Pat Williams on the NBA Lottery
On May 23, 1993, having just one of 66 ping pong balls in the cylinder, Orlando's number came up to give the Magic the first selection in the 1993 NBA Draft. Then-General Manager Pat Williams represented the Magic at the May 23, 1993 draft lottery proceedings. The Magic also had received the No. 1 pick by virtue of winning the lottery the prior year, and selected Shaquille O'Neal.
Did you bring any sort of good-luck charms to past drafts?
“We have done that over the years, we had all sorts of contests. Going back to 1990, 1991, every year we would lug up rabbits feet, four-leaf clovers, boxes of Lucky Charms cereal. One year I took two big sacks of ping-pong balls that we had collected from people. But I got tired of doing it, because it didn’t work. In 1992, I did absolutely nothing, and we won. In 1993 it seemed so hopeless. We had one ball out of 66. Well I didn’t even want to go, it seemed like a total waste of time. The next thing you know a miracle happened. I think at this point no decision has been made for this year. I’m sure our marketing gurus are working on all sorts of things. I’m holding the date, and hope that when people see me walk in they start trembling. I want them to say, ‘We have no chance,’ and intimidate them.”
Describe the feeling you get when you realize you have won the #1 pick.
“Almost indescribable. Knowing in 1992 what the win meant. There were 11 teams in the lottery that year and they all had a Shaq jersey made up, holding it under their chairs. There were 11 Shaq jerseys, ten of which never saw the light of day. They were just stuffed back into the bags, they would be wonderful collectors items now I’m sure, wherever they are. That was a huge thrill.”
“The next year was absolute disbelief. Stunned disbelief. Quite frankly, I couldn’t wait to get out of there because nobody was happy, except us. The commissioner wasn’t happy. Other teams weren’t happy. You could tell it was an ugly scene. You knew the rules were going to change immediately after we pulled off that “Orlando Miracle,” and it was a miracle. They did change the rules. David Stern, before he went to bed that night had revised the rules.”
Did you have a feeling in either 1992 or 1993 that you would be coming away with the top draft position?
“In 1993, none. I didn’t want to go, it seemed like a total waste of time. Can you imagine going up there to get the 11th pick? You have to go up the night before, you have to be there all day, waiting. That is two days out of your life to get the 11th pick?! When our card was not turned over at 11, a miracle had happened. It is a rush, there is no question. Your juices are flowing. The amazing thing is that the future of your franchise, the future of your coaches, executives, etc., are being determined by these ping-pong balls rattling around in a machine. Literally, your whole future is being determined on how these ping-pong balls react when that machine is turned on, and they start rattling around.”
Was there ever a time around the draft where you made a decision that came off as unpopular, but worked out for the team?
“1993, there is no question, that was certainly the most controversial. The Shaq pick was a no-brainer. There were no interviews, no workouts that year. That was the easiest draft you’ll ever be part of. But the next year, Chris Weber was the logical pick, and right up until right before the draft that was what we were going to do. At the last minute John Gabriel had second thoughts, and brought Hardaway back in for another workout, which we thought was spectacular. The night of the draft, I spoke with Gabe, and he said, ‘I want Hardaway.’ I had been in touch with the Warriors and Don Nelson, and finally right before the draft he agreed to give us three future first-round picks to flip-flop our picks. We took Weber, announced it to our crowd, we had about 10,000 people in the building that night. They were thrilled. Came out about 25 minutes later and announced we had made this trade. I thought they were going to tear the building apart. Our wonderful, pleasant, congenial fans were not happy. They were not happy at all, they thought we had lost our minds. Hardaway, for the first three years, he was something special, as was Webber. Then Penny had two back-to-back knee surgeries that really completely altered his career forever. He never was the same player. So you would have to say that was extraordinarily controversial.”
What do you look for in a draft pick?
“In our position, when you’ve had this kind of a year, and your reward is a high pick, I think you are thinking one thing only: Which one of these kids has the best chance to be a star? I think it is that simple. Who has the best chance to be a star? That is what you have to discern. In many years it is an easy choice, the year of LeBron for example. A lot of years it isn’t easy, even at the high-pick level.”
How much value is placed on a player’s performance in the NCAA tournament?
“Your last look is important. That is why these interviews, the private work-outs go a long way in determining draft position. If a player finishes on a high note, and the highest note you can get is winning the NCAA Title, that is great way to improve your value. Okafor could not have planned things better for his career. For him to come out in his last year of playing college ball and win the title, and he is the MVP, that is Cinderella stuff. He couldn’t have staged that better. The Nelson kid at St. Joe’s did almost the same thing. An undefeated season, a nice run in the tournament, you can’t ask for much more than that.”
What intangibles do you look for, perhaps something that can’t be seen on the court?
“You can judge the physical skills pretty well, but it is all the stuff inside that ultimately determines your pick. Is the young athlete focused? Is he passionate about what he does? Does he love to play? Does he come every day and work hard? Can he persevere through tough times? Is he going to step-up and lead? Is he going to play within the framework of a team? Does he make his teammates better? These are all the intangibles we talk about and write about, but they don’t come along that often, but you sure hope they’re there. A lot of times you don’t find that out until you’ve got the kid. How will he react to security and money? Is that going to change him? Once he is guaranteed big money, will that security cause him to become lazy or satisfied?”
What is your opinion of the constant increase of high-school student going straight to the NBA?
“In a perfect world this wouldn’t be happening. They would all go to college and graduate at 22 with degrees coming to pro ball mature, ready, and well-publicized, knowing the game. That is the perfect world, but that is not going to ever happen again. Therefore, we have to pay attention and scout intently into the high schools and know them as well we do the college players. It is just the way it is. David Stern would love to change it, but I don’t think the union will go for it. If there were a 20-year old minimum on players, LeBron would not have played this year or next.”
