Leave it to chance...

2.5 grams of celluloid....

That is what will determine the future of 14 cities and the fate of many young men as the NBA Draft Lottery take place tonight. However the ping-pong balls of destiny bounce, it will direct how legendary franchises such as the Philadelphia 76ers (who are experts at this by now) and the Los Angeles Lakers have to move forward after very disappointing seasons. For teams such as Utah and Minnesota, tonight will be more about taking that final step towards becoming contenders in the postseason. For some, Christmas will come in May and for others, heartbreak at the realization that they are forced to wallow in the mire.

But should it? No, this isn't a referendum on changing the lottery process. I've never been a believer in the whole "lottery is rigged" campaign. Now, I would propose that to make it even more enticing, show the actual process of picking the balls out of the container on live TV, similar to those lotteries you see on the local evening news. If you are in Los Angeles or Sacramento, wouldn't you be glued to the TV set wondering if you are getting Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram by the bounce of the ball?

That being said, many teams look to the draft as a life preserver for failed decisions of the past and developing a culture of losing. Take the Timberwolves for instance. This is their 12th year in the lottery, and they are just now getting top level talent that can eventually result in playoff appearances. The 76ers have embraced losing like a fine cologne, yet whomever goes to the City of Brotherly Love will find themselves wrapped with 20 year olds who are a boat with no rudder. Acquiring talent is one thing, developing them into winners is another thing all together.

I'm not against tanking, sometimes it takes a scorched earth process in order to eventually grow. However, if you have poor leadership at the top, it won't matter who you select at #1. Shaquille O' Neal didn't leave Orlando because he wanted to do movies in Tinseltown; he left because of weak-kneed management who didn't place the right people in place over the organization. There's a reason Tim Duncan spurned Florida to remain in San Antonio; the culture established by Gregg Popovich encouraged him to stay there.

The point is, too many of the teams vying to turn it around overnight are like the man who never maximizes his 401k, or the fool who parts from his money on fast cars and fast food. Those are the ones you find at the 7-11 scratching off tickets in hopes of making it big in one fell swoop. The people who you find obsessing over Powerball are the same ones who never bothered to be wise stewards of their finances, or never develop their skills to become valuable in the job market.  Ever see that show "The Lottery Ruined My Life?" those people are similar to the teams who got the #1 pick but draft Kwame Brown (sorry Wizards fans).

So to you Lakers fans who think getting Ben Simmons will be the cure-all, just remember that euphoria will disappear when you realize who you have running your culture. A person who trusts in a Lucky 7 or thinks a weekend trip to roll the bones in Vegas is a person who has no lasting foundation, no matter what riches may befall you. Wealth is nothing without the character to maintain it.

The definition of defiance

Relentless...

Driven...

Stubborn...

Powerful...

Beautiful...

Low emotional intelligence...

 

(Shout out to my brother Tony for sharing some of these thoughts...check out his blog at AFreshWord.org)

These are just a few terms that are used to describe Kobe Bean Bryant, both the player and the man. For 20 years he donned the purple and gold of Tinseltown and has graced our television screens and arenas since coming to the NBA in 1996 out of Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia. He has experienced the highest of heights (5 championships) to the lowest of lows (the 2004 Finals, Colorado, playing with Smush Parker). He is an enigma wrapped up in a mystery; defined as the final bridge to a woebegone era when the player's brand was how many rings he won, and not based on his Twitter followers or mentions on SportsCenter. He was defined by his incessant desire for greatness, to the point where friendships were considered trite and a nuisance in his eyes. However, if there was one term that could best describe the life and career of #24, it would be defiance.

The final days of the Michael Jordan era concurred with His Airness flailing around the Verizon Center trying to carry a young and immature Washington Wizards franchise to greatness (it never happened). What it also did was spawn a litany of copycats like Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis who all fell for the Gatorade ad gimmick but lacked the heart or leadership to do what was needed to bring their team to carry the Larry 'O Brien Trophy. Jordan's ultimate pupil also tried to imitate Jordan, right down to the mannerisms and cold-hearted demeanor that alienated teammates.

If Jordan was Emperor Palpatine, Kobe was his Anakin: wooden, confused and ultimate misled into thinking the Dark Side was the way. Kobe believed that there was only one way to win...his. He didn't care that he was called "uncoachable" by Phil Jackson in his book, or care that he was ultimately responsible for killing a potential dynasty with Shaq. Sure, you'll hear the Los Angeles Lakers brass claim that Shaq was getting old and they chose Kobe over him. Ask Dwayne Wade if Shaq was too old when they won it all in Miami in 2006 (with help from the refs but I digress).

