NBA Lottery 2012 Start Time: How the Order Will Shake Up Top 6 Picks

When it comes to the NBA draft, there are the Top 6 players and there is everyone else. 

The 2012 draft class may be stacked relative to recent years, but unless something drastic happens, there is no changing who will be drafted with the first six picks.

Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Andre Drummond, Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal and Harrison Barnes will without a doubt be the first players to hear their names called, but their order still remains largely unknown. 

What will give us a good idea of that order, however, will be the lottery.

This year's lottery takes place on Wednesday, May 30 at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN and you can find the complete odds here.

Let's take a look at how potential order shakeups will affect the first few picks. 

Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers

All of these teams, outside of point guards, will take the best available player on their board.

Since there are no point guards in the Top Six, they will go after whoever they value highest should they land a Top Six pick.

Sacramento Kings

While the potential of Andre Drummond may be too much to pass up for most teams, don't be surprised if the Kings aren't ready to take that risk.

This is a very young team with Isaiah Thomas, Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins at the core, and it doesn't seem like taking on yet another project would be all that smart.

Instead, look for Sacramento to target a nice role player who can contribute right away and immediately help the budding superstars above. 

Of course, Anthony Davis is the pick for any team should it get the No. 1, but if the Kings get their choice at anyone else, look for them to grab Kidd-Gilchrist or Thomas Robinson. 

Kidd-Gilchrist would allow Sacramento to shop Marcus Thornton or Tyreke Evans, and Robinson would give them another scoring big man next to Cousins. 

New Orleans Hornets

If the Hornets get their pick of the lot, they will be tempted by Bradley Beal and his ability to take over for Eric Gordon should the young restricted free agent be lured out of town.

However, the big men for New Orleans just haven't been consistent. 

Chris Kaman, Carl Landry, Jason Smith, Emeka Okafor and Gustavo Ayon have all shown glimpses of being able to contribute as role players, but New Orleans needs a star down low.

Because of that, Robinson or Drummond would be the choice. Don't be surprised if they go all out and take a risk on Drummond, especially because they have another pick likely in the Top 10. 

They can afford to go all-out. 

Brooklyn Nets

Should the Nets land a Top Three pick and keep their pick, they will first jump for joy.

Then they will draft Thomas Robinson.

Now, a trade to bring in help for Deron Williams would certainly change things because it means Brook Lopez or Gerald Wallace or both will be on their way out.

But as it stands now the Nets have a core of Williams, MarShon Brooks, Gerald Wallace and Brook Lopez with Kris Humphries likely leaving to free agency. 

That means the biggest need, currently, is power forward and Robinson's ability to stretch the floor would work really well with Deron Williams. 

Follow @t_keen