2012 NBA Mock Draft: How Lottery Results Shake Up the First Round

The lottery has finally come and gone, and while Charlotte remains the unluckiest team in the NBA and will doubtlessly spend at least another year mired in cellar-dwelling misery, the Hornets may have gotten enough luck to push them into playoff contention next season.

Despite just a 13.7 chance, the Hornets won the lottery on Wednesday night, earning the right to steal Anthony Davis away from the Bobcats. It is the second time the Hornets have ever earned the No. 1 pick, and this year's results continue a stretch dating back to 2004 in which the worst team in the NBA has failed to get the first pick in the draft.

Here's how the lottery results affect the first round of this year's draft.

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

Davis had to be counting his blessings when the Hornets were announced as the winners of the lottery, if only because it meant he wouldn't have to be stuck in Charlotte for the next five or six years, where NBA happiness goes to die.

After the pick was announced, Davis told ESPN's Andy Katz, "I won a national championship in New Orleans [in April], so why not win another one in New Orleans? I just have to buy into what they're doing and work my hardest."

And the Hornets, who won't be thinking about losing Chris Paul for much longer, must feel like the luckiest team in the world. They get to replace one All-Star with another future All-Star. Now, not only do they get the best player available, but they also have the 10th overall pick and could be boasting the most improved roster next October.

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Well, it's not like one player—even a player like Anthony Davis—could've turned this dismal team from the worst to the best in one year, and Davis' gain is Bradley Beal's loss.

Though Davis' Kentucky teammate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was the consensus second overall pick before the lottery results were announced, he's unlikely to go to Charlotte at No. 2. The Bobcats need someone—anyone—who can score, and while Gilchrist has lots of toughness and character, his offense just isn't there yet.

Beal, too, has some work to do on the offensive end, but he has shown flashes of offensive brilliance that suggest he could be a premier point guard or shooting guard in the NBA. He's athletic and quick and has the kind of fearlessness in the clutch you love to see from a guard.

He's the best offensive player left on the board, so the Bobcats have to just shrug, move on and take him.

3. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

After all has been said and done in the lottery, Kidd-Gilchrist is likely to end up exactly where everyone thought he would: with the Wizards.

Washington will win either way—they'll get Kidd-Gilchrist or Beal at No. 3—but all along, Kidd-Gilchrist has been the player who best fits their needs. He gives them a big body up front as well as a player with a terrific work ethic who will bring the toughness and leadership this team is sorely missing. He also plays excellent defense and has a seven-foot wingspan—not too shabby.

In the end, it doesn't really matter for the Wizards that they got bumped out of the No. 2 spot, where they were expected to pick. They will still come away with either Gilchrist or Thomas Robinson—or, absolute worst-case, Bradley Beal—any of whom they could utilize effectively next season.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

With the player they really wanted off the board (Bradley Beal), the Cavs go for the next-best option, which is Harrison Barnes. Barnes gives them a terrific scorer at the 3 who will allow Alonzo Gee to revert back to a bench role.

5. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

The Kings, like the Wizards, still get the player they want in Robinson, who may not have as much upside as a player like Kidd-Gilchrist but still gives them a very athletic, big body in the frontcourt. 

6. Portland Trail Blazers: Andre Drummond, C, UConn

And that leaves Drummond to Portland, which they'll take. Drummond played a little bit soft at UConn but has tremendous upside as the best available center.

7. Golden State Warriors: Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor

Jones is still a perfect fit for the Warriors. The biggest problem with his game is that he tended to play a bit passively, but he grew monumentally in between his freshman and sophomore campaigns, and he still has more room for improvement. Plus, he has the perfect frame at 6'11".

8. Toronto Raptors: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

The Raptors need a scorer to accompany DeMar DeRozan in the backcourt, and Lillard—though billed as a point guard—tallied 24.5 points per game last season. He may be a combo guard, but he's much more lights-out than Dion Waiters, the other option here.

9. Detroit Pistons: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

If Sullinger falls to them, the Pistons can't pass on him. He's slightly undersized for a 4, but he's incredibly athletic and tough, and he'll be a huge boon to Detroit's frontcourt. He's definitely the best player still available.