Kobe's defiance was never more evident than in 2013 when he tore his ACL towards the end of yet another losing season. He refused to take help from anyone on the bench, sank two free throws, and refused help walking back to the trainer's room, when he knew it was all over. His defiance submarined the Lakers franchise for several years by refusing to help the team financially by draining their salary cap. He wanted to be so much like Lord MJ, that he forgot one simple thing: Jordan's career ended with him busting his chin on the MSG floor trying to teach Rip Hamilton and Kwame Brown how to be winners. Kobe's ended with him taking 50 shots in some self-promoting display and taking advantage of referee manipulation to score 60 points. While the recaps and tweets showered praise upon him as if he was riding on a donkey through Jerusalem, I turned the television to watch the new era of team ball accomplish NBA history in the Golden State Warriors. Jason Whitlock of FS1 said it best (and I'm paraphrasing since this is a family blog): "Last night at the Staples Center Kobe had a public display of self-intimacy and we're calling it the greatest love scene of all time."

Defiance can be a good thing, it can keep an individual focused in the toughest of times; refusing to bend to the will of those who they deem are in the way. When combined with wisdom it can change the course of history, as the end goal is more outward than myopic. Kobe's defiance, while it has been praised by old school heads, should also serve as a reminder that when we take that final lap, we should be able to look back at not just the accomplishments, but the individuals we have impacted along the way.

Now I ask: what was Kobe's impact on the players who adored him, and was his defiance worth the cost?

Follow @JohnReidIV with comments or suggestions.

Where does the fault lie?

"Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers."

Los Angeles is usually considered one of the epicenters of the NBA landscape. The Lakers have established not one but two dynasty periods throughout its storied history, combining sizzle and substance the likes of which has never been seen sans the Michael Jordan era of the 1990s. The late Dr. Jerry Buss was the beloved owner, and from Magic to Kobe, this franchise has made Showtime an iconic definition which is the envy of organizations not only in basketball, but in sports.

The Los Angeles Clippers, on the other hand, has been nothing short of a laughingstock since they moved to the city of angels from San Diego. Two words: Donald Sterling. Two more words: 'Enough said. Bad drafts + bad management = $2billion price tag. It took the drafting of a once-in-a-generation highlight machine in Blake Griffin and a vetoed trade by then NBA Commissioner David Stern to bring All-Star PG Chris Paul to the other side of the Staples Center.

As the Clippers have become the commercial darlings of the NBA with their recent success, the Lakers have had a reversal of misfortune since the passing of the late Dr. Buss. The reigns of the franchise have been handed over to his children Jeanie and Jim Buss, and with an aging Kobe Bryant, Showtime has turned into "No-Time" as they have had their worst seasons in back-to-back years ever. It has created angst among the fan base, and a push to expedite the growing process back to prominence. However, the results of the 2015 free agency period have spoken volumes about what both NBA insiders and outsiders have long suspected: that the shine of LA is not what it appears to be behind the scenes.

In the past the Lakers could simply rely on their beautiful weather and Hollywood-connections to summon the greatest players to don the purple and gold. As a matter of fact, the Lakers brass reportedly pitched that to at-the-time free agent LaMarcus Aldridge in hopes he would leave Portland and join them. It didn't go too well, and neither did the second meeting. Aldridge turned down the Lakers offer to join the San Antonio Spurs, an organization that was never known for signing in-their-prime free agents from other teams, but drafting and developing players to win multiple championships. Their culture is one of professionalism and a "team above player" mentality. Perhaps it was the fact that he decided to play closer to home, but the fact that he chose San Antonio over LA was similar to what happened with Dwight Howard when he spurned the Lakers and took less to join the Houston Rockets. The Lakers are used to being the standard bearer for free agents, and now they are left holding the bag, having to get under the radar players in hopes of making one last title run during Kobe's twilight.

The Clippers also realized the changing NBA landscape as their franchise center DeAndre Jordan turned down playing in LA and a chance to compete for a title to join an aging Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas for $20 million less. It was reported that he was upset at the way he was being treated by fellow Clipper Paul, even to the point where he felt slighted because Paul wasn't giving him high fives in the huddle. Whether that it true or not, it has shown that it takes a lot more than just glitz and glamour of Tinseltown to get players to sign on the dotted line.

Before we start to think that it's just happening out in California, here's a man who took a major sacrifice to see his championship dreams come true:

David West is a two-time All Star who was the leader of an Indiana Pacers squad that made it to the Eastern Conference Finals twice. Known for his intensity, the Xavier forward has been a mainstay in the league, being an enforcer wherever he goes. As he enters the final stages of his own career, he spurned a player option worth 12.5 million to stay in Indiana to join the Spurs culture for the league minimum. Think about it, he gave up 11 million dollars to get a chance at a title, something he felt was no longer obtainable with the Pacers. Whether it was because of the words stated about the management throwing his teammate Roy Hibbert under the bus for the playoff results, or it was about something else, the fact is that he gave up an astounding sum to be part of a leadership that is stable and has a plan in place.

It doesn't matter how talented someone can be, it's extremely difficult to overcome a losing culture. Ask yourself what would you give up to be a part of something great? Would you give up riches to be part of something with many wise advisers who can set you on the right path?