2012 NBA Draft Order: Teams That Will Be Forced to Seek Value over Need

Sometimes, the NBA draft order determines who a team must pick.

While teams always like to fill positions of need, sometimes there just simply isn't an available player that plays the right position and has the caliber necessary to warrant a certain pick.

Instead, teams must just take whoever is "highest on their board," regardless of who they already have at the position.

It happens every year, and it will happen again in 2012. Let's take a look at who will be be forced to seek value because of the draft order. 

Note: You can find the complete draft order here

Charlotte Bobcats (No. 2)

This one is pretty obvious, but after losing the No. 1 pick, it should be said that the Bobcats can't afford to try and fill a need.

The only pieces Charlotte has set in stone for the future are Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo. Still, they are coming off a seven-win season and are going to miss out on their franchise player in Anthony Davis.

They need the best player possible. It's as simple as that. If the Bobcats like Thomas Robinson the best (even though he plays power forward like Biyombo), they can't afford to pass him up. 

New Orleans Hornets (No. 10)

Just because the Hornets will grab Anthony Davis at No. 1 doesn't mean they should ignore the big men with their second pick. 

Nothing in New Orleans' roster is a sure thing going forward.

Jarrett Jack and Grievis Vasquez aren't sure starters in the NBA, Eric Gordon is a restricted free agent, Al-Farouq Aminu is a young, exciting player, but he's inconsistent, and New Orleans hasn't gotten consistent play from any of its big men. 

You could easily say no pick at No. 10 would crack this starting lineup, but you could just as easily make a case that no position in the Hornets current lineup is safe. 

Because of this, the Hornets will simply have to go after value. 

Denver Nuggets (No. 20)

The one thing the Nuggets could probably use is a superstar. Their lineup and their bench are both rock solid, but they are full of role players.

Unfortunately for Denver, at pick No. 20, there won't be a bonafide superstar prospect. Maybe someone like Arnett Moultrie or Tony Wroten, who both have high ceilings, will be available, but neither is a sure thing.

As a result, the Nuggets, who don't have any glaring "must fix now" needs, will simply pick the best player available. 

That tends to happen when you already have plenty of depth and are picking near the end of the first round. 

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