NBA Draft 2012: 3 Teams That Must Reach for High-Reward Prospects

One superstar doesn't make a championship contender in the NBA, but it does go a long way. 

All of the pieces must fit perfectly in order for a team to become a champion, and it's a difficult tightrope to walk. Look at the Heat: They had three superstars in LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh (kind of), yet they couldn't beat the Mavericks last year in the NBA Finals, who had their own slew of standout players but also had a more balanced, well-rounded attack. 

Then there are some teams who have zero superstars and seem to be a long way from a title—and those are the teams that must use this draft to get one player they can begin building around. Here's a look at a few of those needy teams and the moves they should make in June.

Charlotte Bobcats

This year's Bobcats are one of the worst teams in NBA history. They currently stand at 7-54, dead last in the NBA by a long shot. The only light on the horizon is that they have a 25 percent chance of winning the lottery for the first pick in this year's draft, which means they will get Anthony Davis. And Davis is a player they desperately need—not only to get better, but to get the fans and the city interested in the team again. 

The problem isn't that the Bobcats are untalented. They're just young, and obviously, bringing in Davis—who is departing Kentucky after his freshman season—won't do anything to change that. 

But as Davis proved when he led the Wildcats to a national championship less than a month ago, age is nothing but a number. He is the best player available, partly due to the fact that at 6'10", he fits the mold of an NBA power forward and can make an immediate impact defensively simply by being on the court, given his 7'4" wingspan. He can drive to the hoop and score, he's a great rebounder and with 4.7 blocks per game last season, he will immediately make the Bobcats a much harder team to score on. He would give Charlotte just about as much impact as you  can get from one player. 

Washington Wizards

At 16-46, the Wizards are just above the Bobcats with the second-worst record in the NBA. If they win the lottery—their odds are slightly less than Charlotte's at about 20 percent—they will take Davis. 

But if they do get the second pick in the draft, they will be best served to go with Davis' fellow Wildcat, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Though the Wizards have former first-rounders filling their frontcourt, Gilchrist gives them a small forward with more upside, and although he still doesn't give them the pure shooter they really need, he has the intangibles necessary to be a star on this team.

At 6'7" and 210 pounds, Gilchrist is still slightly undersized and his jumper still needs development, but he is a terrific athlete and a solid leader who gives Washington the kind of lock-down defender it needs immediately. 

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors situation isn't as bad as that of the Bobcats or the Wizards, but they're still adjusting to first-year head coach Dwayne Casey, and they're young. Though, they've shown serious improvement over the course of their 22-41 season, they need more experience, and above all, they need a leader in the backcourt. 

When Bradley Beal declared for the draft last week, it was music to the Raptors' ears. The Florida freshman is one of the best shooters on the board, particularly in clutch situations, and he can play either point guard or shooting guard. Toronto has Demar DeRozan, but his defense will pale in comparison to Beal's, and Beal is a better scorer. 

Toronto will likely be out of the sweepstakes for Davis, as it has about a nine percent chance of winning the lottery, but that's fine. Beal gives the Raptors a versatile guard who, though undersized, improves their offense immediately.