NBA Draft 2012: Lottery Teams Who Must Start to Rebuild

Teams making lottery selections in June's NBA draft are almost synonymous with "rebuilding," but some franchises are more in need of a new start than others.

While clubs like the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets are on the brink of regularly earning postseason births, others aren't so fortunate. The NBA-worst Charlotte Bobcats and the disaster that is the Washington Wizards top the list of desperate squads—they lack a talented core, and more importantly seem to lack direction.

At least the Sacramento Kings have talented stars like DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans to build around. The New Orleans will have a healthy Eric Gordon and two lottery selections next season, along with whatever free-agent acquisitions it can swing.

Other teams are still missing some important pieces, though. Here are a few that might need a lot more than a lottery pick to get back on track.

Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats were historically bad this season and look a long way from getting much better. Even the anticipated addition of Anthony Davis won't change the fact that this team is short on usable talent and assets alike.

Other than rookies Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte's roster is a mess. It's tied up in bad contracts with DeSagana Diop, Tyrus Thomas and Corey Maggette, and it lacks star talent and depth alike at every position.

The lottery will help Michael Jordan's wayward franchise, but it will only be the beginning. 

Washington Wizards

Odds are the Wizards select Michael Kidd-Gilchrist one way or the other, adding a difference-maker likely to immediately impact Washington's woeful play. This team will still have a number of problems, though.

John Wall is still a ways from reaching his potential, and the franchise has to hope guys like Jordan Crawford, Trevor Booker and Chris Singleton are the real deal. If they aren't the Wizards aren't going to get a whole lot better any time soon.

If Kidd-Gilchrist can inject a more winning mentality into his young teammates, maybe we'll see some surprises next season. Don't count on it, though. 

Cleveland Cavaliers

With Kyrie Irving running the point and Tristan Thompson still early in his development, Cleveland has reason to be hopeful. A guy like Harrison Barnes or Bradley Beal could give Cavs fans a reason to hope for even more.

These are only hopes for now, though. Cleveland is at least a couple years away from having a major turnaround, and it will need to play its card right in free agency to make that happen.

Toronto Raptors

Toronto isn't the worst team in the league, but it absolutely defines "below average." From one position to the next, this starting unit is comprised of good players who may never become great. 

Nevertheless, this is still a young roster with plenty of room for improvement, especially from guys like DeMar DeRozan and Ed Davis. The Raptors also have some serious cap room over the next couple of years—if the money is spent wisely (and not desperately), Toronto could be much improved by 2014.

Detroit Pistons

The difference between the Pistons and most teams this bad is that Detroit has neither the young talent nor cap flexibility that you'd expect from such a middling team. Brandon Knight and the vastly improved Greg Monroe are a nice start, but this year's lottery pick will need to be even better.

A big forward like Perry Jones or John Henson would look good alongside Monroe, but don't be at all surprised if the Pistons go for the best available talent—it will have a hard time finding star power in the free agent or trade markets.