Lakers, Clippers Fail to Rock Lottery System

The Lakers and Clippers did not move up in the NBA draft order, but the Milwaukee Bucks defied minuscule percentages and intimidating probabilities to take the biggest prize offered at Tuesday’s draft lottery.

The Bucks had a 6.3% chance of winning the No. 1 pick in next month’s draft, but they got the top overall selection as their general manager clutched a fan’s good luck charm, a fishing lure affectionately named “Little Cleo.”

The Lakers had a 1.4% chance of taking the No. 1 pick and only slightly better chances of moving up to No. 2 or No. 3, but they stayed at No. 10 in their second visit to the lottery since its inception 20 years ago. The Clippers will select No. 12 in the June 28 draft after failing to beat similarly slim chances of moving up.

In a draft that seems more destined for several solid players than one or two franchise-turning types, the top players include Utah center Andrew Bogut, North Carolina forward Marvin Williams, Wake Forest point guard Chris Paul and Illinois point guard Deron Williams. None of them are seniors.

The team with the worst record has won the lottery only four times, a trend that this year bit the Atlanta Hawks, who went a dreadful 13-69 and then got bumped down by the Bucks to No. 2.

The Lakers were represented by Executive Vice President Jeanie Buss, who clutched a Native American rock given to her for luck by longtime boyfriend Phil Jackson.

“It wasn’t the rock I was looking for,” she said, smiling, a few minutes before the lottery results were announced.

Without naming a specific team, Buss predicted Jackson would again coach in the NBA and later talked more about Jackson’s chances of reuniting with the Lakers.

“I am just happy that is even an opportunity, because eight months ago if you would have told me that we were talking about Phil going back to the Lakers, I never would have believed it,” she told reporters.

“Here we are, and I am optimistic. I have never made any secret that selfishly that is what I’d really like, and it’s all about me and what I want,” she said, laughing.

The Lakers haven’t picked this high in a draft since taking Eddie Jones in 1994 with the 10th selection, and there have been more successes than failures at No. 10 since then.

Of the players taken there since Jones, some have had solid NBA careers -- Boston Celtic guard Paul Pierce, Phoenix Sun guard Joe Johnson, Dallas Maverick guard Jason Terry -- and others have become serviceable role players -- New York Knick forward Kurt Thomas, Seattle SuperSonic forward Danny Fortson and Miami Heat guard Keyon Dooling.

Laker forward Caron Butler was taken by the Miami Heat at No. 10 in 2002.

“You always hope for the best, but 10 is what we’ve been planning for and 10 is what we are,” Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. “It could have gone the other way, to 11 or 12.”

The Lakers will be looking for a post player and point-guard depth via the draft or free agency. Possibilities include Fran Vazquez, a 6-foot-10 power forward from Spain who, at 22 years old, probably will be the oldest of the top 10 picks; Martynas Andriuskevicius, a 7-3 center from Lithuania with good touch and defensive presence for a 20-year-old; or North Carolina point guard Raymond Felton, a 6-foot junior who led the Atlantic Coast Conference in assists and three-point accuracy.

The Clippers are seeking a long-distance threat this summer after finishing last in three-point shots made and attempted. Possibilities include New Mexico State forward Danny Granger, a 6-8 senior with solid all-around skills or North Carolina shooting guard Rashad McCants, a 6-3 junior and one of four Tar Heels with first-round potential.

This will be the Clippers’ 18th lottery pick, more than any other team. Last year, they took Shaun Livingston out of high school with the fourth pick.

“You have to do a lot more work,” Clipper General Manager Elgin Baylor said of selecting No. 12. “You have to see a lot more people. I think it’s a good draft. I don’t think it’s a great, great, great draft. But I think you have some very good players in this draft, from the top all the way down to us and beyond.”

Times staff writer Jerry Crowe contributed to this report.

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Draft order

Order of the first round in the NBA draft June 28:

*--* 1 Milwaukee 16 Toronto-b 2 Atlanta 17 Indiana 3 Portland 18 Boston 4 New Orleans 19 Memphis 5 Charlotte 20 Denver-c 6 Utah 21 Phoenix-d 7 Toronto 22 Denver 8 New York 23 Sacramento 9 Golden State 24 Houston 10 LAKERS 25 Seattle 11 Orlando 26 Detroit 12 CLIPPERS 27 Utah-e 13 Charlotte-a 28 San Antonio 14 Minnesota 29 Miami 15 New Jersey 30 New York-f

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a-from Cleveland through Phoenix; b-from Philadelphia through Denver and New Jersey; c-from Washington through Orlando; d-from Chicago; e-from Dallas; f-from Phoenix through San Antonio.