10. New Orleans Hornets: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Marshall is still the best fit for the Hornets over someone like Waiters. He may need a lot of improvement on offense, but he's the best passer in the game, and coming away from this draft with both him and Davis is a huge win for New Orleans.

11.  Portland Trail Blazers: Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn

After filling up their frontcourt with Drummond, the Blazers will go small with their second pick. Jeremy Lamb is the best guard left on the board.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: John Henson, PF, North Carolina

Henson is an extremely safe pick at this point, considering he has the talent to be a top-10 selection. He needs to add some muscle to strengthen his inside game, but once he does, he'll be dangerous.

13. Phoenix Suns: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

The Suns have a big dilemma here—go with hype in Austin Rivers or with offensive firepower in Terrence Ross—and ultimately they make the right choice. There were few better overall shooters than Ross, from all over the court, in the NCAA last season.

14. Houston Rockets: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

Zeller could've gone in the top 10 and is a safe selection for the Rockets, who have a big hole to fill in the middle. Zeller is by far the best remaining option: He's athletic and he runs the floor incredibly well for a seven-footer.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky

The Sixers need a big body up front, and they could also go with Arnett Moultrie here. Both he and Jones are risks for different reasons, but when Jones was on, he was on. If he's still available this low in the order, he's a risk worth taking, more so than Moultrie.

16. Houston Rockets: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Having gotten a steal in Zeller at No. 14, no need for the Rockets to go with Meyers Leonard here. Instead, they snag Moultrie, who will give them another very strong, very physical presence up front.

17. Dallas Mavericks: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

The Mavericks are going to need a point guard when Jason Kidd inevitably departs, and it's either Rivers—a combo guard—or Tony Wroten here. Rivers isn't the best passer in the world, but he has a lot of developing to do and gives Dallas some versatility in the backcourt. Plus, he has the hype behind him to push him up and over Dion Waiters in the order.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Dion Waiters, PG/SG, Syracuse

The Wolves would be incredibly fortunate to get Waiters here. They have a hole to fill at the 2, and he's a terrific scorer who has the skill to be effective from all over the court.

19. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

Leonard falling this far is a huge boon for the Magic, who will likely need a replacement for Dwight Howard sooner rather than later.

20. Denver Nuggets: Tony Wroten Jr., PG, Washington

Wroten is a bit of a draft enigma. He has a pretty bad reputation as a teammate, but he could be worth the pick here because of his 6'5" frame and his raw offensive talent.

21. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Boston needs some serious help up front, and Melo is the kind of high-risk, high-reward player who will be a huge asset for the C's for years to come—if he can stay focused.

22. Boston Celtics: Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

The Celtics are certainly going to be making big changes this offseason, and Taylor gives them the kind of lethal shooter off the bench and lock-down defender they could've desperately used this postseason.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Royce White, SF, Iowa State

Purely in terms of skill, White is one of the best players left on the board. He has enough raw talent to go in the lottery, but his anxiety disorder drops him pretty far in the order.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor

Even after taking Barnes with their first pick, the Cavs will still be unable to pass on Miller, who has the most talent of any player left but is still struggling to regain his top-10 form after an ACL injury.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

The Grizzlies would love for Harkless to fall this far. His draft stock is continuing to climb after a breakout freshman season, and he has the perfect size for a 3 at 6'8". 

26. Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

This is a perfect fit for the Pacers: Teague is a hometown guy who can fill a big need. He's also a great passer who can get to the hoop and he really hustles on defense.

27. Miami Heat: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt

Jenkins is the best pure shooter left on this board, and the Heat could use his raw talent off the bench.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

Nicholson is a bit undervalued, but even so, he wasn't expected to fall this far. It's the Thunder's gain, though; he may be undersized for a 4 at 6'9", but he's very good defensively.

29. Chicago Bulls: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

There were few better and more consistent three-point shooters than Lamb last season—he shot 46.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Kentucky hype will push him into the first round, but he's worth it.

30. Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State

He doesn't blow you away in many areas, but he's a good passer, a good shooter and a good defender. Overall, it makes him a very good player and a pretty safe pick here.