The Boston Celtics had a disastrous 2006-07 season in which they finished with the NBA’s second-worst record and endured a franchise-worst 17-game skid.
There was a glimmer of light, though, as the Celtics had the second-best chance to win the 2007 NBA Draft Lottery and select one of two potential franchise cornerstones in Texas forward Kevin Durant and Ohio State center Greg Oden.
But the lottery was a disaster for the Celtics, as they slid to the No. 5 pick and seemed destined to continue rebuilding. It was a dark time for their lone superstar, Paul Pierce, who thought that lottery bust might have resulted in the end of his career in Boston.