Will No. 7 Pick in 2014 NBA Draft Be Enough to Keep Kobe Bryant
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Christian Petersen/Getty Images  Pleasing Kobe Bryant isn't
easy.   Somehow, the Los Angeles Lakers have managed to keep him
happy—or relatively happy—for nearly two decades. That could
change now.  Like, right now.  Lady Luck wasn't on Los Angeles'
side at the 2014 NBA draft lottery. Instead of catapulting into
the top three, like many hoped they would, the Lakers dropped
down a rung on the ladder, nabbing the seventh slot overall.
That's just how the ping pong balls bounce sometimes.  Moving up
the draft board was always unlikely. The numbers were against
the Lakers. Jumping ahead three or more spots would have been
nothing short of a lottery miracle.   Yet it wasn't so much the
math as it was the hope itself. Pining for that top-three pick,
that first overall selection, bought them time, keeping Bryant
at bay (for the most part).  Though he undoubtedly wanted to
hear their plan, they wer