The Nets are officially slated to begin playing in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center this October, and NBA analyst and former great Charles Barkley believes that the upcoming draft is going to be rigged to help the (potentially soon-to-be) struggling Nets.

"I've got to tell you something, I'm really concerned about the number one pick in the draft this year. Well, number one, I think Michael would take Anthony Davis or I'd kill him (laughs). I can't say this, but I'm going to be watching the draft lottery very closely because I don't want no shenanigans," Barkley said in an interview with ESPN 1000 in Chicago.

"I'm going to be very leery if Anthony Davis ends up in Brooklyn. You know, I'm going to be very leery because I know the NBA has a lot riding on that new arena, especially if Deron Williams leaves New Jersey. They didn't get Dwight Howard. I'm going to be very leery if New Jersey gets that number one pick."

The "number one pick" envelope has definintely helped a franchise on several occasions. For example, when the Knicks went #1 after getting Patrick Ewing, or when Cleveland landed hometown hero LeBron James.

However, this is all speculation on Barkley's part.  Until we hear those magic words this summer, "And with the first pick of the 2012 NBA Draft...", we won't know if his belief has any weight.

Source: inflexwetrust.com