Warriors Buck Odds, Win Lottery New Gm Twardzik Cites Divine Intervention

Dave Twardzik is on a roll since taking over as general manager of the Golden State Warriors.

Just days after naming Rick Adelman as his new coach, Twardzik and the Warriors got the No. 1 pick in the June 28 NBA draft by winning the draft lottery Sunday.

“It’s really been exciting,” said Twardzik, who left a position as the Charlotte Hornets’ director of player personnel to take the job of rebuilding the Warriors, who went through two coaches and sent Chris Webber packing in a turbulent season.

“I was fortunate to get into the playoffs with Charlotte and now I have had the opportunity to hire a great coach for our situation,” Twardzik said. “Now to get the first pick in the lottery, we’re in the cat-bird seat in terms of taking talent. It’s a great time.”

The Warriors, with the fifth-worst record in the league, had a 9.4 percent chance of winning the first selection in the weighted lottery system that gives the worst teams the best chance at top picks.

However, when four ping-pong balls with the Nos. 12-7-5-8 popped up, Twadzik and the Warriors had beaten the odds, although they may have had a little help. Warriors owners Chris Cohan invited Fr. Peter Colapietro to serve as the team’s witness when the lottery was actually held, prior to the results being broadcast on national television.

The New York City Roman Catholic priest was in Rome last week and he said he stopped in a church to say a prayer for the Warriors. “… I lit a candle for St. Jude who is the patron of hopeless causes, and I guess he listened,” he said.

Twardzik wouldn’t say who the top choice will be, but there is speculation that the first four players might be underclassmen - big men Joe Smith of Maryland, Antonio McDyess of Alabama, Rasheed Wallace of North Carolina and teammate Jerry Stackhouse, a swingman.

The Los Angeles Clippers, the league’s worst team, will get the No. 2 choice in the draft, which will be held in Toronto.

Philadelphia, which had the fourth-worst record, won the No. 3 pick. Washington, which had the second-worst record, dropped to No. 4 and Minnesota, the third-worst club, drew No. 5.

Expansion teams Vancouver and Toronto will get the sixth and seventh picks, with the order to be decided after the NBA Finals. Picks 8-13 went in the order the teams finished. Detroit picks eighth and will be followed by New Jersey, Miami, Milwaukee, Dallas and Sacramento.