Lottery Predictions 2012

THE LOTTERY

1. Charlotte Bobcats -- This team is a roster mess right now. They lack a leading player, basically have no frontcourt, and a mixture of stashed away youth and overpaid oldies. This team is made to lose, and that's good because they desperately need a franchise player. Rookie Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson (yeah, junior one, that didn't get even garbage minutes in his Rookie year) will have to take the leadership role.
2. Toronto Raptors -- Another team lacking a clear leader. Bargnani & DeRozan won't get you wins, fellas. Without their Nr.5 Eureopean prospect Valanciunas there is not much improvement this year, so they should naturally fall some places behind teams that should go up this year. Next year two Top 5 picks in the roster? Sounds pretty good. For the Draft 2012 I deeply wish them a new franchise player.
3. New Orleans Hornets -- The Hornets lost their franchise cornerstone in Chris Paul and - owning the TWolves 1st rounder also - should push for two impact players in the Draft 2012. This year they won't be the worst team as Eric Gordon is too good to lose too many games.
4. Detroit Pistons -- The Pistons need a franchise player more that nearly every other team (Alright, despite the Bobcats). The team is a chaotic mess right now, every player could be the top player of the night and fall out of the rotation 3 days later. With the resigning of Stuckey and the progress of big man Monroe they shouldn't be the worst club this year, but be able to escape the dangerous late Lottery area.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (to New Orleans Hornets) -- It's pretty much a gamble how Ricky Rubio will strike by coming into the NBA, but I'm sure that Derrick Williams won't have the effect to push the TWolves significantly forward this year. Everybody - and foremost the Hornets - hope that the Wolves remain as bad as they always where when Garnett wasn't around. And we easily believe in their feebleness.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers -- The Cavs found their franchise player in Irving this year, which should push them forward at least 5 spots. Together with Thompson and another high pick in 2012 they could be an Playoff candidate again in 2013.
7. Sacramento Kings -- The Kings try to add young muscle every year, but are still a pretty unmature team right now. There is no chance they land better that this here, and it's still pretty optimistic. Still, they just need to bring in one or two more pieces and could be a pretty deep team. One question just remains: Who will lead this team to the playoffs?
8. Golden State Warriors (to the Utah Jazz)-- The Warriors would just miss their own pick by going #8th turning things upside down, and have to hand over their pick to the Jazz. That's too good of an story to not happen, especially when you know how much the Warriors attracted bad luck over the years. I bet Stephen Curry will miss every second week again.
9. Washington Wizards -- The Wizards have everything in the place now: A franchise player in Wall, a top coach in Saunders, a young frontline in McGee, Blatche and Booker, two new SF rookies fulfilling their team need, and even two great young shooters at SG. What should go wrong, despite their youth, inexperience and unmatured attitude?
10. New Jersey Nets -- Deron Williams alone won't take the teams to the hights some people are expecting. The Nets will do everything to push for an Dwight Howard trade, as long as that won't happen they are pretty much stuck in the middle of the league.   
11. Philadelphia 76ers -- Once again, the 76ers are struggling to make a push. Pretty similar to the Pacers, they lack of the key player, and consist of a bunch of good young players. The Pacers though have the better player material overall.
12. Utah Jazz -- The Jazz are standing right before an clean cut rebuild. They got 4 lottery picks within 2 years, and have a good prospect to get another two in the strong 2012 draft year (with the Warriors pick they own). After failing the playoffs again they will have to trade either Jefferson or Millsap or both for a clean future plan.
13. Houston Rockets -- This mixture of too old and too young will take another hit this year, after their Pau Gasol trade flunked, which basically means that their two best players - Scola & Martin - won't work their balls off this year. The Rockets are stuck in between until they get something done on the trade market.
14. Phoenix Suns -- Once again, the Suns struggle around the late Playoff/Early Lottery line. the place no team wants to be. That's the price you have to pay when you rely on your superstar player and can't afford to build something sufficient around him.