NBA Draft 2012: 7 Teams That Need a Lot More Than Just a Good Draft

As the most successful teams compete in the final rounds of the playoffs, other less successful teams are planning their next moves. 

Some teams in the league appear to be closer to future success than others for various reasons. 

Although a couple playoff teams appear on this list, their futures are uncertain and they could easily fall out of contention in their respective conferences. 

While one great draft can do wonders for the future of a franchise, it takes a high level of consistency in drafting to build an organization that succeeds perennially. 

A bad draft can set an organization back years, while multiple bad drafts make some organizations the laughingstocks of the league. 

Many organizations around the league are facing a lot of personnel questions when the offseason officially begins. Here are some teams that need a lot to fall right for them this offseason. 

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns have been led by Steve Nash since 2004, but his time in Phoenix may be over. 

He is going to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and he said that winning is very important to him at this point in his career. It is now or never for Nash, as he can't hope to play more than two or three more seasons at a high level.

Nash is 38 years old but you would never know it. Both the way he plays and the stats that he racks up appear to be those of a much younger man.

There is no questioning the fact that Nash can still play at a high level. He led the league in assists this season with 10.7 per game and shows no signs of slowing down. 

The second best player on the Suns last season was starting center Marcin Gortat, who averaged a career best 15.4 points and 10 rebounds a game. 

Much of Gortat's success came with Nash's help, as the innovative point guard consistently found the big center in advantageous positions. 

The Suns have the 13th pick in this year's draft, and it wouldn't be a surprise for them to look for Nash's successor with that pick. 

If Nash leaves Phoenix, then the whole culture, play style and feel of the Suns will be completely different. 

The future of the Suns is uncertain. It seems rather unlikely that the Suns will have a better team at the beginning of next season than they had this season. This year's team was unable to secure a playoff spot, so there is no reason to think that next season's team will fare any better in that regard. 

Charlotte Bobcats

The Charlotte Bobcats finished the season with the worst winning percentage in the history of the NBA. 

As if that wasn't bad enough, they finished the season on a 23-game losing streak and were painful to watch. 

They took Kemba Walker with the ninth pick in last year's draft and are expecting him to become one of the premier point guards in the league. 

He shouldn't be judged on one season with an awful team, but his stat line of 12.1 points and 4.4 assists on 36 percent shooting leaves a lot to be desired. 

During his rookie season, starting center Bismack Biyombo showed that he is going to be a good interior defender. 

Biyombo is an asset on the boards and on the defensive side of the floor, but his offensive game needs a lot of work. He is also terrible from the line, as he shot just 48 percent from the charity stripe this season. 

The Bobcats made the playoffs in 2010, but after being knocked out in the first round, they decided to rebuild their team. 

They traded Gerald Wallace to the Portland Trail Blazers in hopes of building a more formidable team in the future. That clearly hasn't been the case thus far as evidenced by their dismal performance last season.  

Even though the team owns the second overall pick in this year's draft, there still is not much of a reason to be optimistic about the Bobcats.

Want more proof that the Bobcats are going to be awful next season?

The team is offering a buy one season, get the next season free offer on certain season tickets. That is the organization's way of telling the fanbase that it is going to be at least two years until they are truly competitive again in the Southeast division. 

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors haven't finished with a record over .500 in five seasons, and have been even worse since Chris Bosh's departure in the summer of 2010. 

Last season, the Raptors scored just 90.7 points per game, which was good for 28th in scoring across the league.

When Andrea Bargnani was sidelined with injuries, the Raptor offense bordered on anemic. The sharpshooting center has improved every year since entering the league, but may not have been worth the top selection in the 2006 NBA Draft.

Bargnani had his best season in 2010 when he averaged 21.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest. 

The Raptors passed on players like LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay and Rajon Rondo that year, but if Bargnani is able to stay healthy, then he will be a reliable scorer for the Raptors. 

The Raptors have the eighth pick in this year's draft and are reportedly planning on trading it for an athletic wing player.

It has long been rumored that the Grizzlies were considering trying to move Gay after they were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Clippers. 

It would make a lot of sense for the Raptors to try to acquire Gay because he is one of the best wing players in the NBA. There have been rumors that the Raptors are interested in trading for Gay this offseason. 

The Raptors could be a good team next year that challenges for a playoff spot, but based on their recent history, I won't be giving them the benefit of the doubt. 

Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets are either going to become one of the most interesting teams in the NBA or one of the least interesting.

Star point guard Deron Williams is going to be an unrestricted free agent this summer when he opts out of his contract. 

If Williams leaves, then the Nets will be in a world of trouble. The Nets gave up Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and two first-round draft picks for Williams and would be devastated to see him walk in free agency without any type of compensation. 

