NBA DRAFT LOTTERY EXCITES FANS Top picks go to San Antonio, Charlotte, and Portland

Andrew Hull The Advocate

The highly anticipated 2023 National Basketball Association Draft Lottery took place on May 16, granting basketball fans a sneak peek into the upcoming NBA Draft in late June.

NBA teams anxiously awaited learning their draft order, sparking excitement over which would secure the first overall pick and the opportunity to acquire the exceptional French talent, Victor Wembanyama.

For those unfamiliar with basketball, the Lottery is an annual event hosted by the NBA to determine the order for selecting new players in the upcoming draft. Its fundamental purpose is to promote competitive balance within the league – teams with the poorest regular-season records are given a higher probability of receiving a top pick, encouraging them to rebuild and enhance their rosters. However, the lottery system also is specifically designed to discourage teams from intentionally losing games to secure more-favorable (higher) draft positions, a practice commonly known as “tanking.”

The May 16 event showcased the unpredictability and excitement associated with the lottery. A pair of teams – including the Portland Trail Blazers – experienced unexpected jumps in the draft order, while others unfortunately slipped a few spots. This element of sur- prise infused the proceedings with excitement. the Hornets already have a top guard in their lineup – LaMelo Ball – they may choose Henderson or another hot prospect, or consider trading their pick to another team.

Surprisingly, the San Antonio Spurs emerged as the winners of the May 16 lottery, securing the first overall pick despite having only the third-worst record in the 2023 season. This stroke of luck grants them the opportunity to select Wembanyama, a game-changing talent who has the potential to elevate the team’s future success. Standing 7 feet, 2 inches, the 19-year-old France native has shown remarkable shooting, ballhandling, and defensive skills.

Also highly likely to be chosen with either the second or third pick is Brandon Miller, a forward from the University of Alabama renowned for his deadly jump shot.

The remaining draft class this year is brimming with young players who also possess the ability to reshape the NBA landscape. One top prospect in the upcoming draft is Scoot Henderson, an explosive guard from the G League Ignite (the developmental G League is one step below the NBA). He has shown extraordinary skills throughout his basketball career.

The Charlotte Hornets will pick second overall the draft, indicative of their need for new players to strengthen their roster. While

Miller averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds with the Crimson Tide this last season, making him a valuable asset for some team. a surprise to many fans, and thanks to the chance of the lottery (they had the fifth-worst record last season). The Blazers face two choices: Select the third pick and strive for a successful season pairing Damian Lillard and the rookie player (along with making other changes), or trade the pick to another team in hopes of acquiring larger, more defensive veteran players. Fans are already engaged in heated debates over Portland’s decision, but only time will reveal the front office’s ultimate decision.

Beyond the top three slots, the Houston Rockets claimed the fourth spot, followed by the Detroit Pistons and the Orlando Magic in the fifth and sixth spots.

In the weeks leading to the June 22 draft, speculation will abound as fans eagerly anticipate how teams will utilize their picks to improve their rosters.

Kane Finders

The Advocate

Around 30 minutes’ drive from Gresham, the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge sits right off State Highway 14, just east of Washougal, Washington. With five miles of trails, this refuge offers a wonderful hiking experience.

I recently spent around three hours to see most of what the area has to offer, namely the three distinct trails available to explore.

If you arrive at the main entrance off Highway 14, you will start your journey on the

Mountain View Trail, which will connect you with the Refuge River Trail. Hiking in, you will have breathtaking views of the refuge’s floodplains, Mount Hood, and the Columbia River. Along the trail there are multiple benches on which to take a rest.

The Refuge River Trail runs east-west along the Columbia River, offering beautiful views. This trail runs for three miles and is connected to an additional parking lot and Captain William Clark Park on the west side of the refuge. Following the trail east will lead you to a connection to the Wildlife Art Trail, and walking a bit more east will lead to you another viewpoint overlooking the river. Throughout this trail and the Wildlife Art Trail are many beautiful wooden bridges over the floodplains and other smaller bodies of water.

Spurring off the Refuge River Trail is the Wildlife Art trail, a one-mile trail that has sculptures, benches, and cutouts of animals dotted along it. One important note is that in order to protect wintering waterfowl, a portion of the trail is closed from Oct. 1 through April 30, annually.

Since this is a wildlife refuge, there are other rules to follow. On the Mountain View and Wildlife Art trails, only pedestrians and service dogs are allowed. No other pets, or vehi- cles of any type, are allowed. There also is no jogging on these trails.

However, visitors using the Refuge River Trail may have leashed dogs, horses, bicycles, and can jog, as well.

Along with those rules, it is important throughout the refuge to not to deviate from the trail as this may harm the habitat and surrounding ecosystems.

This park can’t be fully described with only words. If you have the time, I heavily urge you to visit and check out this hidden gem of a park yourself.