Bucks GM Harris Hoping For NBA Draft Lottery Luck

MILWAUKEE (AP) _ Milwaukee Bucks general manager Larry Harris is shamelessly superstitious when it comes to the NBA draft lottery. But Harris doesn't think he's jinxing his chances in Tuesday night's

Monday, May 21st 2007, 3:03 pm

By: News On 6

MILWAUKEE (AP) _ Milwaukee Bucks general manager Larry Harris is shamelessly superstitious when it comes to the NBA draft lottery. But Harris doesn't think he's jinxing his chances in Tuesday night's drawing by making it clear that he'd take Ohio State center Greg Oden with the top pick.

While Harris lauds Texas forward Kevin Durant as a player who can score ``20 in his sleep,'' he says Oden's combination of defense and rebounding would be an ideal upgrade for a team that was awful at both last season.

``One player solves a lot of problems for us defensively,'' Harris said. ``I mean, we were 29th in defense, 30th in rebounding, 30th in shot blocking _ one guy solves a lot of those issues, and defense wins game.''

Milwaukee finished last season with the third-worst record in the NBA, giving them the third-best chance of landing the top pick in the lottery drawing Tuesday night. The Bucks are assured a top-six pick.

Harris, of course, would be thrilled to land Durant if he doesn't get Oden. He just thinks Oden is a better fit for the Bucks.

``They're different,'' Harris. ``There's a different 'wow' factor to them because one is more offense and one is more defense. But I don't think you should underestimate what Oden can do offensively, because it's hard to evaluate that in college.''

Although Oden and Durant are considered the two marquee players available in the June 28 draft, Harris says the Bucks would still be able to draft a good player if they end up picking somewhere between third and sixth.

After Oden and Durant, the draft has a few good power forwards worth considering _ including Florida's Al Horford, son of former Bucks player Tito Horford, Harris said.

``You've got different sizes, strengths, athleticism that you can go in some different directions, and they're all going to be very good players,'' Harris said.

Harris said he and his staff already are evaluating players, but they'll have a better idea of their options after tomorrow night's drawing.

``You want to curb your enthusiasm a little bit, but there's always scenarios that you're looking into _ what if, what if,'' Harris said. ``Yesterday, we caught ourselves going, 'You know what? We kind of have to wait until Tuesday.'''

Hoping to increase his chances of landing the top pick, Harris showed off a ``lucky stone'' that was sent in by Bucks fan Ken Schaetz of Green Bay. Through its Web site, the team had asked fans to submit lucky charms for the draft.

The fan said his lucky stone was plucked off the floor of the Roman Coliseum and had proven to be good luck in everything from selling houses to overcoming the fear of flying. He had even given it to a friend who was recovering from cancer and now was preparing to return to work.

``There were a number of entrants, and this just seemed like this was a giving person that did a lot of things with it,'' Harris said.

Harris said the team received between 75 and 100 offers of lucky charms from fans, including offers of a lucky pig, lucky horse and ... a lucky turkey?

Harris didn't figure it was wise to take any sort of farm animal with him on the flight to New Jersey.

``We can only take, what, three ounces in a quart-sized bag?'' Harris said.

Two years ago, Harris brought two good luck charms from fans _ a fishing lure and a bracelet _ to the draft lottery and the Bucks won the top pick, which they used to draft center Andrew Bogut.

Harris is hoping for some of the same good luck to help take away the sting of a disappointing season.

``Now that we're in it, I think the whole city's excited,'' Harris said. ``Certainly, the franchise is. And it's going to be a great draft.''