2012 NBA Lottery Order: Identifying Teams That Got the Best and Worst Draws
The 2012 NBA draft lottery didn't get interesting until the fourth overall pick, as the Cleveland Cavaliers fell one spot to No. 4, while the New Orleans Hornets—originally slated in the fourth slot—jumped the Cavs, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Bobcats to obtain the draft's No. 1 overall pick.
Below, we break down the teams that had the best and worst draws Wednesday night in New York City:
Best
New Orleans Hornets
The Hornets had the draft's best draw, overcoming just 13.7 percent odds to nab the top pick and a chance to take Kentucky's defensive dynamo Anthony Davis.
Considering where this franchise has been over the last year, with a change in ownership and the trade of the franchise's best player in Chris Paul, New Orleans couldn't have asked for a better result onWednesday.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers avoided watching their top-three protected pick go to Brooklyn, who sent Portland the pick last year in exchange for Gerald Wallace. Had it fallen inside the top three, the Nets would have retaken control of its rights.
Instead, the Blazers will pick at No. 6 (Nets' pick) and No. 11 overall next month, giving the team a chance to make their current rebuilding project a short one.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors were also crossing their fingers Wednesday, as they had a chance to lose their first-rounder if the pick fell past No. 8 overall. That didn't happen, and the Warriors will now have a chance to take another rebuilding piece at the seventh pick.
Worst
Charlotte Bobcats
Fresh off a seven-win season, the Bobcats desperately needed to become just the fourth team in the last 19 years to win the top draft spot as the worst team from the year prior.
Michael Jordan's Bobcats had no such luck. Instead of preparing to take a potential franchise-changer in Davis, Charlotte will have to settle with whoever it thinks is best at No. 2 overall.
Cleveland Cavaliers
A one-spot drop to No. 4 is not catastrophically bad like the Bobcats' drop, but there's some significance here regardless.
While a player such as Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Bradley Beal would appear to be a ideal additions in Cleveland, things get trickier for the Cavs if all three are taken before the No. 4 pick.
In an ideal world, the Cavs would be pairing Davis with Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson to form the cornerstones of the franchise for the next 10 years. Instead, they may have to settle on a guy like Thomas Robinson at No. 4.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets might be the night's biggest losers.
While not getting back their top-three protected pick hurts, there's now the increased chance that Brooklyn won't have the ammunition to swing a deal for Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. If management can't add another big name sometime this offseason, All-Star point guard Deron Williams is almost certain to leave.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz likely felt confident that the Warriors' pick could fall past No. 8, which then would have given Utah the pick. But it wasn't to be, and now the Jazz won't be on the clock in this draft until the No. 47 slot.
Finding a player that will be a contributor down the road is infinitely harder at No. 47 than it would have been at, say, No. 9.
