NBA Draft 2012: Where Bradley Beal Lands Will Decide Top 5

There is one constant in the 2012 NBA draft, and that's Kentucky power forward Anthony Davis going No. 1 overall to the New Orleans Hornets. 

Once that formality is completed next week, however, it may be Florida guard Bradley Beal who wields the key to the rest of the top five. Where he lands should be the deciding factor in how the first few picks shape up next Thursday.

Beal, a 6'4" guard who has drawn comparisons to both Ray Allen and Eric Gordon in pre-draft discussions, is a lock to go within the first five picks. But predicting where he will land has become a difficult task. 

Below, we'll break down the scenarios in which Beal controls how the top five ends up. 

Charlotte Bobcats take Beal No. 2

Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is likely the draft's second best player, and the Michael Jordan-led Bobcats have been tied to UNC small forward Harrison Barnes. But there's a chance that Charlotte could take Beal with the second pick to help add some scoring to one of the NBA's worst offensive teams. 

If Beal did go No. 2, the Washington Wizards would likely go with the best player available at No. 3 and take Kidd-Gilchrist—even though the team did just acquire Trevor Ariza from the Hornets this week. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers could then go a number of ways at No. 4, with Thomas Robinson and Harrison Barnes likely topping their wish list. 

Cleveland Cavaliers trade up to No. 2

According to Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated, league executives expect the Cavaliers to be aggressive in moving up to No. 2 from No. 4 to nab Beal. Cleveland could team Kyrie Irving—the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft—with Beal to form an explosive, high-scoring backcourt. 

From there, Washington should again go with Kidd-Gilchrist at No. 3. Then Charlotte would have a decision to make with the Cleveland's fourth pick, with Barnes the most likely candidate to be the selection. 

Washington takes Beal at No. 3

If Charlotte passes on Beal and Cleveland doesn't move up, it's hard to see how the Wizards don't select the Florida guard at No. 3 overall. That's especially the case if Kidd-Gilchrist is the No. 2 overall pick. 

Beal would fill an immediate hole at the 2-guard position in Washington, while also providing the perimeter scoring this team desperately needs. 

Considering this week's trade between the Wizards and Hornets that sent Washington Ariza and Emeka Okafor, Beal makes even more sense at No. 3 overall.