SportsLine wire reports

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- While it won't make up for the retirement of Michael Jordan, the dismantling of their dynasty and the worst season in franchise history, at least the Chicago Bulls have the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

The Bulls, who won six titles in eight years and then became a laughingstock without Michael and company, scored their biggest win of the post-Jordan era when they won the NBA Draft Lottery on Saturday.

"This is nice and this is great, and I'm looking forward to it," said an emotional Jerry Krause.

The Bulls' vice president of basketball operations pumped his fists briefly after NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik showed a card revealing that Vancouver had the No. 2 pick, which meant Chicago had the top spot.

"IT FEELS VERY GOOD AND I'm happy for our fans and owner," added Krause, who carried four good luck pennies in his pocket during the lottery.

"My father, may God rest his soul, when I was young he said if anybody comes up to you and says you ain't worth two cents, show him the two pennies," Krause said, his voice cracking. "And I've always had two cents, for 40 years. And my wife's lucky number is 22 so today I've got double."

There were times this year where Krause probably didn't feel like two cents because there was little to cheer about following the retirement of Jordan and the departures of Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, Luc Longley, Jud Buechler and Scott Burrell.

The Bulls never played like a champion, much less three-time defending champions, in posting a 13-37 record that was the third worst in the league.

However, that didn't seem to matter Saturday when a ping-pong ball combination of 3-6-4-12 was drawn, one that belonged to the Bulls.

"THIS IS ALL LUCK really," said Brian Hill, who guided Vancouver to an 8-42 record, the league's worst in this lockout-shortened season. "I guess you can call it ironic or whatever. One year their dynasty ends and the next year they get the first pick in the draft."

Even more ironic, when the lottery was rehearsed in the headquarters of NBA Entertainment, the powers that be twice had the Bulls win.

After the first time, Krause said: "Can we stop this right now?"

Krause refused to speculate on who the Bulls would take in the draft on June 30 in Washington.

Most experts say there isn't a can't-miss player in the draft, but there are a couple of exciting underclassmen in Lamar Odom of Rhode Island and Corey Maggette of Duke.

"We have to be happy, depending on who Chicago chooses, we still get a very attractive player," Hill said, adding the Grizzlies would consider trading the pick.

CHARLOTTE, WHICH HAD ONLY one-half of one percent chance of moving up from the 13th spot, beat the odds and got the No. 3 pick.

An emotional Paul Silas, who just missed leading the Hornets to a playoff berth after replacing Dave Cowens as coach, was shocked the Charlotte's luck.

"This is special because we know now we are going to get a very good player and we already have a very good team," said Silas, whose team missed the playoffs with a 26-24 record.

The Los Angeles Clippers, who won last year's lottery, were the big loser this year, slipping to No. 4 despite having the second worst record in the league at 9-41.

Toronto, which owns the rights to Denver's first-round choice because of a trade for Chauncey Billups, will draft No. 5 using the Nuggets' pick. The Raptors also have the 12th pick.

Minnesota will draft No. 6 using a pick acquired from New Jersey in the trade that sent Stephon Marbury to the Nets. Washington will draft seventh and will be followed by Boston, Phoenix, Golden State, Cleveland, Toronto and Seattle.

Cleveland has the right to take Boston's pick, and it is likely the Cavaliers will exercise that option.

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