NBA Draft Lottery: 4 Teams with Most to Lose If Bad Luck Strikes

With the NBA draft approaching in roughly a month, many teams are seeking to change the fortune of their franchises. The consensus No.1 pick this year is University of Kentucky power forward Anthony Davis.

Davis has been compared to the 1997 No. 1 draft pick Tim Duncan, which is a player I am sure Davis has no problem being mentioned in the same sentence with. Duncan immediately made his impact on the league by averaging a double-double his rookie season in points and rebounds, and also helped improve the San Antonio Spurs from a 20-62 team the previous year, to a 56-26 that season. Oh yeah, not to mention the Spurs have never missed the playoffs and also have four NBA Championships since the Duncan era began in 1997. Each of the lottery teams this year hope they can hit the jackpot such as the Spurs did back in 1997 by drafting Davis, the 2011-2012 AP Player of the Year. The 6'10" power forward averaged 14.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks as a freshman. 

Not only is the No. 1 pick a special product this year, the projected top 10 picks are filled with exceptional players with high potential such as Davis' teammate small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kansas power forward Thomas Robinson, and North Carolina small forward Harrison Barnes, just to name a few. Many teams will have a great chance at improving and upgrading their players with so much talent to choose from in the top 10 selections.  

Some of the teams in the lottery are on the cusp of breaking through to becoming a playoff team, and others, not really. However, nobody knows which team will get the top pick yet, but these four teams might suffer through yet another disappointing season if the ping pong balls do not bounce their way.

Charlotte Bobcats: 7-59 (Last in Southeast Division)

The Charlotte Bobcats had the worst record in the league at 7-59 with a .106 winning percentage, which went down as the worst winning percentage in NBA history. They have a 25 percent chance at the No. 1 pick and a 64 percent chance at having a top three pick, so the Bobcats are in great position to snag a franchise changing player. But after coming off the most unproductive season for a team in league history, the only hope of heading in the right direction is getting the top pick and drafting Davis. 

They have some potential playmakers on the squad already such as their No. 9 pick from the 2011 draft Kemba Walker, who averaged 12 points and four assists last season, and also guard Gerald Henderson who contributed 15 points a game last season, but they will definitely need more to become a competitive team in the future.

They were last in the league in scoring and second to last in rebounding, both are departments Davis could drastically help improve for them. Owner Michael Jordan has not been known as a big spender in free agency and also the lack of wins the team has will not attract many free agents. However, if he could draft Davis with the No. 1 pick, free agents might put Charlotte on their list and things could possibly look up for the Bobcats. If the ping pong balls do not fall in line for them and the Bobcats wind up with anything outside of a top three pick, the futility may continue into next season.

New Orleans Hornets: 21-45 (Last in Southwest Divsion)

The New Orleans Hornets organization started off last season with a problem, their star point guard Chris Paul wanted out. In their first season in the post-Paul era, they finished last in the Western Conference. Now the Hornets have the fourth highest possibility at landing the No. 1 pick with 13.7 percent and roughly a 42 percent chance at getting any top three pick.

With the players they received from the Paul trade, health seems to be a problem for them. Guard Eric Gordon can be great when healthy, but he has not played a full season in the league since he entered in 2008 and he is coming off of knee surgery. Center Chris Kaman has had his productive moments in the league, but he has missed more than 50 games in two of the last four seasons. With that being said, the Hornets may need an upgrade at the center position. UConn C Andre Drummond could be that guy to fill that void.

If the Hornets do not find a way to draft an impact player, with the talent on the roster the way it is it will be hard to find a buyer for the current league-owned organization. Drafting a potential star could help in a major way, and not doing so can hurt on and off the court.

Brooklyn Nets: 22-44 (Last in Atlantic Division)

The former New Jersey Nets, now Brooklyn Nets, have been a futile team for a few years now and maybe the change of scenery can bring a change of luck. They have a 7.5 percent chance at grabbing the top pick and about a 25 percent chance at landing a top three pick.

Their star player, point guard Deron Williams' future is uncertain as a Net, as he has the opportunity to opt out of his contract. As a relocating team that is void of A-List players and has the possibility of losing their best player, a top pick would mean the world to them. To draft Davis with the No. 1 pick and build around him could put an end to these past few years of failure. That could possibly sway Williams to stay put in Brooklyn.

However, if the Nets were to not receive a top five selection in the draft, they could be in trouble. Williams might pack up and exit Brooklyn for good if he is not too interested in the rookie they draft and other future free agents, such as Dwight Howard, might not see Brooklyn as an ideal place to land. One bad bounce of the ping pong balls for the Nets, and the future of co-owner Jay-Z's team will surely be apart of his "99 problems." 

Phoenix Suns: 33-33 (3rd in Pacific Division)

The Phoenix Suns finished just three games back of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, but this past season could be their last decent one for a while. Steve Nash, who has been one of the most consistent point guards in the NBA for the past decade, could decide to say goodbye to Phoenix for a contending team.

If Nash were to leave, they would be missing much more than a great player, and a leader, they would be missing a playmaker. They are going to desperately need one and for that they will need a top five pick. Since they were a .500 team, the Suns only have a 0.6 percent chance at the No. 1 pick and a two percent chance at any top three pick.

Sounds very far-fetched for them to get a top pick, but low percentage teams have been victorious as of late. In 2011, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who received the No.1 pick through trade with the LA Clippers, had a 2.8 percent chance at winning the top pick. Also in 2008, the Chicago Bulls had a 1.7 percent chance at the No. 1 pick, they got it and they were able to snatch Derrick Rose, and the rest is history. 

If the Suns cannot find a way to get an impact player to help them compete in the tough Western Conference, the draft lottery will be a familiar place for them for years to come.