Let's be real here, the NBA does what they want and they have the best chance at altering the outcome over every other sport. David Stern is the most pretentious man in sports, and looks down on that league more than any other commissioner.
He is the law, he does what he wants, and he makes what he wants to disappear, disappear.
The sport is built around superstars, they have superstar rules and regular rules, officials bet on games, etc.
It does not surprise me that they thought they think they could pull a fast one, and they still continue to do it. The NBA is as close to wrestling as any sport can get.
LeBron avoids Toronto, Cleveland gets #1 the year after losing LeBron and the only time small markets won the lottery was when it was foreign players, Bogut and Bargnani.