What do the Magic need to do with their draft pick?
“I think it is awfully important to draft by talent, not need. Right now, we have got to draft players with star potential. I think franchises get in trouble when they draft by need. In other words to pass a greater talent because he plays a position you have, and you take a lesser-talent, that will generally back-fire on you. I would hope our draft-day decisions are ‘this is the best kid that has the best chance to be the star.’ I think that has to be the criteria.”
Did you bring any sort of good-luck charms to past drafts?
 Pat Williams |
Describe the feeling you get when you realize you have won the #1 pick.
“Almost indescribable. Knowing in 1992 what the win meant. There were 11 teams in the lottery that year and they all had a Shaq jersey made up, holding it under their chairs. There were 11 Shaq jerseys, ten of which never saw the light of day. They were just stuffed back into the bags, they would be wonderful collectors items now I’m sure, wherever they are. That was a huge thrill.”
“The next year was absolute disbelief. Stunned disbelief. Quite frankly, I couldn’t wait to get out of there because nobody was happy, except us. The commissioner wasn’t happy. Other teams weren’t happy. You could tell it was an ugly scene. You knew the rules were going to change immediately after we pulled off that “Orlando Miracle,” and it was a miracle. They did change the rules. David Stern, before he went to bed that night had revised the rules.”
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“In 1993, none. I didn’t want to go, it seemed like a total waste of time. Can you imagine going up there to get the 11th pick? You have to go up the night before, you have to be there all day, waiting. That is two days out of your life to get the 11th pick?! When our card was not turned over at 11, a miracle had happened. It is a rush, there is no question. Your juices are flowing. The amazing thing is that the future of your franchise, the future of your coaches, executives, etc., are being determined by these ping-pong balls rattling around in a machine. Literally, your whole future is being determined on how these ping-pong balls react when that machine is turned on, and they start rattling around.”
Was there ever a time around the draft where you made a decision that came off as unpopular, but worked out for the team?
“1993, there is no question, that was certainly the most controversial. The Shaq pick was a no-brainer. There were no interviews, no workouts that year. That was the easiest draft you’ll ever be part of. But the next year, Chris Weber was the logical pick, and right up until right before the draft that was what we were going to do. At the last minute John Gabriel had second thoughts, and brought Hardaway back in for another workout, which we thought was spectacular. The night of the draft, I spoke with Gabe, and he said, ‘I want Hardaway.’ I had been in touch with the Warriors and Don Nelson, and finally right before the draft he agreed to give us three future first-round picks to flip-flop our picks. We took Weber, announced it to our crowd, we had about 10,000 people in the building that night. They were thrilled. Came out about 25 minutes later and announced we had made this trade. I thought they were going to tear the building apart. Our wonderful, pleasant, congenial fans were not happy. They were not happy at all, they thought we had lost our minds. Hardaway, for the first three years, he was something special, as was Webber. Then Penny had two back-to-back knee surgeries that really completely altered his career forever. He never was the same player. So you would have to say that was extraordinarily controversial.”
What do you look for in a draft pick?
“In our position, when you’ve had this kind of a year, and your reward is a high pick, I think you are thinking one thing only: Which one of these kids has the best chance to be a star? I think it is that simple. Who has the best chance to be a star? That is what you have to discern. In many years it is an easy choice, the year of LeBron for example. A lot of years it isn’t easy, even at the high-pick level.”
How much value is placed on a player’s performance in the NCAA tournament?
“Your last look is important. That is why these interviews, the private work-outs go a long way in determining draft position. If a player finishes on a high note, and the highest note you can get is winning the NCAA Title, that is great way to improve your value. Okafor could not have planned things better for his career. For him to come out in his last year of playing college ball and win the title, and he is the MVP, that is Cinderella stuff. He couldn’t have staged that better. The Nelson kid at St. Joe’s did almost the same thing. An undefeated season, a nice run in the tournament, you can’t ask for much more than that.”
What intangibles do you look for, perhaps something that can’t be seen on the court?
“You can judge the physical skills pretty well, but it is all the stuff inside that ultimately determines your pick. Is the young athlete focused? Is he passionate about what he does? Does he love to play? Does he come every day and work hard? Can he persevere through tough times? Is he going to step-up and lead? Is he going to play within the framework of a team? Does he make his teammates better? These are all the intangibles we talk about and write about, but they don’t come along that often, but you sure hope they’re there. A lot of times you don’t find that out until you’ve got the kid. How will he react to security and money? Is that going to change him? Once he is guaranteed big money, will that security cause him to become lazy or satisfied?”
What is your opinion of the constant increase of high-school student going straight to the NBA?
“In a perfect world this wouldn’t be happening. They would all go to college and graduate at 22 with degrees coming to pro ball mature, ready, and well-publicized, knowing the game. That is the perfect world, but that is not going to ever happen again. Therefore, we have to pay attention and scout intently into the high schools and know them as well we do the college players. It is just the way it is. David Stern would love to change it, but I don’t think the union will go for it. If there were a 20-year old minimum on players, LeBron would not have played this year or next.”
What do the Magic need to do with their draft pick?
“I think it is awfully important to draft by talent, not need. Right now, we have got to draft players with star potential. I think franchises get in trouble when they draft by need. In other words to pass a greater talent because he plays a position you have, and you take a lesser-talent, that will generally back-fire on you. I would hope our draft-day decisions are ‘this is the best kid that has the best chance to be the star.’ I think that has to be the criteria.”
