NBA Draft 2012: Late First-Round Talent That Will Help Contending Teams

The fallout for having an elite record is genuinely a low draft pick, unless a trade has changed the natural draft order.

As far as the bottom three picks goes, no trade has changed what looks like the inevitable—which is the Thunder, Heat and Bulls selecting with the 28th, 29th and 30th picks of the first round.

In my opinion, these are the three best teams in the NBA, with the Lakers closing on the Thunder after their deadline deals.

Here are three players that should be available for each team, that could help push them over the top. Only one of these teams can win the title. Whether they find success or not, the following players will help sustain or build a better team for each contender.

Chicago Bulls - William Buford

The Bulls are still searching for that two-guard. They thought they found it with Richard Hamilton, but he has only played in 16 games this season due to injury. That isn't exactly what the team had in mind when they signed him this offseason.

Buford is a four-year player from Ohio State who is known for his defense and three-point shooting ability. Does that sound like a Tom Thibodeau guy or what?

He's 6'6", a 38 percent three-point shooter and a solid 210 pounds. He is very consistent having averaged double figures every season at Ohio State with14 points per game in his collegiate career.

Bulls' fans could think of him as a happy medium between Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver. He isn't quite the defensive specialist Brewer is, nor is he quite as deadly as Korver from deep. But he is better than average in both areas, and his presence would make one of them expendable.

Drafting Buford wouldn't be a monumental splash, nor does it erase the need to sign a player like Eric Gordon or O.J. Mayo. But it's a nice contingency plan, if they don't sign one of them. It's also a less expensive, but capable option at the two-guard for the Bulls should they choose to cut someone loose.

Miami Heat - Festus Ezeli

The Heat need size, and they know it. This is why their name comes up whenever there is a veteran big man potentially available. LeBron James athleticism and Chris Bosh' ability to post helps to hide the fact that they have a 6'8" offensively challenged Joel Anthony in the middle. But if this team has a definite area of weakness, it's in the middle.

Ezeli is a legit 6'11" player with long arms and a defensive mindset. He does struggle with foul trouble, but that could be remedied with more experience.

This season he averaged 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks per game for Vanderbilt. He helped key an upset over top-ranked Kentucky in the SEC tournament with a 17 point, six rebound performance against Anthony Davis.

Ezeli could be the Heat's first legitimate center during the era of the Big Three. If Miami doesn't win a title this year, it'll be because of deficiencies in the middle.

Ezeli would help remedy those problems.

Oklahoma City Thunder - Andrew Nicholson

The Thunder don't have a low post scoring option at all. They fill the four and five spots with defensive stalwarts, Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins.

This forces the Thunder to be extremely perimeter oriented offensively, and they depend a lot on isolation plays to score.

This strategy can be a problem in the postseason. If they indeed fall in the playoffs, it'll be because they had no post presence offensively.

Nicholson is a 6'9" quality prospect from St. Bonaventure, but he doesn't get much press. He's an extremely skilled post scorer averaging 18 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

He reminds me of a slightly more athletic, right-handed Zach Randolph. He has great footwork, long arms and a nice shooting touch. His temperament and personality would fit in perfectly with Oklahoma City's small town environment.

He could give the Thunder something they have never had, which is a low-post scorer.

He could be there for the Thunder, unless his stock rises at pre-draft camps.