One Biggest NBA Draft Need in 2013 for Every Lottery-Bound Team

Teams that land in the NBA draft lottery are generally in dire need.

For every team need, I identified a few potential solutions, or targets, that should be available when that team is on the clock. If a team is projected to draft at the end of the lottery, then I customized the potential targets to fit that slot.

For example, as much as the Sacramento Kings would like to target Shabazz Muhammad at No. 8, chances are he won't be available that late, so he's not listed as a target.

We've generated an NBA lottery based on prior trades and team projections for the 2012-2013 season.

Below are previous transactions that took place that can explain why the Oklahoma City Thunder are in the lottery and why certain teams have two picks.

Oklahoma City gets Toronto's first-round pick, which the Raptors acquired in the James Harden deal from Houston.

If the Lakers miss the playoffs, their pick goes to Phoenix, which is something we anticipate. 

Portland gives up a top-12 protected pick to Charlotte from the Gerald Wallace-Joel Przybilla trade in 2011.

1. Charlotte Bobcats

Need: Consistent Scoring Option

Targets

1. Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA, 6'6'', SG/SF

2. Anthony Bennett, UNLV, 6'7'', SF/PF

3. Ben McLemore, Kansas, 6'5'', SG

I could make up a pamphlet filled of needs for the Charlotte Bobcats, but if we're seeking out one, it's a consistent scoring presence.

It can't be Kemba Walker. He's more of a sixth man with his 42.8 percent field-goal mark.

Both Shabazz Muhammad and Ben McLemore would start immediately on this roster and contribute points that Gerald Henderson or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are incapable of generating.

The Bobcats need a guy who can create easy scoring opportunities for himself and step in as the team's go-to option. Anthony Bennett is another guy capable of getting his own points, and will help out on the boards in the process. I'm sure Hakim Warrick wouldn't mind, who pulls in a whopping 3.2 boards a game.

2. Washington Wizards

Need: Athletic Frontcourt Presence

Targets

1. Nerlens Noel, Kentucky, 6'11'', C

2. Anthony Bennett, UNLV, 6'7'', SF/PF

3. Cody Zeller, Indiana, 6'11'', C

The Washington Wizards have a lot of needs, but the most glaring one takes place up front. My refrigerator is more athletic than both Nene Hilario and Emeka Okafor combined, and neither are built to play at the speed John Wall plays at.

An athletic presence like Nerlens Noel would have a field day catching lobs on the break or over the top. He's also a rim protector capable of changing the tone of the franchise.

Anthony Bennett would be a nice fit, considering they lack scoring and toughness from their wings or power forwards.

And Cody Zeller would give them a post scoring threat and a big man who runs the floor like a deer.

3. Orlando Magic

Need: Playmaker

Targets

1. Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA, 6'6'', SG/SF

2. Anthony Bennett, UNLV, 6'7'', SF/PF

3. Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, 6'4'', PG/SG

4. Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse, 6'6'', PG

A playmaker is a general term. It can be a scorer, distributor—sometimes just an overall great athlete.

Orlando doesn't have any of these types of players. I admire Jameer Nelson's career, but he's not taking this team to the next level.

Shabazz Muhammad and Anthony Bennett would be able to play alongside both Aaron Afflalo and J.J. Redick, if he's still on the team, and give the Magic an extra scoring punch they desperately need.

Or they can grab a ball-handler and find a guy to dribble this team in the right direction. Both Marcus Smart and Michael Carter-Williams are playmakers with the ball in their hands, and would also give them a defensive edge on the perimeter.

Without a true fixture at any position on the depth chart, Orlando should ultimately be in "best player available mode" for the 2013 NBA draft.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers

Need: Frontcourt Scorer

Targets

1. Anthony Bennett, UNLV, 6'7'', SF/PF

2. Cody Zeller, Indiana, 6'11'', C

3. Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA, 6'6'', SG/SF

With Dion Waiters and Kyrie Irving, too much of the team's offense comes from the perimeter. It's a low-percentage style of basketball—not that they have a choice with Anderson Varejao done for the year, Tristan Thompson still figuring the game out and Tyler Zeller just a rookie.

The Cavaliers need a guy who can score points in the paint and get them without having to be setup.

Anthony Bennett would be a seamless fit that Kyrie Irving would likely approve of. The Cavs could follow the blueprint of the Clippers and pair a star point guard with an above-the-rim forward.

Cody Zeller will be an option to consider, whose skill set is superior to his brother Tyler's.

And Cleveland fans shouldn't be upset if Shabazz Muhammad fell into their lap, whose size and strength as a wing allows him to bully his way inside.

