2012 NBA Lottery Results: Where Will Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Land?

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is one of the best players in this draft.  Arguably second only to his teammate, power forward Anthony Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist is a tough, skilled and hardworking swingman who will boost whichever NBA team selects him on draft day.

Which teams could end up drafting Kidd-Gilchrist? Several because he is anywhere from the second to the sixth best player in the 2012 NBA Draft, depending on who you are talking to or which site you read. 

He offers the best mix of talent, skill and intangibles outside of Davis, but Connecticut center Andre Drummond, Connecticut swingman Jeremy Lamb, Baylor forward Perry Jones and Syracuse guard Dion Waiters could all offer more pure upside. 

Equally important, Harrison Barnes and Brady Beal are not as good as Kidd-Gilchrist but they are better shooters who offer a more traditional stylistic fit at their respective positions. 

With all of that said, where will Kidd-Gilchrist land? 

The Cleveland Cavaliers look like a great spot for him to thrive.  Cleveland is rebranding itself in the post-LeBron James era and owner Dan Gilbert will do whatever it takes to field a successful team. 

Playing alongside young star point guard Kyrie Irving, developing stud forward Tristan Thompson and stalwart defensive center Anderson Varejao, Kidd-Gilchrist could be a very dangerous star on the wing. 

With one more impact lottery talent in 2013, the Cavaliers might even be ready to contend for the Eastern Conference crown. 

The New Orleans Hornets also look like a great place for Kidd-Gilchrist. 

The Hornets will have two lottery picks barring a trade, which will give them the flexibility to select two future cornerstones for their franchise.  Kidd-Gilchrist could be one of them; thriving alongside star shooting guard Eric Gordon and another top lottery talent like, for example, forward Thomas Robinson. 

It would be a longer road to contention but definitely a place where Kidd-Gilchrist could establish himself as a critical team leader. 

So, considering the fluidity of the top five picks after Anthony Davis, it’s hard to say exactly where Kidd-Gilchrist could land.  Certain teams will value his unrivalled desire to win, broad base of skills and uncanny defense above everything else while others will scrutinize his developing offense. 

But, wherever he goes, Kidd-Gilchrist will thrive because that is just the type of player he is: a winner.