Kings general manager Vlade Divac beamed as he prepared to meet with team management for dinner in Chicago last month.
The Kings had moved up to second in the NBA draft lottery, five spots higher than where they were slotted. He was convinced it was a gift from the basketball gods. Good "karma" for not being fully committed to tanking while fans and media criticized the Kings for every late-season win.
Karma did its part. Now Divac must do his.
This is Divac's most important draft because if it goes badly, it might be the last first-round pick he makes.