NBA Draft 2012: Breaking Down Biggest Winners After Lottery

The NBA draft lottery is an interesting concept, simply because it is so different from the way every other sport determines draft order. Teams are given a chance to turn their fortunes around with the luck of one ping-pong ball. 

After the draft order was set on Wednesday night, several franchises had a grin on their face because of the way the balls bounced for them. 

Here is a look at the biggest winners from the 2012 NBA draft lottery. 

New Orleans Hornets

While there could be some crazy conspiracy theories thrown out about this pick, the Hornets got exactly what they needed. They traded the former face of their franchise—Chris Paul—last year, yet their fortunes seem to be looking up. 

Not only did the NBA finally find someone willing to buy the franchise—New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson—but they have the No. 1 pick in the draft. There is still a lot of work for this franchise to do in order to sniff the playoffs, so don't get too excited. 

Still, winning the rights to take Anthony Davis, or whomever they decide to take, can only be seen as a blessing for the Hornets. After nearly two years of darkness and despair, the sun is rising in New Orleans. 

Charlotte Bobcats

I know the consensus is likely to be about how bad it is that the Bobcats did not win the lottery. When you step back and look at the situation, having the No. 2 pick in this draft is not exactly a bad thing. 

Davis is the No. 1 player available, and has great potential, but I think we are underestimating just how good Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bradley Beal—the two most likely choices to be taken with the No. 2 pick—will be. 

Neither Kidd-Gilchrist nor Beal has the name cache that Davis does, so it is harder to sell fans on them. When they take the court, their game will do all the selling it needs to. 

Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers have a great opportunity to add quantity and quality to their team in this year's draft. Thanks to the Gerald Wallace trade to New Jersey, the Blazers were able to parlay two lottery picks, including the No. 6 overall selection. 

That first pick will put the Blazers in a great spot to get one of the high-upside studs who could fall slightly due to lack of experience or polish to their game. 

Given the problems that Greg Oden caused this franchise, a center like Andre Drummond would look nice in a Portland jersey. Of course, Perry Jones III could make a nice fallback plan. 

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