NBA Lottery 2012: Washington Wizards Jackpot Would Amplify Draft Day Excitement

Ernie Grunfeld loves surprises.

If the Washington Wizards win the 2012 NBA Lottery, the draft’s excitement will skyrocket. What is so special about the Wiz?

The first-overall pick creates more options for them than it does for any other team.

With Andray Blatche, Kevin Seraphin, Trevor Booker and Jan Vesely creating a logjam at power forward, it isn’t a guarantee that the Wizards will choose Anthony Davis should they land the No. 1 selection. Jordan Crawford and Chris Singleton form the worst starting pair of wings in the league. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bradley Beal are better fits than Davis is.

In reality, though, Washington can’t select MKG or Beal first overall. That would be nuts. They must decide whether to select Davis or trade down.

If the Wizards choose to trade down, they would instantly be bombarded with offers. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers each have two first-round picks to offer. No one would be shocked to see the Charlotte Bobcats or New Orleans Hornets execute a blockbuster trade, given their expected contention for the league’s worst record next season.

While Washington's trading options are endless, their flexibility doesn’t differ if they draft Davis.

John Wall would combine with Davis to form one of the most promising duos in the NBA. The team around them would be far from complete, though. Washington would be forced to move two of the previously mentioned power forwards.

Blatche is an amnesty candidate. While the Wizards would love to trade him, there aren’t too many teams in the league that are foolish enough to agree to add his salary to their payroll.

Other options to be ousted include Seraphin and Booker, who each showed significant improvement in their second seasons. Washington also just spent a first-round pick on Vesely. Despite the promising talent, somebody would have to go.

The trading options are endless from every angle. If you want to liven up the NBA offseason, root for the Wizards to win the lottery.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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