5. New Orleans Hornets

Need: Versatile Wing Presence

Targets

1. Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA, 6'6'', SG/SF

2. Anthony Bennett, UNLV, 6'7'', SF/PF

3. Otto Porter, Georgetown, 6'8'', SF

4. James McAdoo, UNC, 6'9'', SF/PF

With Greivis Vasquez settling in nicely and Eric Gordon returning to form, the Hornets are moving in the right direction. Plus that Anthony Davis guy was a pretty good pick.

But the team lacks a presence on the wing. Al-Farouq Aminu and Lance Thomas are more or less seat-fillers until someone better comes along.

Shabazz Muhammad would be the perfect fit between Gordon and Davis on the wing. He's got the size and athleticism to comfortably play the 3 or switch back to the 2 if Eric Gordon moves to the 1.

Anthony Bennett's versatility would also allow him to log minutes at the 3 or switch to the 4 based on lineups and matchups.

Otto Porter and James McAdoo won't provide the scoring presence of Muhammad or Bennett, but their ability to defend multiple positions and finish off the ball would be an immediate upgrade to the Hornets' rotation.

6. Phoenix Suns

Need: Half-Court Scoring

Targets

1. Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA, 6'6'', SG/SF

2. Anthony Bennett, UNLV, 6'7'', SF/PF

3. Ben McLemore, Kansas, 6'5'', SG

The Phoenix Suns will be targeting Shabazz Muhammad, Anthony Bennett and Ben McLemore, who are already better shot-makers than most of the players in their rotation.

The Suns don't have a long-term building block at any position. They need someone who can take over a game by scoring the basketball, something they thought Michael Beasley would do when they signed him to a three-year deal.

With likely two picks in the first round, the Suns should be crossing their fingers they get one of the targets listed above. All analysis aside, Jared Dudley and P.J. Tucker just aren't starting-caliber players.

7. Oklahoma City Thunder

Need: Interior Scoring Depth

Targets

1. Cody Zeller, Indiana, 6'11'', C

2. Alex Len, Maryland, 7'1'', C

3. Mason Plumlee, Duke, 6'11'', PF/C

The Oklahoma City Thunder don't need much, but if Santa was feeling nice he'd give them another scorer inside.

Don't get me wrong, Serge Ibaka has turned the corner and looks awesome offensively, but he's not a guy you isolate in the post. Cody Zeller and Alex Len would give teams another dimension of basketball they'd have to defend, and would help take some of the pressure off their more perimeter-oriented scorers.

Nick Collison and Hasheem Thabeet play behind Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins, so some athletic depth and cushion would feel nice, regardless.

Alex Len and Mason Plumlee would also give the Thunder bigger and better targets at the rim.

8. Sacramento Kings

Need: Facilitator 

Targets

1. Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, 6'4'', PG/SG

2. Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse, 6'6'', PG

3. Otto Porter, Georgetown, 6'8'', SF

If you have four bad point guards, then you don't have a point guard.

The Kings run a bunch of shoot-first scorers out there at the point and wonder why they can never gain any sort of offensive rhythm. There's talent on this roster, yet nobody knows how to use it.

The Kings need a ball-handler they can trust to deliver the goods. Marcus Smart is a pass-first scorer who's known for making his teammates better. It's followed him from high school, when he won two state championships and led the Under-18 U.S.A. team to a gold at the FIBA Americas Championship.

Michael Carter-Williams is a point guard who can dice up the defense and get teammates involved. If the Kings decided to bring back Tyreke Evans and put him in the 2-hole, they'd have one of the most sizable backcourts in the NBA.

Otto Porter is backup option who does whatever is necessary on that particular play. The Kings could use a few guys like Porter, and get others like Francisco Garcia and John Salmons out of the rotation.

9. Detroit Pistons

Need: Offensive Firepower from the Wing

Targets

1. Otto Porter, Georgetown, 6'8'', SF

2. Isaiah Austin, Baylor, 7'1'', PF

3. James McAdoo, UNC, 6'9'', SF/PF

After dealing Tayshaun Prince, Kyle Singler became the team's top wing on the depth chart. Yikes.

Now with Jose Calderon and Brandon Knight, the Pistons could really use an offensive minded player on the wing.

Anthony Bennett and Shabazz Muhammad would be ideal options, but they're unlikely to be available this late in the lottery.

Otto Porter is the most sound wing on the board with the ability to knock down shots from the perimeter, get to the rack or slash and finish at the rim.

Isaiah Austin would be a fit considering his style of play directly contrasts with the other big men on Detroit. At 7'1'', he can step out on the perimeter or attack the rim in the mid-range.

