NBA Draft Lottery 2012: How Nets Landing Top-3 Pick Would Change NBA History

The Brooklyn Nets face an all-or-nothing situation in Wednesday's draft lottery if there ever was one.

If the team's pick falls outside of the top-three spots, it belongs to the Portland Trail Blazers per the terms of the trade that brought Gerald Wallace to the Nets. If it lands in one of the first three drafting positions, though, the Nets get to keep it.

The chances such a coup will happen aren't actually that bad.

According to Mike Tokito of The Oregonian, Brooklyn has a 5.3 percent chance to land the top pick, a 6.0 percent chance to get the second and a 7.3 percent shot at the third. Put together, those aren't terrible odds by any means.

Should Brooklyn luck out, it would almost certainly have significant implications far beyond the acquisition of a premium young prospect–though landing such a player would be nice in its own right.

If Brooklyn landed a guy like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bradley Beal or Thomas Robinson, a few things could happen.

For starters, Deron Williams would have a pretty compelling reason to stick around and oversee this franchise's inevitable resurgence. Whether the Nets kept their top-shelf rookie or used it in a deal for Dwight Howard, the Nets would be far closer to a title than they have been at any point since 2002 and 2003.

Either scenario ensures that Williams has a shot at a much-improved and youthful supporting cast.

Without the pick, Brooklyn's best and worst-case scenarios leave much to be desired.

At best, Williams would stick around in the hope the team can leverage its existing assets in an attempt to land either Howard or other elite talent. It goes without saying that any such deal runs the risk of gutting Brooklyn's roster, likely taking Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks and others out of the picture.

With another promising rookie in the fold, Brooklyn could potentially make a deal for Howard while actually retaining some of its talent.

At worst, Williams could decide he's best suited testing the market or perhaps talk the Nets into orchestrating a sign-and-trade.

Quite simply, Wednesday's lottery may be the difference between the Nets becoming one of the best young teams in the league and enduring a protracted rebuilding process.

May the odds be ever in Brooklyn's favor.