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Cleveland Cavaliers Land Top Pick in 2014 NBA Draft



Since LeBron James took his talents to Miami, the Cleveland Cavaliers haven't had much luck on the basketball court. But they've had an amazing run in the NBA Draft Lottery.

Last night, the Cavs were awarded the first pick in the 2014 Draft. It's the second straight year and third time in four years that Cleveland will have the top overall selection. In 2013, the team too Anthony Bennett and in 2011 it picked Kyrie Irving.

Cleveland was hardly the worst team in the NBA this season, posting a 33-49 record and finishing five games out of a playoff spot. The Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks, meanwhile, won a combined 34 games and were accused of tanking to secure the top pick.

The Cavs were in the ninth spot in the lottery and had only a 1.7 percent shot at the number one pick. But once again, the Ping-Pong balls bounced in their favor.Cleveland will have their choice of some potential franchise players, like Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins, and Joel Embiid.

"This means everything," Cleveland vice chairman Jeff Cohen said. "This is the deepest draft arguably since LeBron [James] and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony came out."

The Bucks — the worst team in the NBA this season — will choose second, followed by the 76ers, Orlando Magic, and Utah Jazz.

The 2014 NBA Draft opens at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 26. Here's the full first-round draft order:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Milwaukee Bucks
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. Orlando Magic
5. Utah Jazz
6. Boston Celtics
7. Los Angeles Lakers8. Sacramento Kings
9. Charlotte Hornets (via Detroit Pistons)
10. Philadelphia 76ers (via New Orleans Pelicans)
11. Denver Nuggets
12. Orlando Magic (via New York Knicks)
13. Minnesota Timberwolves
14. Phoenix Suns
15. Atlanta Hawks
16. Chicago Bulls (via Charlotte Hornets)
17. Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn Nets)
18. Phoenix Suns (via Washington Wizards)
19. Chicago Bulls
20. Toronto Raptors
21. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers)
22. Memphis Grizzlies
23. Utah Jazz (via Golden State Warriors)
24. Charlotte Hornets (via Portland Trail Blazers)
25. Houston Rockets
26. Miami Heat
27. Phoenix Suns (via Indiana Pacers)
28. Los Angeles Clippers
29. Oklahoma City Thunder
30. San Antonio Spurs

Who do you think the Cavaliers should take with the top overall pick? Let us know in the comments section below!

Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

cleveland cavaliers 2014 nba draft lottery