NBA Lottery 2012: Predictions for Top 5 Draft Order

The 2012 NBA draft lottery will be held on Wednesday, May 30, and it marks the first step in the futures of some of the game's next great stars.

Each potential lottery pick will then have to wait until June 28 for the NBA draft, a mere month away.

We'll most definitely see some surprise picks in the draft, but for now, let's focus on the lottery.

Here are the 14 lottery picks with each of their chances to receive the top selection (via NBA.com).

As you can see, there is some disparity between the teams with the best chances and the teams with the worst chances.

Although each team has a shot at securing the top spot, there are a few teams that have a much, much better shot than others.

So, without further ado, here are my selections for the Top Five draft order (selections included).

1. Charlotte Bobcats

No surprise here, really.

The Bobcats have a 25 percent chance of locking up the No. 1 selection, the lone bright spot in an otherwise abysmal season in Charlotte.

The team was an NBA-worst 7-59, 13 games worse than the next team.

Gerald Henderson was really the lone consistent player on the team, scoring 15.1 PPG and shooting 46 percent from the floor.

Kemba Walker will undoubtedly improve on his rookie season next year, so there may be a little bit to be excited about in Charlotte.

The team needs a big man, though, and one that can dominate.

That player is none other than the University of Kentucky's Anthony Davis.

As a freshman with the Wildcats this season, Davis scored 14.1 PPG, pulled down 10.4 rebounds per game and averaged 4.7 blocks per game.

He was the driving force on the defensive end in the NCAA Championship, grabbing 16 rebounds and blocking six shots.

Should the Bobcats get the No. 1 pick, they need to draft Davis.

2. Washington Wizards

The Wizards are the biggest competition for the Bobcats for the No. 1 overall pick, as their 19.9 percent rate gives them a solid chance to steal the pick.

I think that they will be drafting second, though.

With Davis off the board, the Wizards will go with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, another freshman from the University of Kentucky.

Kidd-Gilchrist was great in his first season with the Wildcats, average 11.9 PPG while averaging 7.4 rebounds per game and 1.9 assists per game.

At 6'7" and 232 pounds, Kidd-Gilchrist has the size to be an effective forward in the NBA.

The Wizards have a talented point guard in John Wall, but there really isn't much else there. Should Kidd-Gilchrist pan out, the Wizards could have a nice one-two tandem for the better part of the next decade.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers were 21-45 last season, earning them a 13.8 percent chance at the first pick. I see them with the No. 3 pick, though.

With the third pick, Cleveland will select junior Thomas Robinson out of the University of Kansas.

At 6'10", 237 pounds, Robinson will likely grow larger as his career progresses, but he definitely has the perfect body to be a successful forward in the NBA.

He was fantastic at Kansas last season, averaging 17.7 PPG while recording 11.9 rebounds per game.

He scored 18 points in the NCAA championship game against Kentucky, albeit by shooting a putrid 35 percent from the floor.

The Cavaliers really lack depth at the forward position, so Robinson could come in and potentially see significant minutes as a rookie.

Similar to the Wizards, the Cavaliers could be grooming a one-two punch of their own in Kyrie Irving and Robinson. It would be an exciting tandem to watch as they continue to grow.

4. Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers will sneak up to No. 4 in the NBA draft, even though their pick from the 22-44 New Jersey Nets says that they should be picking sixth.

With the No. 4 pick, Portland will also go with a forward, sophomore Harrison Barnes from North Carolina.

Barnes averaged 17.1 PPG with the Tar Heels last season and was a large part of the team's Elite Eight berth.

Outside of LaMarcus Aldridge, the Trail Blazers really lack depth at the forward position, making Barnes a valuable pickup in the draft.

He may be just 6'8", but his scoring ability will really help a poor Portland team.

The Trail Blazers actually have another lottery pick in this season's draft, but that pick only has a 0.8 percent chance of being the No. 1 overall pick.

It will likely come towards the latter half of the first round.

5. New Orleans Hornets

The Hornets have a 13.7 percent chance of earning the top selection, but I predict that the lottery will have them picking fifth overall.

After trading away Chris Paul last offseason, the Hornets struggled to a 21-45 record.

While it will be very difficult to replace Paul, the Hornets are clearly lacking depth at guard.

To remedy that problem, they would be wise to select Florida freshman Bradley Beal.

Beal averaged nearly 16 PPG in the NCAA Tournaments last season, a little over one full point above his season average of 14.8. 

Beal would be the best player still available at pick No. 5, and he would definitely help an offense that didn't have a single player score over 15.6 PPG (Jarrett Jack) while playing a majority of the season.

He already possesses NBA shooting range and accuracy, so he looks like he could be the real deal as a pure scoring guard for the Hornets.