Nets Need Lottery Luck Just to Draft in First Round Like the Nets, the 2012 N.B.A. draft lottery has moved back to New York from New Jersey. This lottery, also known as the Anthony Davis sweepstakes, will be held Wednesday at the Disney/ABC Times Square studio after having taken place at the NBA Entertainment studio in Secaucus since 1994. Davis is the probable No. 1 pick, and Jonathan Givony, the founder of the N.B.A. prospect evaluation Web site Draft Express, wrote of him: "Arguably the most impressive blend of athletic tools we've seen in a big man prospect in our nine years evaluating the N.B.A. draft, Davis is one of the most physically gifted players on the planet." Davis, who played one year at Kentucky, dominated the N.C.A.A. tournament championship game without shooting well and led the nation in blocked shots, averaging 4.7 a game. Because of summer renovations at Madison Square Garden, the draft itself will be held June 28 at Prudential Center in Newark, the Nets" most recent home court. The lottery will be televised Wednesday by ESPN at 8 p.m., before Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. It is not certain that the Nets will make a first-round selection as they will forward their selection to the Portland Trail Blazers, barring a stroke of good luck. The Nets traded their pick when they acquired Gerald Wallace in March but protected it in the event that they rose into the top three on the night of the lottery. If the Nets land one of the top three picks, they will send next year's draft pick (top two protected) to the Trail Blazers. The Nets, who tied for the N.B.A."s fifth-worst record, have a 7.5 percent chance of landing the top pick and a 25.6 percent chance of breaking into the top three and keeping their pick. Keeping the pick could help the Nets re-sign Deron Williams, an impending free agent. They could sell the still-undecided Williams on pairing him with the player selected - a budding talent likely ready to contribute immediately - or using it as a chip in a deal for a more established star like Dwight Howard. If their 1-in-4 odds do not pay dividends Wednesday, the Nets, who were on the verge of having two likely first-round selections for most of this season, will have none. Houston's failure to make the playoffs allowed the Rockets to hold on to their first-round selection, No. 14, which would have otherwise gone to the Nets. The Rockets missed the playoffs by two games and won only two of their final nine games. Compounding things, Wallace, who is seeking a four- or five-year extension, can opt out of his contract and sign elsewhere. The Knicks do not have a first-round pick. They are slated to pick in the second round at No. The Rockets own the Knicks" first-round pick, No. 16, a byproduct of the Knicks" acquisition of Tracy McGrady in a three-team deal in February 2010. The Charlotte Bobcats have the best odds, at 25 percent, of securing the top pick. The Washington Wizards have a 20 percent chance, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New Orleans Hornets at about 14 percent each. Top-heavy with power forwards and centers, this draft class is considered by many to be one of the deepest in a long time. Draft Express, NBADraft.net and ESPN all have big men, led by Davis, listed as at least 5 of their top 10 projected picks. Andre Drummond, a freshman from Connecticut who oozes defensive potential but is unrefined offensively, is the lottery's foremost high-risk, high-reward pick. Drummond's untapped potential garners comparisons to Kwame Brown, who is widely regarded as a bust, but also generates forecasters" praise. Thomas Robinson, the energetic Kansas power forward, may be the most N.B.A.-ready prospect in the draft. After Kansas lost to Davis and Kentucky in the national championship game, LeBron James called Robinson a monster on Twitter. Jared Sullinger of Ohio State, known more for offensive skill and polish than raw athleticism, is another lottery-projected big man available. The most tantalizing wing prospects are Bradley Beal of Florida and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of Kentucky. Kidd-Gilchrist is widely praised for his basketball intelligence despite being the youngest player in the 2012 draft; he will not turn 19 until September. Beal is a sinewy 6-foot-3 shooter who has been frequently likened to Ray Allen despite shooting 34 percent from 3-point range in his lone college season. "He's a very versatile two guard who just lacks a little bit of height, maybe, and freakish athleticism to be considered a surefire star, but we've seen a lot of guys in his mold end up being really, really good in the N.B.A.," Givony said. Four North Carolina players - Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, Kendall Marshall and John Henson - are projected as early to middle first-round picks. Duke guard Austin Rivers, the son of Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers, also seems bound for the first round.