2012 NBA Draft Order: Teams with Everything to Lose at Draft Lottery

Most teams head into the NBA Draft Lottery with a sense of hope, praying that they might land the top overall pick. But every year, there are a few teams that head into the lottery full of dread, knowing they have more to lose from the ping-pong balls than they stand to gain.

Perhaps they finished with the worst record in the league and desperately need to land the draft's first pick. Maybe a team's selection is only protected depending on where the pick is slotted.

Whatever the case may be, a few teams head into Wednesday evening's draft lottery with a lot to lose. Let's take a look.

Charlotte Bobcats

Has there ever been a team that needed to land the top overall pick as badly as the Bobcats do?

There is one legitimate superstar in this draft, Anthony Davis, and the Bobcats desperately need him to change the course of the franchise's future. After finishing with a pitiful 7-59 record, worst in the NBA, the Bobcats have a 25 percent chance to win the lottery.

Here's the problem: Only three teams with the best odds to win the lottery have done so since the system was adopted in 1994.

Yikes.

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors top pick is top-seven protected, which means as long as they end up with one of the top seven picks, they keep it.

But if it drops to the eighth pick or lower, it belongs to the Utah Jazz. And there is no question that the Warriors very badly need to keep that pick, especially since this draft is pretty deep and the team could land a nice player with an early first-round pick.

There are some solid shooting guards and small forwards to be had in this draft, and the Warriors could certainly use an upgrade on the wing.

Golden State is reportedly looking to find a way to keep the pick regardless of where it lands, but no deal has gone through as of now.

They should probably try harder.

Portland Trail Blazers and Brooklyn Nets

The Nets' lottery pick this year is top-three protected, but if it lands outside of the top three then it belongs to the Blazers.

Thus, each team stands to gain a lot and lose a lot more.

The Nets only have a 25 percent chance of sliding into the top three, so they'll likely be bracing to lose the pick. Likewise, Portland could have two lottery picks, and it will be hoping that Brooklyn's pick ends up at No. 4.

For the Nets, landing a top-three prospect would make the team far more attractive to Deron Williams and potential incoming free agents. For the Blazers, two lottery picks could be the centerpiece of a very fast retooling effort.

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