NBA Draft Lottery 2012: Best-Case Scenarios for Top Prospects

The 2012 NBA Draft Lottery will take place in New York City on Wednesday, May 30 at 8 p.m ET.

The Charlotte Bobcats currently hold the best chance (25 percent) of obtaining the No. 1 overall pick, but the NBA lottery has proven time and time again that holding the most combinations doesn't guarantee anything. 

Considering how random the lottery actually is, there's no reason to assume that the current odds has the draft order set in stone. With that in mind, we can break down which lottery fits are the best for the top players. 

Below, we outline the best-case lottery scenarios for Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bradley Beal, Thomas Robinson and Harrison Barnes:

PF/C Anthony Davis, Kentucky

6'10", 220 pounds
 

19 years old 

Best case: Cleveland Cavaliers (13.8 percent chance of No. 1 overall pick)

The worst team in the NBA the year prior has won the lottery just three times in the last 18 years, so there's reason to believe the Charlotte Bobcats (25 percent chance at No. 1 pick) won't land the top selection. Landing in Charlotte is far from the best case scenario for Davis, anyway. 

Falling in the laps of Cleveland, where last's year No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving and fellow top-five selection Tristan Thompson currently reside, might be the best outcome for college basketball's best player from 2011.

While Anderson Varejao remains as a quality big man to team with Thompson, landing Davis gives Cleveland a pair of top rim defenders (Davis, Varejao) and a trio of potential stars in Davis, Irving and Thompson. With Davis on board, the Cavs might move from fringe playoff team in 2012 to a lock in the Eastern Conference next season.

SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky

6'7", 210 pounds
 

18 years old

Best case: Washington Wizards (18.78 percent chance of No. 2 overall pick)

The Wizards would love to strike lottery gold again to get Davis, who could team with John Wall to give Washington an uptempo 1-2 punch. But getting Kidd-Gilchrist at No. 2 overall would be another fine addition. 

While Kidd-Gilchrist is far from a complete product offensively, he's long, tough and athletic enough to be an impact player right away in the NBA. He'll do all the little things—especially defensively—that helps teams win games. 

When push comes to shove, the Wizards need more players that fit that bill. 

SG Bradley Beal, Florida

6'5", 195 pounds
 

19 years old

Best case: Charlotte Bobcats (17.72 percent chance at No. 3 overall pick)

The Bobcats need the No. 1 overall pick more than any franchise in basketball after a historically poor 2011-12 season. But recent history tells us that the worst team rarely obtains the top pick in the draft lottery. 

If that remains the case tomorrow, the Bobcats shouldn't complain about getting the No. 2 or No. 3 pick. Charlotte can then nab Beal, an effective scorer who can shoot from anywhere on the floor and has the athleticism needed to play the 2-guard position. 

Considering how bad the Bobcats were at shooting the basketball last season, Beal would likely provide an instant impact in year one. No one player is going to solve all of the Bobcats' problems, but Beal might provide the best band-aid for 2012-13.

PF Thomas Robinson, Kansas

6'9", 237 pounds
 

21 years old

Best case: Sacramento Kings (No. 4 overall, 76 combinations)

One of the only concerns about Robinson's game as it translates to the NBA is his lack of size. At 6'9", Robinson will be slightly undersized at the four in the pro game. 

However, that lack of size wouldn't be a huge problem in Sacramento. With DeMarcus Cousins (6'11") entrenched at center, the Kings don't exactly need a monster power forward to patrol the paint.

Even so, Robinson showed at Kansas that he's a plus defender and rebounder—two things the Kings could use moving forward. There's no guarantee that Robinson will be a star anywhere he lands, but he's a good fit in Northern California.

SF Harrison Barnes, UNC

6'8", 210 pounds
 

19 years old

Best case: Portland Trail Blazers (No. 5 overall, 8 combinations)

An elite scorer at North Carolina with length, Barnes has the kind of ability NBA teams are looking for in a top 5 pick. But there are concerns about his overall athleticism at the next level, which has dropped him from No. 1 status down the board. 

Falling to the Blazers might be the best-case scenario for any of the top 5 picks, as Portland has the most talented roster of any of the lottery teams. The fit makes sense for Barnes, who could sit behind some talented players at the 2 and 3 while building up his NBA game.