2012 NBA Mock Draft: Where the Top 30 Prospects Will Land

The NBA season it still very young, but we can already see some needs for most teams that can be addressed in what is expected to be a ridiculously talented upcoming 2012 draft class.

For that, we can thank in the NBA lockout, which may have deterred players from declaring last year.

It’s not too early to tell which teams look like playoff teams and which ones don’t. With a best guess as to how the draft order will play out, here is an early look at how the top players in college basketball would fit in with current NBA rosters.

1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis SF/PF, Kentecky

Let the draft lottery fixing talk begin: The Hornets have two (most likely) shots at the number one pick and are still in need of an owner.

Would a number one overall pick be enough to entice a buyer?

If the Hornets end up drafting first, Anthony Davis is the perfect fit. Davis is raw (what freshman isn’t; his high school graduation was just six months ago), but the talent is there. 

He is really long, he can run the floor, rebound and most importantly, he is a great defender. In his small time in college, he has already shown the knack for making the big play at the end of games.

Paired with Eric Gordon, this tall, athletic forward would be a great pick to speed up their rebuilding process.

2. New Jersey Nets: Perry Jones SF/PF, Baylor

Jones is leading a top-ranked Baylor team that looks poised to make a run to the Final Four.

There is nothing he can’t do on the floor. He is an elite scorer and, at 6’11”, he will present serious matchup problems being able to get up and down the floor like he does.

The New Jersey Nets seem to be on a path where it’s Deron Williams and Dwight Howard or bust. Regardless, selecting Jones here would make a terrific pick.

3. Charlotte Bobcats: Andre Drummond C, UConn

Drummond has the make of an All-Star in the NBA. Whether or not he lives up to that potential is another thing.

Drafting a big man this early, you’d want him to average at least somewhere like nine rebounds a game, right? Drummond at 6’11” and 275 lbs., currently averages 6.5 R.P.G. There is no denying his potential and he shouldn’t slip past the third pick, but I would be handing in that card a little nervously, especially with all the talent left on the board.

As we have seen, that could be costly. Imagine if the Trailblazers had Kevin Durant instead of a seven-foot-tall cheerleader in Greg Oden right now?

Selecting three, Drummond would make a great fit for the Bobcats, as he would hopefully provide much needed size inside.

The Bobcats can afford to let him develop, as it doesn’t appear that they are going able to contend any time soon, so he is worth the gamble.

If Drummond pans out they way some think he can, he would form a nice building block with Kemba Walker. 

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes SF, North Carolina

Had the sweet shooting Barnes come out in the last draft, he may have been the number one overall pick.

One year later he goes to the same team that likely would have taken him last year.

The Cavs have had a Grand Canyon-sized hole at small forward since a certain King left the building, and this is a great pick to help fill that void.

They had a nice draft last year in Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson. Harrison Barnes would be a terrific fit for Cleveland and fill a huge scoring need. 

5. Detroit Pistons: Jared Sullinger PF, Ohio State

The Pistons need a lot of help.

Actually, they have money or some talent tied up at almost every position, but taking Sullinger as the best available player is the wise move.

He would give the Pistons an inside presence and toughness to go with his overall efficient game. With his ability to score around the hoop, he would form a nice inside-outside game with emerging center Greg Monroe. 

6. Toronto Raptors: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist SF/PF, Kentucky

With DeMar DeRozan entrenched as the Raptors shooting guard, Kidd-Gilchrist fits here perfectly as a defensive presence on a team that really has no strong defenders.

He is an exceptional athlete and his game should complement Andrea Bargnani nicely.

Add in incoming center in Jonas Valanciunas and things could get very exciting in Toronto next year with Kidd-Gilchrist on board. 

7. Washington Wizards: Jeremy Lamb SG, UConn

The Wizards need to keep stockpiling guys that can play with John Wall. Can you imagine a better fit in the backcourt than adding Lamb? The speed of these two alone might be too much for most defenders.

Lamb would be terrific playing alongside Wall. He really can do it all and would be a welcome addition on a team that should be trying to run the fast break every time they have the ball next year. 

8. New Orleans Hornets (from Minnesota): John Henson PF, UNC

In the pick acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers (via the Minnesota Timberwolves) in the Chris Paul deal, the Hornets should look at taking John Henson.