The Nets do not have a first-round pick this year because they sent it to the Portland Trail Blazers in the Gerald Wallace trade that occurred in the middle of the season.  

Wallace has an opt-out option in his contract, but the Nets are hoping that they can convince the talent wing player to be part of their move to Brooklyn. 

If the Nets lose both Williams and Wallace to free agency, then the grand opening of the Barclays Center would more than likely result in a slaughter of the home team. 

The future of the Nets may hinge on their ability to make a trade for Orlando Magic superstar Dwight Howard. If the Nets cannot acquire Howard, then Williams may be inclined to sign elsewhere, which as stated earlier would be a disaster. 

The acquisition of Howard would almost certainly convince Williams to re-sign with the team, and the two would instantly form the most dangerous point guard-center combination in the NBA. 

The future of the Nets is on the line this offseason, and if it goes the wrong way for them, then it will take multiple excellent drafts to make them relevant once again. 

Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic just finished the most tumultuous season in the history of their organization. This was due to Dwight Howard's preseason trade request and all the questions and distractions that were caused by that request. 

The Magic fired head coach Stan Van Gundy and relieved general manager Otis Smith of his duties after they were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round. 

Van Gundy's fate was sealed as soon as he told the media that upper management informed him that Howard wanted him fired. 

Although Magic CEO Alex Martins claims that Howard had no part in the decision to dismiss Van Gundy and Smith, it is very hard to believe. 

Stan Van Gundy's brother Jeff Van Gundy was very outspoken as to why his brother was fired. He said the following to ESPN's Stephen A Smith.

"

"To try to make everyone believe that Dwight Howard didn't have a part in this is absurd. Just say, 'we fired this guy because we feel this is our best chance to keep Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard and I decided to fire him.'"

"

Jeff Van Gundy is obviously biased, considering that it was his brother who got fired, but what he said holds a lot of merit. 

The departure of Stan Van Gundy and Otis Smith has reportedly done little to convince Howard to stay. 

If Howard is unwilling to sign a long term extension with the team, then he will have to be traded. It would be preferable if he was moved before next season starts so the Magic don't have to go through another season of chaos.

Without Howard, the Magic are not a playoff-caliber team. A lot of their future success hinges upon the combination of players and picks they will receive if and when they decide to trade Howard.  

The Magic have the 19th pick in this year's draft, which doesn't put them in a great position to land an impact player. 

It was only a few seasons ago that the future of the Magic appeared to be very bright. But after some trades that didn't work out as hoped and having too many bad contracts on the books, it seems like the Magic will be starting a rebuilding project sooner than later. 

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks reign as world champions ended in the first round when they were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Dirk Nowitzki isn't getting any younger, and he cannot be expected to shoulder the same load he did earlier in his career. 

The 2011 NBA Finals MVP needs help. More accurately, he needs the support of another superstar. 

Jason Kidd and Jason Terry are both going to be free agents this summer, and it is very possible that neither will be back next season. 

They were hoping that both Deron Williams and Dwight Howard would be unrestricted free agents this summer, but only Williams will be on the open market this summer. 

Unfortunately for the Mavs, they have few assets that would entice either the Brooklyn Nets or Orlando Magic to trade their star.

After winning the title, the Mavericks allowed Tyson Chandler, J.J. Barea and Caron Butler to walk in free agency to free up cap room for this summer. 

Dallas has the 17th pick in this year's draft and will likely target players like Kendall Marshall, Austin Rivers and Dion Waiters with that selection. 

The Mavericks have eight players under contract for next season, and don't have the cap space to do much in free agency unless they manage to free up more cap room. 

If the Mavericks are unable to upgrade their team in a substantial way through free agency and the draft, then they may struggle to make the playoffs next season. 

There is a lot of young talent in the West, and if the Mavs aren't careful they will fall even farther back in the hierarchy in the Western Conference. 

Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are among the most dysfunctional organizations in all of sports. 

They have drafted super-talented players like DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans, but they have yet to see that talent translate into wins. 

The Kings went 22-44 last season and have the fifth pick in this year's draft. 

It would be true to the style of the Kings if they were to take the inconsistent but talented Andre Drummond with their selection. 

Drummond has a very high ceiling, but his inability to play at a high level on a consistent basis while he was at UConn this season has worried some analysts and scouts. 

Picking up another franchise player would do wonders for the Kings, but I wouldn't be surprised if they found a way to mess up this situation. 

The Kings have done little in the past to inspire confidence about their future. 

In fact, things are so messed up for the Kings that they don't even know where they will be playing their games after this season. 

The Maloofs, who own the Kings, backed out on their previous agreement with the city of Sacramento and the dream of a new arena in the city appears to be dead. 

The Kings have the talent to be a good basketball team, but until they prove that they are a threat on a nightly basis, I will have my doubts.