2012 NBA Mock Draft: Most Exciting Human Highlight Reels in Class

The NBA is a YouTube league.

While players with high basketball IQs and defensive dedication lead to titles, high flyers and players dedicated to no-look passes put fans in their seats.

Here’s a 2012 first-round NBA mock draft highlighting the most exciting players in the class.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis (PF, Kentucky)

Even Michael Jordan couldn’t screw up this selection; Davis is a guaranteed stud.

Davis is a highlight reel waiting to happen. He’ll be one of the league’s top shot-blockers for the next decade and if he gets paired with a solid point guard, brace yourself for alley-oops galore. Players with Davis’ length and athleticism are once-in-a-decade prospects.

2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF, Kentucky)

There wasn’t a better finisher in college basketball this past season and such a skill would be of use running the break next to John Wall.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal (SG, Florida)

With Beal alongside Kyrie Irving in the backcourt, Cleveland would start two guards with virtually no weakness in their games.

4. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson (PF, Kansas)

Robinson boasts Blake Griffin-like athleticism and without a face of the franchise, New Orleans needs a Blake Griffin-like presence.

5. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond (C, UConn)

Sacramento doesn’t play defense and that’s why the raw Drummond is such a good fit—that’s all he’s capable of doing at this point in his career.

6. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard (PG, Weber St.)                         

If Portland wants Lillard, they can’t wait until their second first-round pick to add him because he’s flying up draft boards.

Lillard is one of the most gifted scorers from the point guard position to enter the draft in the last few years—and that’s saying something. He’s an explosive athlete and while not as explosive as Derrick Rose and John Wall, those two former No. 1 picks would die for Lillard’s shooting ability. He averaged 24.5 points per game last season and shot 40.9 percent from beyond the arc.

7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes (SF, UNC)

The only spot in the Warriors starting lineup that could afford an upgrade is at small forward.

8. Toronto Raptors: Dion Waiters (SG, Syracuse)

Waiters has drawn comparisons to Dwyane Wade, so he’d fit nicely across from DeMar Derozan, who was compared to Kobe Bryant.

9. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones III (PF, Baylor)

Selecting Jones is a huge risk, but his ceiling is too high to pass on him at this point in the draft with a need at power forward.

10. New Orleans Hornets: Jeremy Lamb (SG, UConn)

If Eric Gordon bolts in free agency, New Orleans will be in desperate need for a perimeter scoring threat.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Tyler Zeller (C, UNC)

With Greg Oden and Marcus Camby gone for good, Portland needs a big to pair with LaMarcus Aldridge.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Jared Sullinger (PF, Ohio St.)

Ersan Ilyasova is a free agent and the Bucks could choose to pass on overpaying the one-year wonder.

13. Phoenix Suns: Kendall Marshall (PG, UNC)

Marshall has eyes in the back of his head and would be the perfect replacement for Steve Nash.

With the NBA’s growing breed of athletic point guards that would rather get to the rim than throw a backdoor pass, Marshall is a breath of fresh air. The 6’4” floor general averaged an incredible 9.8 assists per game last season. And while critics will suggest that his job was easy being surrounded by so much talent, there’s a reason the Tar Heels broke down when he got injured.

14. Houston Rockets: Terrence Ross (SG, Washington)

Kevin Martin isn’t the elite scorer he once was, so the Rockets need to draft his successor.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Jones (PF, Kentucky)

Jones is versatile enough offensively to provide the 76ers with the spark that they lacked against the Boston Celtics.

16. Houston Rockets: Arnett Moultrie (PF, Mississippi St.)

Luis Scola is 32 years old and his numbers have already begun to decline.

17. Dallas Mavericks: Austin Rivers (SG, Rivers)

Jason Terry is a free agent and Rivers is a skilled enough scorer to step into his role from day one.

Doc’s son is blessed with a skill set beyond his years. He won’t soar over you, but he doesn’t have to because his range is unlimited. And Rivers' quickness allows him to penetrate as well as create his own shot at will.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Moe Harkless (SF, St. John’s)

As a result of the misuse of Michael Beasley, Minnesota had no production from their wings last season.

19. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard (C, Illinois)

Orlando must face the music and draft Dwight Howard’s replacement, because his heart already left town.

20. Denver Nuggets: Tony Wroten Jr. (PG, Washington)

Denver doesn’t have a glaring need on their roster outside of a backup point guard, with Andre Miller free agency-bound.

21. Boston Celtics: John Henson (PF, UNC)

Boston’s depth is such a joke that they should just draft the best available player. No matter what, a need would be filled.

22. Boston Celtics: Quincy Miller (SF, Baylor)

Continuing that trend, like Henson, Miller’s potential is through the roof and he’d be in great hands learning the game from Doc Rivers.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Royce White (SF, Iowa St.)

If Marvin Williams is a Hawk next season, it’d be a shocker because he’s the weak link on the starting unit.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Fab Melo (C, Syracuse)

There isn’t a true center to be found on the Cavs roster, but they’d have a nice big-man rotation with Melo, Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Andrew Nicholson (PF, St. Bonaventure)

Like the Celtics, Memphis needs depth everywhere and their most pressing hole to fill is down low.

26. Indiana Pacers: Evan Fournier (SG, France)

Indiana’s bench failed them in the playoffs and free agent Leandro Barbosa must be replaced regardless.

27. Miami Heat: Will Barton (SG, Memphis)

Mike Miller will have a solid outing once every other week—Miami could easily find a more explosive scorer off the bench.

Barton’s game defines instant offense.  With the Tigers, he averaged 18.0 points per game and proved himself to be a top-notch scorer. He boasts elite athleticism and combined with his skill set, Barton has the potential to secure a J.R. Smith-like role with a ballclub.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Marquis Teague (PG, Kentucky)

Derek Fisher will be 38 years old in August, so the Thunder must find Russell Westbrook a new backup.

29. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins (SG, Vanderbilt)

Richard Hamilton, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer aren’t long-term answers at shooting guard, but Jenkins—arguably the best shooter in the draft—could be.

30. Golden State Warriors: Tyshawn Taylor (PG, Kansas)

With no quality big men available, Golden State’s best option is to find Stephen Curry a solid backup.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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