG)
• The Bulls are in need of a solid PG and this is their guy.

2. Heat- Michael Beasley, 6-9 235, Kansas State, freshman

• (26.2 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.6 BPG)
• With Rose off the board this is a good pick for the Heat who need to find help for D Wade.

3. Timberwolves- Brook Lopez, 7-0 260, Stanford, sophomore

• (19.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 2.1 BPG)
• The Wolves could use this big man to help defend against the giants in the NBA’s Western Conference.

4. Supersonics- O.J. Mayo, 6-5 215, Southern Cal, freshman

• (20.7 PPG, 3.3 APG, 4.5 RPG, 1.5 SPG)
• This pick would make a lot of sense here as Mayo would compliment Durant nicely.

5. Grizzlies- Kevin Love, 6-10 270, UCLA, freshman

• (17.5 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.4 BPG)
• With the loss of Gasol, Love could step in and contribute right away.

6. Knicks- Danilo Gallinari, 6-9 215, Italy

• (14.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.5 SPG)
• New coach Mike D’antoni would love to add this versatile player to his newly inherited Knicks team.

7. Clippers- Russell Westbrook, 6-3 190, UCLA, sophomore

• (12.8 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.9 RPG, 1.6 SPG)
• The Clippers need a PG and Westbrook who played at UCLA could become a fan favourite.

8. Bucks- Jerryd Bayless, 6-3 195, Arizona, freshman

• (19.7 PPG, 4.1 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1 SPG)
• Coming of a solid freshman season the Bucks fill a need and also go with a PG.

9. Bobcats- Eric Gordon, 6-4 215, Indiana, freshman

• (20.9 PPG, 2.4 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.3 SPG)
• This sharpshooter could start for this team right away if Adam Morrison is slow to recover from injury.

10. Nets- Anthony Randolph, 6-11 220, Louisiana State, freshman

• (15.6 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.1 SPG)
• This athletic big man should mesh well with the Nets style of play.

11. Pacers- DeAndre Jordan, 7-0 250, Texas A&M, freshman

• (7.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.3 BPG)
• Jordan should be a good value pick here, if he does not go even earlier.

12. Kings- D.J. Augustin, 6-0 180, Texas, sophomore

• (19.2 PPG, 5.8 APG, 2.9 RPG, 1.2 SPG)
• One of the top rated PG’s in the draft could be a nice fit for the kings.

13. Trailblazers- Donte Green, 6-11 225, Syracuse, freshman

• (17.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.6 BPG)
• Green could add excellent depth to an already young and talented squad.

14. Warriors- Darrell Arthur, 6-10 235, Kansas, sophomore

• (12.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.4 BPG)
• Arthur seems to be the type of player the Don Nelson loves to have on his teams.

15. Suns- Chris Douglas-Roberts, 6-7 205, Memphis, Junior

• (17.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 SPG)
• Roberts would look good on the opposite end of Steve Nash passes on a regular basis.

16. 76ers- Marreese Speights, 6-10 250, Florida, sophomore

• (14.5 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 1 APG)

17. Raptors- Nicholas Batum, 6-8 210, France

• (8.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.7 APG)

18. Wizards- Roy Hibbert, 7-2 275, Georgetown, Senior

• (13.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.2 BPG)

19. Cavaliers- Ty Lawson, 6-0 195, North Carolina, sophomore

• (12.8 PPG, 5.3 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1.6 SPG)

20. Nuggets- JaVale Mcgee, 7-0 237, Nevada, Sophomore

• (14.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.8 BPG)

21. Nets- Kosta Koufos, 7-1 250, Ohio State, Freshman

• (14.4 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 BPG)

22. Magic- Brandon Rush, 6-7 210, Kansas, Junior

• (13.5 PPG, 2.4 APG, 5.2 RPG, 1 SPG)

23. Jazz- Chase Budinger, 6-7 205, Arizona, sophomore

• (17.1 PPG, 2.9 APG, 5.4 RPG, 1.1 SPG)

24. Supersonics- Robin Lopez, 7-0 255, Stanford, sophomore

• (10.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.3 BPG)

25. Rockets- Mario Chalmers, 6-1 190, Kansas, Junior

• (12.8 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.1 RPG, 2.5 SPG)

26. Spurs- Bill Walker, 6-6 225, Kansas State, freshman

• (16.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.9 APG)

27. Hornets- Joe Alexander, 6-8 230, West Virginia, Junior

• (16.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.5 BPG)

28. Grizzlies- D.J. White, 6-9 230, Indiana, Senior

• (17.4 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 1.6 BPG)

29. Pistons- J.J. Hickson, 6-9 242, North Carolina State, freshman

• (15.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.6 BPG)

30. Celtics- Devon Harding, 6-11 250, California, Senior

• (9.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.2 BPG)

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As the NBA draft approaches it has become more and more clear to me that the Chicago Bulls should take Derrick Rose with the first overall pick. As we have seen in the last couple of seasons a solid point guard can change the dynamics of a team entirely. Thanks to what Chris Paul and Deron Williams have done with their teams it almost seems like taking a guard is the safest bet at this point.

Much has been made regarding the fact that Rose is from the Chicago area and that’s why the Bulls should select him. More importantly he is a tremendous player that could of led his team to the National Championship had it not been for a couple of botched free throws. If Memphis had won the game there would not be much of a discussion at all regarding who the Bulls should take.

Historically as far as the NBA is concerned smaller players such as guards tend to transition quicker into the pros as opposed to their larger counterparts. Michael Beasley should eventually become a solid player, but it seems big men tend to take a little longer then guards to develop, does the name Tyrus Thomas ring a bell.

Speaking of Thomas from a personal standpoint the drafting of Rose would seem to make a lot more sense because the Bulls already have a bunch of players who are all relatively the same size who could potentially be competing with Beasley for playing time. They include Drew Gooden 6-10, Tyrus Thomas 6-9, Luol Deng 6-9, Andreas Nocioni 6-8, and Thabo Sefolosha 6-7.

From a Fantasy perspective both players seem to have a lot of potential as they enter their rookie seasons. Rose has the speed and quickness that make guarding him a difficult task, while Beasley seems to be a double double machine. Either way look for these players in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts in seasonal formats, and in keeper leagues they should be early first rounder’s. However, when the NBA draft rolls around at the end of June you can expect to hear the name Derrick Rose to be called first.