James McAdoo's services would also be needed. He possesses all the athleticism that Singler and Jonas Jerebko don't.

10. Philadelphia 76ers

Need: Backcourt Depth

Targets

1. C.J. McCollum, Lehigh, 6'3'', PG/SG

2. Victor Oladipo, Indiana, 6'4'', SG

3. Archie Goodwin, Kentucky, 6'5'', SG

With news that Jason Richardson is out for the year and probably longer, the Philadelphia 76ers are in desperate need of backcourt help.

Not even Jrue Holiday has a truly viable backup, and now Nick Young is the only true 2-guard on the roster.

C.J. McCollum might not only be the best player on the board, he fills a need at the same time. McCollum could back up Holiday or play off him as a scorer. Before breaking his foot last month, McCollum had been the nation's second leading scorer.

Victor Oladipo's athleticism and aggressive play would be welcomed in any lineup that needed reliability and depth.

Archie Goodwin is more of a project, but could have the highest ceiling of any of the prospects previously mentioned.

11. Phoenix Suns (via L.A. Lakers)

Need: Athletic Frontcourt Presence

Targets

1. Otto Porter, Georgetown, 6'8'', SF

2. James McAdoo, UNC, 6'9'', SF/PF

3. Mason Plumlee, Duke, 7'0'', PF/C

With its second pick in the lottery (assuming the Lakers miss the playoffs), the Phoenix Suns will have good shot to fill a need.

Marcin Gortat, Jermaine O'Neal, Luis Scola and Markieff Morris might be the least athletic frontcourt in all the NBA.

Otto Porter would give Phoenix some versatility on the wing and a motor in the paint. His length and activity level are something that the Suns don't get from Michael Beasley or Scola.

James McAdoo would help in the same department—making plays off the ball, finishing at the rim and providing valuable lineup flexibility.

Mason Plumlee would be an option if the Suns choose not to bring back Gortat. He'd immediately come in as the most athletic option at the 4 and 5 positions.

12. Dallas Mavericks

Need: Offensive-Oriented Big Man

Targets

1. Isaiah Austin, Baylor, 7'1'', PF

2. Mason Plumlee, Duke, 6'11'', PF/C

3. James McAdoo, UNC, 6'9'', SF/PF

With most of Dirk Nowitzki's production coming from the perimeter and Chris Kaman not getting any younger, the Dallas Mavericks need a new scoring punch in its frontcourt. There's too much pressure on O.J. Mayo to drop 20 a night. The Mavericks need to find an easier route for points.

At 7'1'', Austin is already closer to the rim than anyone else on the floor. He's got the skill set to face the rim and attack off the dribble or spread the floor and knock down a three. He's technically like a skinny, undeveloped, younger Dirk Nowitzki with goggles. And less hair. And doesn't speak fluent German. 

Mason Plumlee's athleticism would go a long way when you consider that none of their 4s and 5s could jump over a puddle.

And James McAdoo has a similar skill set to Shawn Marion, only he's bigger, faster, stronger and younger.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves

Need: Athleticism at the 2

Targets

1. Victor Oladipo, Indiana, 6'5'', SG

2. Archie Goodwin, Kentucky, 6'5'', SG

3. Jamaal Franklin, San Diego State, 6'5'', SG/SF

Alexey Shved was a nice pickup for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he'd be a liability defending scorers like James Harden or Monta Ellis. Luke Ridnour doesn't make it better, either.

Cue Victor Oladipo.

The Timberwolves' perimeter defense isn't the most secure. Oladipo would give them a ball-stopper and someone to lock down opposing scorers.

A more athletic slasher at the 2-spot would help Minnesota score an extra few layups per game.

Archie Goodwin and Jamaal Franklin are both off-ball slashers with elite athleticism and excellent size. They may not be as polished offensively as Luke Ridnour is right now, but the Wolves need their physical tools more than they need Ridnour's playmaking.

14. Charlotte Bobcats (via Portland)

Need: Interior Scorer

Targets

1. Mason Plumlee, Duke, 7'0'', PF/C

2. James McAdoo, UNC, 6'9'', SF/PF

3. Willey Cauley-Stein, Kentucky, 7'0'', C

This pick will depend on what they do with the first pick they have.

At No. 14, there should be a plethora of available big men who generate offense inside. Byron Mullens, Bismack Biyombo and Hakim Warrick are just awful sources for interior production.

Mason Plumlee, James McAdoo and Willey Cauley-Stein would all give the Bobcats an upgrade down low and better options for half-court points.