While Carl Landry is playing well for them, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for them to sign him for $9 million-plus again next year. Henson would be able to step right in for Landry and provide a defensive presence in the post while not losing any rebounding edge.

As a much cheaper option than Landry and paired with their other pick, Davis, New Orleans will add tons of salary cap space, making them an attractive destination for someone to sign with them.

More importantly, they'd be more attractive for some owner to come in a buy them, so the NBA won't own a team anymore, causing no more trade veto fiascos.

9. Utah Jazz: Quincy Miller SF, Baylor

The Jazz seem set at center and power forward with Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors and drafted two guards in last year’s draft, so the best fit is small forward and the best one left is Quincy Miller.

He is a versatile forward with tons of potential and should fit right in with the Jazz.

10. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson PF, Kansas

Thomas Robinson would be a great fit here because he doesn’t need the ball to be effective, which is ideal because he is not going to get it.

The Kings have had 11 and 13 assists as a team in their previous two games. As they learn to play with four black holes in Jimmer Fredette, Marcus Thorton, DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans, this trend is likely to continue.

Robinson is a great defender, rebounder and is very athletic; his strengths would make a great complement to Cousins and the rest of this current Kings roster.

That is assuming Cousins is still on this Kings roster.

11. Phoenix Suns: Bradley Beal SG, Florida

If the Suns' first few games are any indication of what this season is going to be like, they may be picking a lot higher than 11.

With Steve Nash an impending free agent, they may want to look hard at trading him and getting what they can so he can help a contender. Grant Hill is not expected back next year, either, and he may politely ask to leave sooner than later.

Picking here, they should take the best player on the board (as long as it's not a small forward) in sharp-shooting guard Bradley Beal.

This would allow Jared Dudley to move to small forward, replacing Hill, while giving them yet another elite three-point shooter.

If Nash wants to finish his career in Phoenix, Beal is even more valuable, as he can handle to ball and would be able to take on point guard duties, allowing Nash to rest and extend his career even longer. 

12. Houston Rockets (Top 14 Protected): Terrence Jones SF, Kentucky

If the Rockets don’t make the playoffs (I don’t think they do) this year, the bright side is that they keep their draft pick in this expectedly loaded class.

Jones fits in here perfectly as another ball-handler who can penetrate and is an exceptional passer, allowing him to set up all the three-point shooters they have. 

13. Milwaukee Bucks: Austin Rivers PG/SG, Duke

Milwaukee could use an athletic shooting guard, and pairing Rivers with Brandon Jennings would form an electrifying backcourt.

Milwaukee is strong enough defensively to get away with a smaller backcourt. Plus, these two would generate a lot of steals.

Rivers doesn’t look quite right at Duke, but I think he will be just fine adjusting to the NBA game. He has the tools to become a star in the NBA. As long as Scott Skiles doesn’t constrain him, he should succeed at this level.

Plus, with the way Rivers can shoot, the Bucks could move Mike Dunleavy to the bench, which is a big bonus. 

14. Utah Jazz (from Golden State): Marquis Teague PG, Kentucky

The Utah Jazz's likely second selection this round comes from the Nets via the Golden State Warriors (as long as the Warriors don’t select in the top seven picks this year).

Taking Quincy Miller with their first pick, selecting a point guard here makes the most sense as they continue to stockpile lottery talent.

With Devin Harris going into a contract year and not appearing to be the long-term answer at point guard, Teague could be the man running the point for years to come.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: Patric Young PF/C, Florida

With Elton Brand having one year left on his deal after this year, the Sixers need to start thinking about his replacement. Young might be that guy.

Offensively he has a long way to go, but Young is a terrific rebounder and defender, something that meshes well with Doug Collins' brand of basketball. 

His defensive and athleticism would play well with Spencer Hawes’ outside game. 

16. Memphis Grizzles: Terrence Ross SG, Washington

I wish the Grizzles would finally trade O.J. Mayo to a team that will give him consistent minutes.

Drafting Terrence Ross would allow them to do that, as he would give them an outside shooter and defender who can eventually replace Tony Allen.

17. Orlando Magic: James McAdoo PF, North Carolina

No team is starting 2012 with more uncertainty than the Orlando Magic.

