So there was no immediate Golden State Warriors miracle to start Larry Riley’s stewardship, just like there was none for Chris Mullin or for Garry St. Jean before them.

And when poor Riley is replaced in due time, there almost certainly will be no miracle for the next guy either.
Draft miracles just aren’t in the cards for this franchise — cursed, besotted, ridiculous, and fiercely and forever unlucky.
The Warriors went into Tuesday’s draft lottery with a new general manager and sitting in the seventh slot, which is exactly how they exited once the pingpong balls quieted and the envelopes were opened.
It would have taken a miracle for the Warriors to land the No. 1 pick, destined to be Oklahoma power forward Blake Griffin.
It would have taken a miracle to land Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio at No 2.
Other teams are allowed to hit the lottery jackpot. This time, it was the L.A. Clippers, of all teams, who moved from the third slot to No. 1. Memphis moved from the No. 6 slot (just ahead of the Warriors) all the way to No. 2.
But it just doesn’t work that way for the Warriors, not in this era. They don’t get the Griffins or the Rubios. It’s never that easy.
Instead of the two consensus potential stars, the Warriors and their fans have to take consolation knowing that this draft is deep at a premium need — a big guard who can run the offense and team with Monta Ellis.
At No. 7, the Warriors will be looking at a handful of interesting but flawed lead-guard candidates:
—UCLA’s Jrue Holiday (huge talent, good defender, might fit alongside Ellis, but hasn’t played the point at UCLA and might exit the draft).
—Memphis’ Tyreke Evans (maybe even a better physical fit with Ellis, but can Evans run an NBA team?).
—Davidson’s Stephen Curry (pure shooter, but can he play the point?).
—North Carolina’s Ty Lawson (true point, but probably is too short to pair with Ellis).
—Point guard Brandon Jennings (highly touted coming out of high school, played in Italy this year, comes with huge question marks).
—And Louisville’s Terrence Williams (Don Nelson is rumored to love him as a point forward, but is that a stretch for a guy who was so erratic in college?).
—Or the Warriors could try to trade up to the second slot, because Memphis might not need Rubio after drafting point guard Mike Conley Jr. fourth overall in 2007.
The problem: Memphis almost certainly would want Anthony Randolph in any kind of deal, and it’s hard to see how the Warriors gain by moving their most valuable piece just to get a young point guard.
It’s moving sideways.
That, after all, is the Warriors’ perennial issue, spotlighted by every lottery, every year. They usually have just enough talent to make them interesting, but they’re never lucky enough or capable enough to accumulate the talent that makes a radical difference.
They get some good players. They make a few interesting moves. They never get the superstars, or they get them but the stars soon leave.
Then the Warriors switch executives, fire the coach, and do it all over again. While remaining unlucky.
Poor Riley sat there while three other bottom-dwelling conference teams all grabbed spots in the top four — the Clippers at No. 1, Memphis at No. 2 and Oklahoma City at No. 3.
Maybe Riley, Nelson and Robert Rowell got a chuckle out of Sacramento (represented by Chris Webber!) going in with the best shot at No. 1 but getting kicked down to No. 4.
Maybe the Warriors’ power trio figures that the Clippers are a wasteland for anybody, particularly a monster forward like Griffin.
But once again, the Warriors had a small-percentage shot to be kissed by fate — just as they had when Yao Ming was in the draft, or Dwight Howard, or Tim Duncan.
And once again, fate did not kiss them. As always, the Warriors will have to work to find their stars and be creative to formulate a winning roster.
For most teams, that’s very difficult. For the Warriors, it has proven to be just about impossible.