2012 NBA Draft: Best Landing Spots for Top 30 Prospects

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Because NBA teams are the ones that get to pick the players they draft and not vice versa, we tend to spend a lot of time analyzing which players fit best with each team. Here, I'm looking at it the opposite way.

After identifying the top 30 prospects eligible for the 2012 NBA draft, I've identified the best landing spot for each and every one of them.

Based on a combination of playing styles and opportunities, each of the 30 players should be quite happy if he is drafted to the team noted.

Before you click through to the next slide, do keep in mind that I was realistic with the projections as well. You won't find Anthony Davis going to the Miami Heat or anything like that.

Harrison Barnes

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

School: North Carolina

Position: Small Forward

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'8", 215 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists

 

Likely to be drafted somewhere between No. 4 and No. 10, Harrison Barnes needs to land on a team that allows him to shoot early and often. Because of his lack of ability to create his own shot at this point in his career, Barnes would prefer to have an elite pass-first point guard feeding him the ball as that skill develops.

Finally, Barnes is all about promoting his personal brand, so playing in a major media market would be a more of a plus for this small forward than it is for others.

 

Best Landing Spot: Toronto Raptors

Bradley Beal

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School: Florida

Position: Shooting Guard

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'3", 207 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists

 

An athletic shooting guard who can play anywhere on offense and still have enough energy to play lockdown defense on the other end of the court, Bradley Beal is one of those players who could fit into any system.

The only need is that he lands in a system that can use him from day one, letting him show off his NBA-ready game.

 

Best Landing Spot: Cleveland Cavaliers

Anthony Davis

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School: Kentucky

Position: Power Forward-Center

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'10", 220 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 14.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 0.9 assists

 

Anthony Davis is almost locked in at No. 1 in the 2012 NBA draft, so this is more a question of where he'd prefer to go, or who he'd prefer to win the lottery.

The power forward is enough of a talent in the frontcourt that he'd start over most players in the league right now, so it's in his best interest to root for one of the long shots to have their ping pong ball drawn. Can you imagine the boost the Milwaukee Bucks or Portland Trail Blazers would receive if they got to pick the unibrow?

But looking at this more realistically and choosing from the three worst teams in the league, the best fit may very well be the Charlotte Bobcats, where he could team up with Bismack Biyombo to form one of the most imposing interior defenses in the league.

 

Best Landing Spot: Charlotte Bobcats

Andre Drummond

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School: Connecticut

Position: Power Forward-Center

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'10", 270 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 0.5 assists

 

Andre Drummond is as raw as they come, but he also has an incredibly high ceiling. 

This big man needs a team that is in no way ready to contend and is prepared for a long rebuilding process, affording him more minutes because of the lack of opportunities to make the playoffs. 

 

Best Landing Spot: New Orleans Hornets

Evan Fournier

Team: Poitiers

Position: Shooting Guard-Small Forward

Age: 19

Vitals: 6'7", 206 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 13.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists (In Pro A France)

 

You can read my full description of Evan Fournier here, but rest assured that he belongs among the top 30 prospects in the 2012 NBA draft class.

Fournier plays much better with the ball in his hands than when he's forced to work off the ball, so he needs to land on a team that doesn't have a ball-hogging point guard. And please note that I'm using ball-hogging in a way that doesn't necessarily have negative connotations here.

 

Best Landing Spot: Boston Celtics

Draymond Green

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School: Michigan State

Position: Small Forward-Power Forward

Year: Senior

Vitals: 6'7", 230 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 16.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists

 

With Draymond Green's versatility and hard-working personality, he'd be best served coming off the bench to spearhead the charge of a contender's second unit.

I've had Green in the same spot in mock drafts for months now, mostly because he's the best fit for this team and this team is the best fit for him.

 

Best Landing Spot: Oklahoma City Thunder

Moe Harkless

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

School: St. John's

Position: Shooting Guard-Small Forward

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'8", 208 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 15.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists 

 

Because of his size, rebounding ability and athleticism, Moe Harkless would thrive on a team that has the athleticism to run. It would also be nice if that team happened to have an opening at small forward so that he could seize the opportunity to make an impact as a rookie.

The team drafting in the early 20s that fits the billing would be...

 

Best Landing Spot: Cleveland Cavaliers

John Henson

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

School: North Carolina

Position: Power Forward-Center

Year: Junior

Vitals: 6'11", 220 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 13.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists

 

While John Henson's defensive ability is immense enough that he can make an impact as soon as the NBA season starts, he still has a significant amount of work to do on his offensive game.

Henson would be best served paired with an offensively-talented big man, preferably one who can pass the ball at an above-average level and make up for the North Carolina Tar Heel's offensive shortcomings.