Whatever the future holds for the Magic, getting a player like James McAdoo, while minute compared to what they need to get done, would be a step in the right direction.

McAdoo would provide inside scoring and, given time, might become everything any NBA team is looking for in a power forward. 

18. Dallas Mavericks: Kendall Marshall PG, UNC

Dallas drafts their point guard of the future, who is a great passer and the back up plan in case Deron Williams doesn't end up in Dallas. 

19. Indiana Pacers: Cody Zeller C, Indiana

You think there is any chance Larry Bird would pass on this guy? Kidding aside, he is a perfect fit alongside David West, assuming he comes out this year.

Zeller is getting better with every game and will be shooting up the draft board.

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

The Nuggets are playing really well with Ty Lawson handling more of a scoring role and Andre Miller handling more of the passing duties. With Miller becoming a free agent, though, the Nuggets should look to Wroten to play alongside Lawson.

The Nuggets are built to run and having to contain Lawson and Wroten would be a nightmare for any opponent. 

Wroten would give the Nuggets a more athletic version of Miller and they can use the money saved by not resigning Miller to bolster their bench. 

21. Houston from (From New York): Meyers Leonard C, Illinois

The Rockets will get the New York Knicks pick this draft as long as it’s not within the first five picks, so we can safely say the Rockets will get their pick this year.

Meyers Leonard would provide excellent frontcourt depth on this Rockets team that desperately needs it. They have Samuel Dalembert now and with the way he has looked so far he should be back next year, allowing Leonard to learn from him.

Hopefully he would eventually replace Dalembert as their center of the future.  

22. Boston Celtics (from L.A. Clippers): Le’Bryan Nash SF, Oklahoma State

The Boston Celtics get the Los Angeles Clippers pick this year as long as it’s not within the first 10 picks. It could prove to be a valuable pick.

Le’Bryan Nash is just too talented to slip farther than this. Assuming the Celtics re-sign Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, Nash would land in the perfect situation here learning about the NBA from the big three.

He has all the talent in the world he just needs to find the right place to know how to use it.

23. Portland Trailblazers: Myck Kabongo PG, Texas

The Trailblazers can look anywhere they want, but grabbing Kabongo to backup Raymond Felton would allow the Blazers to not miss a beat when Felton takes a breather.

It also gives them insurance in case Felton does not re-sign with the team.

24. Atlanta Hawks: Tyler Zeller C, UNC

Zeller would be a great fit alongside Al Horford.

Playing him at center would allow Horford to play the 4. With Zeller’s ability to knock down the 18-footer, it will open it up down low for Horford to let him do his work in the post.  

25. Boston Celtics: Mason Plumlee C, Duke

Again, assuming the Celtics bring back Allen and Garnett, Plumlee would be great in the post replacing the corpse of Jermaine O’Neal.

He is a good rebounder and athlete and should be able to stick around in the NBA for some time. 

26. Los Angeles Lakers: Khris Middleton SF, Texas A&M

A prototypical NBA swingman, Middleton would fill in at small forward, which is currently held by Metta World Peace.

Middleton paired with their first pick in Kendall Marshall would fit in nicely alongside Kobe Bryant, Paul Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

You know, assuming Dwight Howard is not coming to L.A. 

27. San Antonio Spurs: Doron Lamb SG, Kentucky

It seems like the Spurs land someone who falls that shouldn’t have every year. I think Lamb is that guy this draft.

Lamb would provide a terrific scoring punch off the bench, allowing more rest for Manu Ginobili for when they really need him. 

28. Chicago Bulls: Adonis Thomas SF, Memphis

To say that Thomas has started out his college career on a roller coaster would be an understatement, but the potential is there.

Thomas plays hard and he knows how to play the game. He would be terrific coming off the bench behind Luol Deng and can even play the 4 spot if needed—he has that NBA body already. 

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: C.J. Leslie PF, N.C. State

Geez, anyone they draft here looks like they would have a hard time making this team with how deep they are.

Leslie is an explosive athlete, so I’m sure the Thunder can find a spot for him. 

30. Miami Heat: Arnett Moultrie PF, Mississippi State

Moultrie is an athletic big man who can rebound which would be welcomed on this Miami Heat team.

His ability to get up and down the floor would allow him to keep up with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, plus he is quick enough to get out of their way whenever either of the two is taking it to the hoop. 

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