NBA Draft 2012: Teams Destined to Make Terrific First-Round Selections

A team like the Bobcats has a more difficult task ahead than a team like the Hornets. The Hornets, after all, have it easy: They'll take the best overall player in the upcoming NBA draft, and even if their pick doesn't pan out, no one will fault them years down the line because it would be crazier for them to pass on the top player.

A team like the Bobcats, however, must choose from two completely disparate players, both with their own risks and upsides, with the No. 2 pick. If they screw it up—which they very well might—they're right back here next year, choosing at the top of the lottery, a place no team wants to be year after year.

Here's a look at the teams that can't fail with their selections this year, no matter whom they choose.

New Orleans Hornets

Whether there was a conspiracy or not, the Hornets are in a better position than any top lottery team to compete for a playoff spot next year. Though they had just a 13.7 percent chance of winning it, they somehow got the top pick and will receive Anthony Davis in return.

The difference between Davis and the rest of the field in this year's draft is monumental. He's the most complete player, the most talented, the most capable of single-handedly reversing the fortune of one franchise. The Hornets, who finished in last place in the Western Conference in 2011-12 and 15 games out of the hunt for a playoff spot, have some young talent but not a lot of direction.

Davis can change that. He's as NBA-ready as they come and can do for this franchise exactly what Chris Paul did for it seven years ago: start turning it into a winner. It only took Paul until his third year to get New Orleans into the playoffs; it could take Davis even less time.

Washington Wizards

Even though they didn't end up with the first or second pick in the lottery, the Wizards will still win big when they select whomever the Bobcats don't, and it should be either Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Bradley Beal. Gilchrist is the player they've been expected to get all along; Beal is the best guard available and would fit in seamlessly in the Wizards' backcourt. Either way, a win.

In Gilchrist, the Wizards get a very tough, very defensively-sound player with incredible leadership potential and lots of offensive upside. They also get the best small forward in the draft, a national champion and someone to seriously improve the frontcourt.

But in Beal, the Wizards get an offensive spark who can immediately step in and improve the backcourt alongside John Wall. And by the way, Beal is someone Wall really, really wants to play with. The current Wizards point guard attempted to be diplomatic when he told CSN Washington the team should draft either a 2 or a 3 (a given), but he did say he thought the team's big man situation is "where we need it at"—leaving little speculation that the team's best player feels like the biggest need is at the 2.

Either way, according to Wall, the Wizards can't lose.

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have an excellent situation ahead of them, despite the fact that they're picking seventh. They hold four selections in this year's draft, so they have the luxury of either loading up on young talent or packaging some—or all—of the picks in exchange for some veteran help.

The Warriors aren't that far away from making a postseason run. They finished 14 games out of the hunt for a playoff spot and have lots of options this offseason. This is a team that's already stocked up on young talent—none of its current starters are over the age of 25—so it would be wise to use some of these draft picks to bring in some veteran leadership.

If they choose to hold on to their first-round picks, though, the Warriors will likely come away with a major frontcourt threat in either Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones III or Terrence Jones, as well as some off-the-bench shooting help with the 30th pick, perhaps from Royce White or John Jenkins.

The Warriors hold the cards and have the luxury of choice, and it's not a position many other teams find themselves in.