NBA Draft 2012: 10 Teams with Most Pressure on Their Pick
With the NBA Draft just eight days away, many teams must feel the pressure.
The right pick can change the course of a franchise. Picking the right player and developing him can make that draft pick the next big NBA star.
Picking the wrong player can set your team back and force you to rebuild.
It’s all about the right place at the right time. Many teams need that player to help them become contenders.
Will these teams make the right decision, or will they regret the choice or choices they make?
Here are 10 teams who feel that pressure to make the right draft pick.
10. Boston Celtics
1 of 10The Celtics exited the playoffs after losing to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Their loss marks questions of the dreaded word “rebuild.” They have so many questions to address other than the age factor.
Guards Ray Allen and Michael Pietrus went under ankle and knee surgery, respectively. Kevin Garnett could be signing somewhere else.
The Celtics have back-to-back picks with the 21st and 22nd picks in the first round. They can get both a shooting guard and backup center with those two.
They can also work a trade to move up if they desire to.
Regardless, the NBA Draft could be a new successful start for the Celtics.
9. Sacramento Kings
2 of 10Congratulations, Sacramento. You kept the Kings in your hometown.
Now, you have work to do.
The Kings’ struggles continued this season, finishing with a 22-44 record. Despite finishing in the top 10 in points and rebounds per game, the Kings were last in points allowed.
They also finished 26th in assists. The Kings need a point guard to distribute the ball and lead them on the defensive side of the ball.
The Kings have the No. 5 pick this year. They have a chance to pick up Kendall Marshall, Damien Lillard and Scott Machado, the top three best point guards on the draft.
While they may not be the best now, they could be for the Kings.
8. Houston Rockets
3 of 10The Rockets have a young talented roster and finished 34-32. It wasn’t enough as they missed the playoffs.
The Rockets’ main problem was defense. They allowed 97.9 points per game.
They need help on defense, and with the 14th and 16th picks, they could get some help.
The Rockets will not get Anthony Davis. He should be a lock to go to New Orleans.
However, plenty of power forwards can help on that side. They might have to trade up to the top 10.
If Houston wants to win, they should do it.
7. Detroit Pistons
4 of 10The Pistons seem to have a talented roster on paper. It just doesn’t translate to on-the-court success.
They finished 25-41, and they were in the bottom in nearly every offensive statistic.
They could not finish on the offensive boards. They need players that can score and distribute the ball.
With the No. 9 pick in the first round, they have a chance to pick a strong power forward that can score.
Either John Henson or Jared Sullinger could be that guy for them.
6. Toronto Raptors
5 of 10The Raptors are talented, but their tough division made their chances for a playoff run this past year diminish.
They were strong in defense and distributing the ball, but it seemed they passed too much.
The Raptors finished 28th in points per game. If their struggles continue, they might be moving elsewhere and out of Canada.
They have the No. 8 pick in the first round. They need a scorer to complement the offensively-gifted players already on their roster.
If they can acquire a top shooting guard, they could be in good shape.
5. Washington Wizards
6 of 10The Wizards need help in a bad way.
They finished with one of the worst records in the NBA with a 20-46 record. Plus, the Southeast Division is already difficult to win in. It features Miami, Atlanta and Orlando—three contending teams.
The Wizards need a player that can complement John Wall and that offense.
They have the No. 3 pick in the first round. This player could be the spark plug they need.
They got rid of Rashard Lewis and the 46th pick for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza. It shows the Wizards want to compete at a playoff level.
If they can pick up a center to complement Okafor and Wall, the Wizards can be a threat for the foreseeable future.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
7 of 10Welcome to the NBA, Kyrie Irving.
Can we get him some help please?
The Cavaliers have struggled in their Central Division. They finished 21-45 and dead last.
They need help on the defensive side and need players that can gel with Irving.
With the No. 4 and No. 24 picks in the first round, the Cavaliers have a chance to get a dynamic player. Thanks to the Wizards’ trade, small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist might be available.
3. Portland Trail Blazers
8 of 10They have the No. 6 and No. 11 picks in the first round.
They are in great position to make quality picks in this draft.
The Blazers cannot screw this up. Right?
Their draft history says otherwise. They passed up Michael Jordan in 1984 for Sam Bowie and Kevin Durant in 2007 for Greg Oden.
Both of their picks were draft busts. They haven’t gotten a quality player in the draft for a long time.
These two picks can bring the Blazers franchise back to credibility...if they make the right picks.
2. Charlotte Bobacts
9 of 10They were so close to getting Anthony Davis.
The worst team in the league needs a lot more than one player to get them out of last place.
Management needs to make moves that can help the team. Can new coach Mike Dunlap whip the Bobcats into contenders?
As far as the No. 2 pick is concerned, they need an exciting player that could lead this team into a new era.
Maybe they take Kidd-Gilchrist with this pick, since he is the most ready prospect other than Davis.
1. New Orleans Hornets
10 of 10The Hornets lucked out with winning the lottery.
A new owner and new luck can bring the Hornets success. It also could be misleading.
The Hornets have all the pressure in the draft because of Anthony Davis. He should be a lock for them.
What if he fails? What if Davis is a bust?
Could you imagine the millions of fans and experts mocking the Hornets for this pick?
The Hornets could put a lot of pressure on their team as well as Davis himself if he doesn’t hold up.
If Davis fails, the Hornets will go back to the drawing board for the 2013 NBA Draft.
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