NBA Draft 2012: 3 Western Conference Teams That Will Drastically Improve

There is a reason why David Stern is smiling.

His New Orleans Hornets (recently sold to the owner of the New Orleans Saints) landed the top pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

When you pair that top pick with the Hornets' additional lottery pick (at No. 10), plus a second-round selection, it's easy to see why there is reason to smile in New Orleans.

The truth is that the NBA draft has become very valuable.  The talent pool always seems to be growing, and you can build an annual championship contender through the draft (see: Thunder, Oklahoma City).

So for teams coming off subpar seasons, the draft is something that can provide hope and improvement—if used correctly.

Let's examine three teams in the Western Conference that could improve most drastically from the 2012 version of the NBA draft.

1. New Orleans Hornets

And to the victor go the spoils...

For the New Orleans Hornets, their victory was winning the 2012 NBA draft lottery.

The spoils will be arriving shortly, in the form of one Anthony Davis.

Davis has been called a game-changer, a franchise-changer and a once-in-a-decade type of talent.  Dick Vitale even compared him to Tim Duncan.

And if that weren't enough, the Hornets also have a selection at pick No. 10.  They could pair playmaking point guard Kemba Marshall with the inside presence of Davis.

Toss in a No. 46 pick of perhaps Kris Joseph on top of Eric Gordon (hopefully), Jarrett Jack, Rashard Lewis and the potential re-signing of both Carl Landry and Marco Belinelli and boy, these Hornets have themselves a squad.

2. Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers could use help in just about every position on the floor to give hope to All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge.

Good thing they have four draft picks to work with, then.

A center to give Aldridge a fellow mate in the low post? Tyler Zeller, Andre Drummond and Meyers Leonard should all be available at pick No. 6.

A big-time scorer on the wing? Say hello to Jeremy Lamb or Austin Rivers at No. 11.

Toss in the likes of Kim English, William Buford, Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom, who should be available around the Trail Blazers' selections at No. 40 and 41, and the Blazers have something to work with here.

If they are able to re-sign veteran point guard Raymond Felton, who could bring together a talented group of youngsters, the 28 wins from a season ago can surely be improved.

3. Houston Rockets

Yesterday, the Rockets traded Chase Budinger (whom they had signed at a bargain price) to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for the 18th overall pick of the 2012 NBA draft.

That gave the Rockets the No. 14, No. 16 and No. 18 selections in the draft and naturally left many wondering just what the heck the Rockets had up their sleeve.

Perhaps they are making a bid for Dwight Howard.

It would make sense. The Rockets have been one legit big man (i.e. Yao Ming replacement) away from contending for Western Conference supremacy the past few years, and Howard would certainly fit that bill.

So imagine for a second that the Rockets do turn this wealthy pack of draft picks into Dwight Howard and add him to a roster that already includes Goran Dragic, Kyle Lowry, Luis Scola, Kevin Martin and Chandler Parsons...

Whoa.

Even if they don't land Howard, three draft selections of that caliber would allow the Rockets to package and move up, or bolster their lineup with three selections out of the likes of: Perry Jones lll, Terrence Jones, John Henson, Royce White, Arnett Moultrie or Jared Sullinger.

No matter how you shake it, the Rockets are in line for a big upgrade to their frontcourt, which is exactly what they need to join the Western Conference's elite.