The New Orleans Hornets Will Pick First In The 2012 NBA Draft

The New Orleans Hornets, currently owned by the NBA and soon to be owned by Saints owner Tom Benson, will select first in the 2012 NBA Draft (most likely choosing Kentucky forward Anthony Davis). The Charlotte Bobcats, which had the worst winning percenatge in NBA history this past season, will pick second, and the Washington Wizards, which one sportswriter predicted would get the top slot, will pick third.

The Brooklyn Nets came up sixth, but the pick was only protected if they made the top 3, so their selection goes to Portland as part of the Gerald Wallace trade. The Cavaliers will pick fourth, after nabbing Kyrie Irving with the top pick last year.

As Michael Wilbon put it shortly after the lottery: "Well, well, well. Drew Brees and the bounty hunters, the spotlight's off them for a while." Yes, the narratives just write themselves, but whatever. The whole thing was fixed anyway.