2012 NBA Mock Draft: Latest Predictions and Analysis for Draft Day

Michael Jordan is bawling.

No, he isn’t balling—he’s crying his eyes out because the Charlotte Bobcats lost the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA draft and Anthony Davis. But while M.J. is weeping, Tom Benson and the New Orleans Hornets are celebrating like it's Mardi Gras.

Of course, their celebration is old news by now. David Stern offered the first overall selection to Benson way back in April as an under-the-table bonus for buying the team.

I kid. I kid.

Stern’s motivation wasn’t simply to find a buyer for the Hornets; that’s silly. He needed make up for screwing them over in the Chris Paul Debacle as well.

In all seriousness, New Orleans should still be celebrating whether their party started over a month ago or not. The fact that they just added Davis to their roster isn’t the only positive result.

Eric Gordon is a free agent. The odds that he’ll realize that pastures won’t get any greener than they are in NOLA just rose like Davis skying for an alley-oop. Gordon combined with Davis and their 10th overall pick will be nasty.

Speaking of that 10th overall pick, here’s an updated lottery mock after Wednesday night’s ping-pong ball party.

1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis (PF, Kentucky)

Davis will lead the Hornets back to relevance. I can see it now: Revenge of The Unibrow.

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF, Kentucky)

In need of a superstar, Charlotte would naturally get stuck with a Jack of all trades.

3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal (SG, Florida)

While it would’ve been nice to be able to choose between Beal and MKG, being force-fed the best scorer in the draft isn’t too devastating.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Andre Drummond (C, UConn)

Cleveland wouldn’t pass up another top-five center prospect, right? Right?!

5. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson (PF, Kansas)

Sac-Town finds a big man to pair with DeMarcus Cousins. Not just any big man, though, a hard-working, high-character winner—something that the Kings desperately need.

And not too much else changed from there…

If we’re talking Hornets resurgence, expect them to select Dion Waiters/Jeremy Lamb/Austin Rivers unless they get the hint that Gordon is definitely all in for the long run. In that case, Kendall Marshall is an ideal replacement for Jarrett Jack when the vet hits free agency next summer.

In other news, Jay-Z reportedly began to record a Stern diss track because the Commish set the Hornets up for glory while allowing his Brooklyn Nets to lose their lottery selection to the Portland Trail Blazers (not really, but I wouldn’t doubt it). That definitely won’t help in the whole please-Deron-don’t-leave-me recruiting process.

The Golden State Warriors also managed to keep their selection. It was the Utah Jazz’s pick to gain. But I wouldn’t expect Gail Miller to release a diss track in the near future.

While Wednesday night marked the beginning of another brutal year for the Nets and Bobcats, it also signaled the start of a power shift within the league launching with the Hornets’ rise back to prominence.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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