NBA Draft Lottery 2012: Ranking Teams Who Desperately Need No. 1 Pick

The 2012 NBA Draft Lottery is going to save one franchise, the one that is fortunate enough to land the No. 1 overall pick. 

It's no secret Anthony Davis is the crown jewel of this draft class, and a potential game-changer in the paint, but only one team will have the chance to take him. 

With so many teams looking for that franchise player they are able to build around, we wanted to take a look at the lottery teams who most need to see their card pulled with the top pick in this year's draft. 

Honorable Mention: Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons

The Nets could easily fall off this list if they are able to re-sign Deron Williams, which might not be as outrageous now as it seemed one year ago. If they lose Williams, it will be time to blow the whole thing up and start from scratch before moving into a new arena. 

The Raptors and Pistons just need someone their fans can get excited about and want to go to the arena to see. They have two of the weakest rosters in the NBA, with no hope on the horizon, unless they can somehow steal a premier free agent. 

No. 3 Sacramento Kings (7.6 percent chance to win Lottery)

What a disaster this franchise is right now.

The Kings haven't won more than 25 games in a season since 2007-08 and haven't made the playoffs since 2006. 

Ownership has no idea where it wants the team to play, though now the George Maloof told Ken Berger of CBS Sports they are happy with Sacramento. 

If the franchise is serious about staying in Sacramento, it has to find a marquee player that it can build around. There are a few nice role players already in the mix, led by Tyreke Evans, who is not a No. 1 on a contending team. 

No. 2 New Orleans Hornets (14.8 percent chance to win Lottery*)

*Total reflects combined percentage of two first-round picks

The NBA was able to find a buyer for the New Orleans Hornets after nearly two years of being stuck in limbo. However, the franchise traded its most valuable asset in Chris Paul and it needs someone to light a fire under the rest of the roster. 

New owner Tom Benson, who also own the New Orleans Saints, is going to do everything he can to make sure this franchise succeeds in New Orleans, but there's only so much you can do with hope and a can-do attitude. 

Landing the top overall pick would allow the Hornets to properly start their rebuilding process and the long journey back to respectability in the NBA. 

No. 1 Charlotte Bobcats (25 percent chance to win Lottery)

As desperate as all the teams on this list are for the No. 1 pick, no franchise needs it more than the Bobcats. Michael Jordan did a lot of great things as an NBA player, but he has run this franchise into the ground. 

The Bobcats finished 27th in points allowed, 29th in rebounding and 30th in points per game while setting a new NBA record for worst win percentage in a single season last year. 

When Gerald Henderson is your best player, you know that you are doing a lot of things wrong.

If this franchise wants a chance to at least be competitive, even if it is losing a lot more games than it wins, it needs the No. 1 pick in this year's draft. 

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