NBA Draft Lottery 2012: Best Fits for Potential Top Selections

Who is going to be the savior of the Bobcats? Will it be Anthony Davis? Will it involve divine intervention?

While the answer there is most likely the latter, the 2012 lottery is fast approaching, which means Charlotte—and a host of other teams—will soon be able to get closer to determining which players they have a legitimate shot at selecting when the draft rolls around next month. Ever since the end of the 2012 NCAA Tournament, it's been a foregone conclusion that Anthony Davis would end up with the lowly Bobcats, and this week, it could essentially become a sure thing.

Here's a look at where the top lottery prospects will likely be landing come draft day.

Anthony Davis (6'10", PF, Kentucky): Charlotte Bobcats

Poor Anthony Davis. It just has to be said. But on the bright side, this is a player who loves a challenge, and turning Charlotte into anything except an embarrassment will be a tall task, indeed.

The Bobcats finished the 2011-12 season with a 7-59 record, one of the worst in the history of the NBA. That's a .106 winning percentage, just for the record. While Davis likely won't be enough to single-handedly resurrect a franchise that is beyond dead, he's a good start, and he's the kind of high-ceiling, future-All-Star player who's worth building around.

Davis is about as much of a sure thing as there is in this year's draft. He dominated all of his peers in the NCAA ranks, and now he'll get a chance to do it on a team that will allow him to excel, if only because there aren't a lot of others around him capable of doing so.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (6'7", SF, Kentucky): Washington Wizards

Though the Wizards didn't quite approach Bobcats territory last season, they were pretty bad, going 20-46 for the second-worst record in the league. They have a 19.9 percent chance of winning the lottery, and if they do—in some cruel twist of fate against Charlotte—they'll go for Davis, like any smart team would.

But in the case that they don't win and end up with the second pick—which will happen, in all likelihood—they'll go for Davis's teammate. Gilchrist is certainly more of a work-in-progress than Davis. His offense definitely needs to improve before he's as effective as he needs to be at the 3 in the NBA, but scouts and coaches love his leadership, his toughness and his willingness to improve. That's something you can't teach, and it's something that will go a long way on a young Wizards team that is desperate for a change in direction.

Cleveland Cavaliers (6'5", SG, Florida): Bradley Beal

Of course, there are plenty of teams that could use the best guard coming out of college, but the Cavs really, really need Beal because he could be the one player they need to become a championship contender again—which they haven't been since You Know Who left.

The scouting reports on Beal are mixed. Some scouts are impressed with his shot, his basketball IQ, his instincts and his defense, which is pretty excellent for a guard; some are too deterred by his height, which is listed at 6'5" but is really closer to 6'3". Height concerns aside, though, Beal is exactly the type of player Cleveland needs to supplement Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving in the backcourt. After just one year at Florida, Beal showed promise not only as a shooter but as a defender, and he still has a high ceiling and plenty of room to grow.

Beal can immediately start for the Cavs and will energize a team that hasn't quite been able to get to where they need to be in years. If they get Beal, next year will be different. Finally.

New Orleans Hornets (6'9", PF, Kansas): Thomas Robinson

There is a lot of contention about where Andre Drummond belongs on the draft board, but wherever he ends up, it shouldn't be in New Orleans. That honor should go to Kansas product Thomas Robinson, who's just as complete as any of the other power forwards surrounding him on the board—maybe even more so—but doesn't have the allure of a national championship to feed his hype.

Drummond is a risk, and Robinson is a sure thing, which is especially important for the Hornets, who finished dead last in the West last season and desperately need to start building a roster filled with talent instead of flops. Robinson doesn't have the type of one-hit wonder rep that surrounds some of his draft-eligible counterparts; he's a super-tough player who got dramatically better during his junior season, averaging 17.7 points, 11.9 rebounds and shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Robinson is a good defender, a good shooter and he has a great attitude. He's the kind of player the Hornets can build around. What's not to like?