May 19, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; NBA commissioner David Stern talks with entertainer Billy Crystal before the start of game three of the Western Conference semi finals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Clippers and the San Antonio Spurs at the Staples Center. San Antonio Spurs won 96-86. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-US PRESSWIRE

Well, I’m sure we all heard Jim Rome’s not-so-friendly interview with David Stern and it tends to generate the question – Is the NBA Draft fixed?

In 1985, the lottery was made to keep teams from tanking to get the first pick in the draft and for the most part it works. Very rarely does the worst team get the top pick in the draft, just ask the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Denver Nuggets finished with the worst record in 1997-98 and 2002-03 and both years they were rewarded with the third pick in the draft. In 1998, they drafted Raef LaFrentz and in 2003 they drafted fan favorite Carmelo Anthony.

Where things get tricky is when an NBA-owned team like the New Orleans Hornets wins the NBA Lottery. Of course the Hornets weren’t a good team last year, tied for the third worst record in the NBA (fourth due to a tiebreaker), but conspiracy theorists will always go back to last offseason when the NBA overstepped its boundaries and rejected the Chris Paul-trade.

Back in December, a three-way trade was agreed upon between the Los Angeles Lakers, Hornets and Houston Rockets. On paper, it was a solid trade for each team. The Lakers would get Paul and give up All-Star big man Pau Gasol to the Rockets  and the Hornets would get a solid nucleus of Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, Lamar Odom and Goran Dragic.

However, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert (probably still heated after LeBron James left town for Miami) demanded that Stern put the trade up for a vote with all 29 owners and the trade was nixed.

The Hornets had to settle for a trade that sent Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers for the trio of Eric Gordon, Al Farouq Aminu and Chris Kaman. And at the end of the day the only winner was the Clippers.

It’s moves like that which have NBA fans questioning the commissioner and the validity of the NBA. Of course, it could have been worst the Hornets could have landed in the top three with their other lottery pick (Minnesota’s pick which they also got in the Paul trade). But instead they are drafting 10th.

Even if the draft was fixed to help the Hornets get Anthony Davis, is he really going to help New Orleans out that much? The Hornets struggles were on the offensive side of the ball and Davis is not the answer to their offensive woes.

Sure the Denver Nuggets shot a dismal .375 from the field, but even when you struggle from the field you should find a way to win the game. And while four Nuggets players shot over 40 percent, what killed the team was effort.

The young Clippers not only out hustled the veteran Nuggets, they outsmarted them. Los Angeles grabbed 19 offensive rebounds, DeAndre Jordan alone had nine (Nuggets as a team had 10) and they hit .42 percent of their 3-pointers. Every time Denver cut into the deficit and shutdown LA, the Clippers answered.

THIRD QUARTER

10:03: Nuggets are down 51-48, Baron Davis misses a jumper in the lane and with Kenyon Martin over helping, Blake Griffin cut to the basket to score the putback. Nuggets tried to answer with an 18-foot jumper by Martin, but his shot missed which led to Ryan Gomes hitting a trey on the next possession.

3:17: Chauncey Billups hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 74-71, but Eric Bledsoe nailed a 3-pointer and then scored a basket (which he was fouled on, but missed the FT) to push the lead back up to eight.

FOURTH QUARTER

9:07: Carmelo Anthony had a putback dunk that cut the Clippers deficit to 84-80, but Jordan tipped in Eric Gordon’s missed basket and then rebounded Nene’s missed layup which led to a trey by Gordon which yet again pushed the lead up to nine.

In the final quarter alone, the Clippers hit four treys and grabbed eight offensive rebounds.

COULD MELO GO TO THE CLIPPERS: While the Clips have struggled in the win-loss column this season they are a very exciting young team, as they showed last night to the Nuggets and in front Carmelo Anthony’s wife LaLa (who happens to live in Los Angeles). A duo of Griffin and Anthony could be arguable the best duo in the League, not to mention adding in Gordon would make it a top, young trio.

Los Angeles also has the biggest trading chip that would interest the Nuggets, the rights to Minnesota’s pick (which is top 10 protected in 2011 and unprotected in 2012).

An offer of rookie Al Farouq Aminu, Chris Kaman and a pair of picks (Minnesota as one) for Anthony would be enticing. Another interested proposition would be Gordon, Chris Kaman, Aminu and a pick for Anthony and Arron Afflalo. Afflalo is a former UCLA star and could thrive in those surroundings. But it is unlikely the Clippers will give up Gordon.

The only downfall is the Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who has had numerous run-ins with Clippers players.

Again enticing for everybody around, but would Melo really want to play for Sterling?

NOTES: Gary Forbes’ contract is fully guaranteed for the season, which is a no-brainer the way the non-traditional rookie is playing. Forbes is averaging 5.7 points and is shooting .476 from the field.

Martin won’t play tonight against the Sacramento Kings, which means Shelden Williams, who didn’t play last night, will slide into the starting slot.

Also, Ken Berger is reporting that the Nuggets, Nets are talking again about a Melo trade. But the question remains were they ever not talking? And will Anthony really sign the extension with the Nets?