NBA Draft Lottery 2012: Ranking Teams Who Need the No. 1 Pick Most
The NBA Draft Lottery is secretly a really big deal in 2012.
There are incredibly desperate teams who can’t afford to land a decent player with a low ceiling.
Teams need a sure thing and only Anthony Davis fits the bill. He is the consensus No. 1 pick just like Andrew Luck was in the NFL draft. Everybody else comes with some sort of question mark.
So with six teams possessing a 7.5 percent or better chance of landing the No. 1 pick, here are the power rankings for the most desperate teams to land the top pick.
1. Sacramento Kings - 7.6 Percent Chance
The Kings might have to move to a new city if they don’t land a new face of the franchise and generate more revenue.
They failed miserably by trying to drum up fan interest with Jimmer Fredette, and need Davis and his shot-blocking and rebounding abilities to remind fans they have an NBA team. If they are stuck with a guy like Andre Drummond, this could very well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back to force a relocation of the team.
Now that is pressure.
2. Charlotte Bobcats - 25 Percent Chance
This one is pretty self-explanatory.
They are coming off a season where they registered the worst winning percentage in NBA history, and have absolutely zero players to market their team around.
If Charlotte plans on competing anytime in the next decade, they need Davis to jump-start the process.
3. New Orleans Hornets - 13.7 Percent Chance
Quick, name the face of the franchise in New Orleans. Exactly.
Unless you count Eric Gordon, who has played nine career games in a Hornets uniform, this is a generic team with zero identity and no reason to get fans excited. And that's if Gordon, who is a free agent, re-signs with New Orleans.
4, Brooklyn Nets - 7.5 Percent Chance
If the Nets don't land a pick in the top three, this selection goes back to Portland as part of the Gerald Wallace deal. If the ping pong balls don't bounce their way, Brooklyn will be bounced from the lottery completely.
They need to land in the top three more than everybody else to ensure they collect a valuable asset to give Orlando for Dwight Howard but landing the first pick isn't a dire concern.
5. Washington Wizards - 19.9 Percent Chance
The Wiz are entering Year 3 of the John Wall era, and it’s safe to say the past two years have been a massive disappointment.
They traded their best defensive player in JaVale McGee for yet another offense-first guy in Nene, who can’t protect the rim whatsoever. You can’t beat teams without getting stops, and this team can’t stop Adam Morrison at this point.
Davis can run on the break with this young and energetic squad and cover for them when defenders get to the rim. Of all the teams that are praying to land Davis, he makes the most sense on the Wizards.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers - 13.8 Percent Chance
The Cavs are golden.
They hit the jackpot with the No. 1 pick last year and look to have a future All-Star in Kyrie Irving, who can lead the franchise for years. They have somebody to build around.
Landing the top pick for a second year in-a-row would be great, but it certainly won’t impact the team as significantly as the other four teams.
Consider the Cavs a distant sixth.
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