The Associated Press

CLEVELAND - Moments after the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA draft lottery, the phones started ringing in the Gund Arena ticket office.

LeBron James has instantly made the Cavaliers the hottest ticket in town.

General manager Jim Paxson said he went to the ticket office Thursday night to thank the sales staff for their hard work through recent losing seasons.

No one could talk to him. All 15 sales agents were on the phone.

"It hasn't even sunk in yet," Paxson said.

Fans pumped fists and cheered from the tops of chairs, bartenders high-fived and others looked at each other in joyful disbelief Thursday night at the Cavaliers' draft party at a Champps restaurant in suburban Valley View.

A city cursed by sports close calls and heartbreaks finally had something to celebrate. The Cavaliers hit the lottery jackpot - it's no secret they'll use the first pick in next month's draft on James.

"I'm at a loss for words. Unbelievable," said Paul Mucci, 25, of Mayfield Heights. "This is outstanding."

One of the team's all-time greats, Austin Carr, held up a wine and gold Cavaliers' No. 23 jersey with "James" on the back.

"This organization was in trouble and LeBron can be the savior," Mucci predicted.

The Cavaliers sent out a news release Thursday night letting fans know that they can reserve season tickets with a $500 deposit per seat. Last season, the team had the lowest attendance in the NBA.

Gund Arena will be open Saturday for existing season ticket holders who are looking to buy extra seats and again next Thursday so those who put down a deposit can scout seat locations.

"Watch out for Gund Arena next year. It's going to be sold out, said Brian Gannon, 25, of Rocky River.

Gannon couldn't get over the Cavaliers' good fortune.

"It's really unbelievable. I got goose bumps," he said, showing his friend his arm. "It's a whole new era in this city."

When the No. 2 pick was awarded to Memphis, the decibel level in the restaurant soared as everyone knew the Cavaliers were the only team left.

Sean Miller, 25, of Youngstown, said James has the potential to be the biggest superstar in Cleveland since Jim Brown.

"Maybe LeBron can do for Cleveland what Tim Couch didn't do for Cleveland," Miller said, referring to the often-criticized Browns quarterback. "I think it's about time we got a cornerstone player."

Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund, who attended the lottery in Secaucus, N.J., was thrilled with the opportunity to draft James, a star for Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.

Fans and the Cavaliers organization hope James is the player who can help turn around a franchise that has suffered four straight 50-loss seasons and hasn't made the playoffs since 1998.

"I'm very happy," Gund said. "I'm very excited for the fans in Cleveland and everyone in northeast Ohio."

James watched the lottery with fans at an Akron hotel. Patrons at the bar erupted with shouts and exchanged hugs and high-fives when they learned James would be playing close to home.

James' lawyer, Fred Nance, said the player's family and friends screamed when they realized James would be a Cavalier.

"Cleveland is entitled to a break in pro sports, and we finally got it," Nance said. "We got a great one."

At Jacobs Field, 18,347 fans stood and cheered when the outcome of the lottery was announced on the center field scoreboard in the sixth inning of the Cleveland Indians-Detroit Tigers game.

"Flat-out unbelievable," John Lewis of Lakewood said at the Jake. "He's a Cleveland kid and he's going to be staying here. This is going to change the Cleveland market based on one guy being picked.

"It's about time we had a break go our way. I'm a lot bigger of a basketball fan now than I was a half-hour ago."