NBA Draft 2012: New Orleans Hornets Should Take Thomas Robinson with First Pick

The New Orleans Hornets, fresh off a season that sent Chris Paul to Los Angeles not once, but twice, and with a new owner who can make moves not under the NBA umbrella of leadership, find themselves in a favorable position for the 2012 NBA draft.

Despite the coin flip that gave the Cleveland Cavaliers control of the higher pick in the draft, the Hornets still have the fourth best shot to win the No. 1 overall pick.

Since there are so many different scenarios that could arise with the lottery format in effect, the Hornets could pick anywhere from Nos. 1-7. They're guaranteed to pick behind the three teams ahead of them in the current lottery standings.

However, should the Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards and Cavs hold on to the first three selections, the Hornets would be on the clock at No. 4, which is the model we'll use for their selection at this point.

At this point, there are several players that different mock drafts have the Hornets taking. ESPN's NBA Lottery Mock Draft, which allows you to play the lottery and see where teams will pick in different scenarios, has them taking Kansas power forward Thomas Robinson with the selection as is, overlooking Andre Drummond and Harrison Barnes.

DraftExpress does the same, although they have Drummond going before the Hornets select and Florida shooting guard Bradley Beal still available.

For New Orleans, any of these players would be an upgrade, considering Kentucky's Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are widely expected to be gone after the first two selections, regardless of who wins the top two picks.

In their own backyard, questions remain. While pieces Jarrett Jack, Al-Farouq Aminu, Trevor Ariza, Emeka Okafor and Gustavo Ayon are all under contract, Eric Gordon, the key piece in the Paul trade, is a restricted free agent. Could he demand a salary that the Hornets won't match? If so, how does that affect their needs on the guard front?

Regardless of the situation, New Orleans should upgrade with the best player available and, more importantly, one that can match up with the premiere position in the Western Conference—power forward.

Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki, LaMarcus Aldridge, Paul Millsap and Zach Randolph all reside in the West, and it seems to be the position with the most depth and talent going forward.

Thomas Robinson should be on his way back to New Orleans on draft night, this time to erase the demons of his Jayhawks' loss in the national championship game just under a month ago.

Robinson, who averaged almost 18 points and 12 rebounds in his junior season, is one of the fastest risers in terms of his stock from his sophomore to junior year. He skied up draft boards after being the most consistent presence on the second best team in the country for the entire 2011-2012 season.

He would give the Hornets a formidable one-two punch with Okafor and allow Jason Smith and Ayon to remain key contributors on the bench. If that were the case, the Hornets could also then afford to spend a little more than they wanted, if it meant keeping Gordon around as he enters the prime of his career.

Since the months leading up to the draft are a virtual crap shoot, it's hard to tell who will be in play or where the Hornets will select until the time comes. Robinson is a solid selection for now, and coach Monty Williams would love to have a player with his energy and athleticism to revitalize the squad.

For now, Hornets fans, enjoy the NBA playoffs. We'll reopen this discussion when an NBA champion is crowned, and New Orleans has a better grasp of what to look forward to in the coming season.