 

Best Landing Spot: Detroit Pistons

John Jenkins

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School: Vanderbilt

Position: Shooting Guard

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'4", 215 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 19.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists

 

John Jenkins might be the best pure shooter in this draft class. He's a lights-out marksman from downtown, but even that ability is trumped by his knack for getting open without the ball.

I'd love to see Jenkins playing on a team that could use a scoring shooting guard who doesn't demand the ball, and I think he'd love this fit.

 

Best Landing Spot: Chicago Bulls

Perry Jones III

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School: Baylor

Position: Power Forward

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'11", 235 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 14.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists

 

Perry Jones III is not ready to play in the NBA. He shows occasional flashes of brilliance, but his inconsistency and headcase-iness are problematic enough that he needs to improve before he receives his first major opportunity to start.

As he's already declared, Jones is moving on to the next level and should hope to land in a spot where he can receive occasional chances to play in large quantities while learning from one of the game's best at his position.

 

Best Landing Spot: Portland Trail Blazers

Terrence Jones

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

School: Kentucky

Position: Small Forward-Power Forward

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'9", 252 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 12.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists

 

Terrence Jones is going to have to play small forward in the NBA if he's going to maximize his chances at success, so the first criterion here is a hole at that spot. 

Secondly, while Jones is still polishing his offense, it would be best if he was on a team with offensive talent in the backcourt so he could focus on the other side of the ball as a rookie. 

 

Best Landing Spot: Milwaukee Bucks

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

School: Kentucky

Position: Small Forward 

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'7", 232 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 11.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists

 

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is unstoppable in transition, so let's give him one of the game's best point guards in the open court. 

 

Best Landing Spot: Washington Wizards

Doron Lamb

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

School: Kentucky

Position: Shooting Guard

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'4", 210 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 13.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists

 

A smooth scorer from the shooting guard position who plays within the flow of the offense, Doron Lamb can fit into any system.

Putting him on a contender with a need at shooting guard almost isn't fair.

 

Best Landing Spot: Chicago Bulls

Jeremy Lamb

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School: Connecticut

Position: Shooting Guard-Small Forward

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'5", 180 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists

 

Jeremy Lamb needs to take his shots or else he probably isn't going to be too happy.

This shooting guard (who can also play some small forward) is used to playing on a team that didn't experience much success, so he'll be hoping that he can play on another work in progress if it means he gets drafted higher up and paid more money.

 

Best Landing Spot: Utah Jazz

Meyers Leonard

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School: Illinois

Position: Center

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 7'1", 245 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists

 

Meyers Leonard is a big boy, but he's still growing into his body. I mean that in terms of skills and weight.

Leonard can out-size people right now, but he could be scary good once he can out-muscle and out-post-move them. A team that will allow him to develop would be best, but he can contribute enough that he may be just fine if he's immediately forced into a rotation.

 

Best Landing Spot: Milwaukee Bucks

Damian Lillard

School: Weber State

Position: Point Guard-Shooting Guard

Year: Senior

Vitals: 6'3", 195 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 24.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists

 

One of the two best point guards in this draft class, Damian Lillard's stock should be high enough that he becomes a lottery pick. I'm going to evaluate his best pick as such.

As opposed to Kendall Marshall, Lillard is very much a score-first point guard who would be best served on a team that needed him to do so while immediately giving him an opportunity to shine at point guard.

 

Best Landing Spot: Portland Trail Blazers

Kendall Marshall

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

School: North Carolina

Position: Point Guard

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'4", 195 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 7.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 9.7 assists

 

One of the two best point guards in this draft class, Kendall Marshall's stock should be high enough that he becomes a lottery pick. I'm going to evaluate his best pick as such.

As opposed to Damian Lillard, Marshall is very much a pass-first point guard who would be best served on a team that needed him to do so while immediately giving him an opportunity to shine at point guard.

 

Best Landing Spot: Utah Jazz

Fab Melo

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School: Syracuse

Position: Center

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 7'0", 255 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists

 

Fab Melo is a terrific interior defender, but he can't score much unless you feed him lobs so he can throw down the easy alley-oops.

Fortunately for this young big man from Syracuse, there's a team that could definitely use a big body on defense without needing offensive contributions from that spot on the floor.

 

Best Landing Spot: Miami Heat

Arnett Moultrie

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

School: Mississippi State

Position: Power Forward-Center

Year: Junior

Vitals: 6'11", 230 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 15.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists

 

This is one of only two times that you'll see a variation of the following paragraph appear in this slideshow:

Arnett Moultrie's talent and mental aspects of his game are so intriguing that his draft stock is extraordinarily volatile. He'll be happy to go as high in the draft as he possibly can.

 

Best Landing Spot: As early as he can come off the board

Austin Rivers

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

School: Duke

Position: Point Guard-Shooting Guard

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'4", 200 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists

 

Austin Rivers loves to create his own shot and score as much as possible.

