NBA Draft 2012: 5 Teams That Can't Afford Another Bad Draft

The NBA draft represents a way for the worst teams in the league to rebuild their teams with the stars of tomorrow. 

That doesn't mean that every team at the top of the draft is guaranteed to improve quickly though. Teams like the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Bobcats appear at the top of the draft far more often than the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. 

This doesn't happen on accident. Successful teams have front offices that understand how to properly build a team and employ a coach that is able to get the most out of his players. 

There is a lot of pressure in having a top-five pick in the draft, because players taken that high are supposed to be franchise-changing players. 

Underachieving teams are expected to improve with their new top-line talent, and this year's draft will go a long way in determining the future of many franchises across the NBA. 

Some organizations are in worse shape than others, and here a handful of teams that need to have a good draft this year. 

Charlotte Bobcats

The Charlotte Bobcats had the worst winning percentage in NBA history last season, so there is nowhere to go but up. 

They finished the league last in points scored, mustering just 87 points a game. The Bobcats defense wasn't much better, as they ranked 29th in the league in points allowed by surrendering 100.9 per game.

They ended the season on a 23-game losing streak and were depressing to watch on most nights. Their last victory took place on March 17th against the Toronto Raptors. 

The NBA record for most losses in a row is 26, set by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2010-11 season. The Bobcats are three losses away from tying that record, so the pressure will be on when next season starts. 

Charlotte is still going to be one of the least talented teams in the NBA at the start of next season, so there is a real chance that they will set a new record for ineptitude. 

They missed out on getting the first pick when the New Orleans Hornets won the lottery, but there are other players that would help them out right away.

Last season, the team chose Connecticut's Kemba Walker with the ninth selection. 

Walker had a decent season, as he averaged 12.1 points, 4.4 assists and 3.6 rebounds per contest. The Bobcats are expecting Walker to become one of the best starting point guards in the league, and he still has a long way to go in his development.

They have the second selection in this year's draft, so they will have the ability to pick any player not named Anthony Davis. 

The time is now for the Bobcats to begin to improve, or even more questions will sprout up about Michael Jordan's ability to run an NBA organization. 

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards had the second-lowest winning percentage in the league last season, but still finished with 13 more wins than the Charlotte Bobcats. 

Unlike the Bobcats, the Wizards have a true star on their team in John Wall. 

The Wizards drafted Wall with the first overall selection in the 2010 draft, and he played very well for most of this season. 

This year will mark the fourth straight season in which the Wizards owned a top-five pick, so they have accumulated a fair amount of young talent.

The Wizards had two first-round selections in last year's draft and they took Jan Vesely with the sixth selection and Chris Singleton with 18th pick. 

Vesely and Singleton showed some promise this season, but they still have a lot of work to do if the Wizards are to become playoff contenders. Singleton is an excellent defender, but he struggles creating looks for himself on the offensive end. Vesely struggles on the perimeter but has the size and athleticism to be an effective power forward in the NBA. 

Washington is already the brunt of many jokes around the league. If they can't turn it around next season, then they will be on the wrong end of even more verbal abuse. 

The Wizards have the third pick in this year's draft and either Bradley Beal or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will be available at that spot. Both players are expected to be very good NBA players, so it doesn't appear as if the Wizards could mess this pick up. 

It is about time that the Wizards finally put a decent product on the floor. They have been awful for the past three seasons and need to use this year's draft as a way to stop the bleeding. 

Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are another team that has not been competitive in recent years, as they have been in the lottery each of the past five seasons. 

The Kings were 22-44 last season, which was good for second to last in the Western Conference. 

Last year's team was ranked sixth in scoring and 10th in rebounding, so it isn't like this team is inept in every area. 

They struggled mightily on the defensive end of the court, as they ranked dead last in points allowed, surrendering just over 104 points per contest. 

It isn't like the Kings don't have talent on their roster. In recent years, the Kings have drafted players with a lot of potential like DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans. 

Evans was taken with the fourth pick of the 2009 draft and was sensational as a rookie, averaging 20 points and almost six assists a game. Since then, his scoring has regressed in each of the last two seasons, and there are questions as to what position Evans should be playing. 

Next season is the final one of Evans' contract, so expect him to have a breakout year in hopes that it gets him a new lucrative contract in the off season. 

Isaiah Thomas looked very promising at point guard last season, although his size (he's 5'9") is a disadvantage. In Thomas, the Kings have a scoring point guard who could grow into a very dangerous weapon if the offense is given time to grow as a unit. 

The Kings' deal for a new arena with the city of Sacramento fell through (h/t Sacramento Bee), so it is likely that they will be on the move within the next couple of seasons. If they are able to become a winning team, then there will be quite a few cities lining up to convince them that their city is the right one for them. 

It is about time that the Kings find a way to get their talent to translate into more wins. If they cannot do this, then it might be time to move the underachieving Evans. 

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers were fortunate when the Brooklyn Nets did not get a top-three selection in this year's draft. 

If the Nets had snagged a top-three pick, then they would have kept their first-round selection. Any pick outside would have sent their pick to Portland due to the Gerald Wallace trade that occurred in the middle of the season.

The Trail Blazers have the sixth and 11th picks and should be able to grab two solid players in the first round. At the very least, they should be adding two guys who will be able to help as role players next season.

LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the best power forwards in the NBA, and is an excellent player to build a team around. He is locked into a long contract and should continue to put up around 20 points and eight rebounds a night. 

Nicolas Batum is one of the better wing defenders in the league and also a restricted free agent this summer. 

Batum has made it clear that he will accept an offer quickly, which works against the best interest of the Blazers. The team will do their best to retain Batum, and if they are able to do so, then their starting small forward and power forward will be formidable this upcoming season. 

Having two picks in the top 11 is an opportunity that the Blazers cannot afford to squander. They have an excellent chance to upgrade their roster and the near future of their franchise hinges on this draft. 

New GM Neil Olshey was the man that brought Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, thus making the team relevant for once. He was on the short list to win GM of the Year and he will put a good product on the court for owner Paul Allen. 

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors have been very busy over the course of the past few months. First, they traded their starting shooting guard Monta Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks for center Andrew Bogut. Then they announced that they will be moving to San Francisco starting in the 2017 season (h/t Yahoo!). 

Bogut suffered a broken ankle prior to the trade, so he is still waiting to make his debut with the team on the court. If he is able to stay healthy, then the Warriors will have one of the best point guard/center combinations in the league, with Stephen Curry playing at the point. 

David Lee is a very capable power forward, so the team not be looking at that position come draft day. It is more likely that they will focus on snagging a small forward to help round out their starting lineup. 

The Warriors haven't been to the playoffs since 2007, although in 2008 they became the first team in NBA history to miss the playoffs with at least 48 victories. 

With a core of Curry, Bogut and Lee, the Warriors are in a good position moving forward, as long as the members of that trio can stay healthy. 

Head coach Mark Jackson wants his team to be defensive minded, so the front office should be sure to draft players who play hard on both sides of the court. 

With the right selection this year, the Warriors have a chance to be competitive for the remainder of their stay in Oakland.