2012 NBA Lottery: Predicting How Bobcats Will Fair Without Anthony Davis

Charlotte Bobcats fans were undoubtedly disappointed to learn their team won't be the first to make a selection in the June 28 NBA Draft.

That disappointment shouldn't last any longer than it absolutely has to.

This isn't a matter of silver lining. The Bobcats will be better next year, and their draft day acquisition will be one of the primary reasons.

It's not as if this were a one-man draft, and every deep draft in recent memory has produced multiple superstars—many of who weren't the first overall pick.

In 2005, Deron Williams and Chris Paul were taken third and fourth, respectively, just behind the often-injured Andrew Bogut and still-average Marvin Williams.

Kevin Durant was the second overall pick in 2007. Greg Oden was first.

In 1984, Bobcats owner Michael Jordan was, after all, the third overall pick, behind Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie.

There's no guarantee Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Bradley Beal will be the league's next superstars.

Nor is it certain that Anthony Davis will be the next Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan.

He could be its next Kenyon Martin.

While Bismack Biyombo may never be as good as Anthony Davis, Charlotte should take some solace in the fact they already have a young, athletic shot blocker on staff. It would have been nice to have another, but it's not as if this club doesn't have other pressing needs.

Kidd-Gilchrist would certainly address one, and Beal would would help with another.

This young roster needs leadership and toughness—qualities that typify Kidd-Gilchrist. It also needs to score more points, and that's where Beal would come in.

It would be shocking, but the Bobcats could choose North Carolina's Harrison Barnes.

Charlotte was the worst offense in the NBA by a substantial margin this season, and adding a young scorer to the wing could do wonders. It would certainly make life easier for Kemba Walker as he develops into this club's backcourt leader.

The Bobcats won't see an immediate turnaround.

They'll have loads of cap space over the next couple of seasons, and they'll need to use it wisely. Jordan's club will also need the youngsters to pan out, and a coach to get them there.

This would have been a long journey either way, though.

Not even Anthony Davis could make an entire roster better. That will take time, and it will take impeccable management.

The Bobcats will probably suffer through at least another season of lottery-worthy basketball, but we should begin to see some signs of a much-improved team to come—a team that can't come soon enough.