He'd be more than happy playing in an up-tempo system that lacks a true No. 1 scorer while remaining an above-average squad.

 

Best Landing Spot: Denver Nuggets

Thomas Robinson

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School: Kansas

Position: Power Forward

Year: Junior

Vitals: 6'10", 237 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 17.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists

 

Thomas Robinson is almost a lock for a top-five selection, which makes this more of a question about where he'd be able to receive the most playing time during his first season at the next level.

Since they don't have many quality big men set in the lineup for the 2012-2013 season and they don't have much of a chance at competing, the New Orleans Hornets can afford to give the National Player of the Year runner-up quite a few minutes.

 

Best Landing Spot: New Orleans Hornets

Terrence Ross

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School: Washington

Position: Shooting Guard-Small Forward

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'6", 195 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists

 

As a player capable of manning either the shooting guard or the small forward spot, Terrence Ross should be able to back up both positions and earn significant playing time as a NBA rookie.

Playing for the Boston Celtics would allow him to play for a historically great contender with opportunities galore in an aging lineup. Plus, I'm sure that there are a few things Paul Pierce could teach the young player.

 

Best Landing Spot: Boston Celtics

Jared Sullinger

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School: Ohio State

Position: Power Forward

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'9", 265 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 17.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists

 

Jared Sullinger's struggles with conditioning and against length have caused his draft stock to enter into a bit of a free fall, but there's still one team that may be able to keep him in the first half of the lottery.

Sully better cross his fingers that it decides to take him off the board, because he may fall out of single digits if it doesn't.

 

Best Landing Spot: Sacramento Kings

Jeffery Taylor

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School: Vanderbilt

Position: Small Forward

Year: Senior

Vitals: 6'7", 225 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists

 

Jeffery Taylor is one hell of an athlete. His leaping abilities make up for his lack of skill in some other areas and render him a rather intriguing small forward prospect.

Taylor could be taken as early as the late teens or drop all the way into the second round. Balancing it out here, the best landing spot is a team whose best small forward is currently named Marvin Williams.

 

Best Landing Spot: Atlanta Hawks

Tyshawn Taylor

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

School: Kansas

Position: Point Guard

Year: Senior

Vitals: 6'3", 185 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 17.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists

 

It's always in the best interest of any point guard to pass it to a big man as good as Dwight Howard.

It's even more beneficial when the best point guard currently on the roster is the aging Jameer Nelson.

 

Best Landing Spot: Orlando Magic

Marquis Teague

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

School: Kentucky

Position: Point Guard

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'2", 189 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 9.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists

 

Marquis Teague really started to come into his own last season as a floor general who could both distribute the ball with care and create his own shot when the moment called for him to do so.

He still needs to improve a good bit before a team can justify throwing him out as a starting point guard, even if he's picked in the last few picks of the first round, but Teague has talent.

 

Best Landing Spot: Indiana Pacers

Dion Waiters

Chris Chambers/Getty Images

School: Syracuse

Position: Point Guard-Shooting Guard

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'4", 215 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 12.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists

 

While Dion Waiters can capably run the show, his slashing ability dictates that he will play shooting guard more than point guard in the Association.

Waiters is a player who can bring a high level of offensive ability to a team in small doses, but he doesn't feel the need to take over the game. He'd work well with other scorers like Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph.

 

Best Landing Spot: Memphis Grizzlies

Royce White

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School: Iowa State

Position: No idea

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'8", 270 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 13.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists

 

This is one of only two times that you'll see a variation of the following paragraph appear in this slideshow:

Royce White's talent and mental aspects of his game are so intriguing that his draft stock is extraordinarily volatile. He'll be happy to go as high in the draft as he possibly can.

 

Best Landing Spot: As early as he can come off the board

Tony Wroten

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School: Washington

Position: Point Guard-Shooting Guard

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'5", 205 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 16.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists

 

The increased spacing and pick-and-roll style of the NBA means that Tony Wroten is going to thrive. Everything about his game suggests that he will fit in.

It's more a matter of having an opportunity as a rookie than finding the right system for this combo-guard.

 

Best Landing Spot: Denver Nuggets

Tyler Zeller

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School: North Carolina

Position: Power Forward-Center

Year: Senior

Vitals: 7'0", 250 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 16.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists

 

Tyler Zeller needs to land on a team with a need for big men. He still has to polish his game, but it's diverse and good enough across the board that he should be able to contribute as a rookie.

I've said it a few times before, and I'm coming to realize that I'm a lot higher on Zeller than most, but I still believe he'll end up outshining all of his former teammates from North Carolina if he lands in the right spot.

 

Best Landing Spot: New Orleans Hornets