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Winners Of The 2011 NBA Draft Lottery Include Cleveland Cavaliers, Mock Draft Makers And David Kahn

The 2011 NBA Draft lottery happened Tuesday night without much fanfare outside of the usual loyal NBA followers, but multiple winners emerged from the night of ping pong balls and lucky charms.

The actual winner, for all intents and purposes, was the Cleveland Cavaliers as they picked up both the first and fourth overall picks in next month's NBA draft. While it was difficult to see the Wolves not earn the top overall pick, it wasn't so bad seeing them lose to the Cavaliers as represented by Dan Gilbert's son, the courageous Nick Gilbert.

Those that specialize in making and updating the numerous NBA mock draft sites that fans will flock to for the next month also got a nice little boost as the shake up in the NBA Draft order meant that they were able to garner a whole new fanbase with the teams now in their final (new) position.

Last but not least, Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations didn't go home a loser. That doesn't exactly mean he's a winner, perhaps, but considering the Wolves didn't end up with the fourth overall pick -- their worst possible option -- and will now be able to choose whichever player falls to them in a draft with two players with actual superstar potential is quite the boon.

For the purpose of this editorial, there will be new losers named because just like in second grade basketball, everyone goes home a winner here at SB Nation Minnesota!

Photographs by Micah Taylor, clairity, and Fibonacci Blue used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.