2012 NBA Mock Draft: Sleepers Who Will Ignite Late First Round

While the NBA draft is still four months away, we are starting to get a good read on which college players will be taking their talents to the next level.

Some of them will enter thinking that they are lottery picks, but will end up falling because they got bad information. 

But one player's loss is a team's gain, as franchises can capitalize on these underrated stars to find the missing piece they need to become a serious title threat right away. 

Here is a still-early look at the 2012 NBA Draft. 

1. Charlotte Bobcats – Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Davis is still raw offensively, but his defensive presence and high energy will give the lowly Bobcats a franchise post player. 

2. Detroit Pistons – Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

The Pistons are a mess right now. Barnes will give them a true scorer who can create shots. 

3. Washington Wizards – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

John Wall's development has stalled with the lack of high-impact talent on the team. Kidd-Gilchrist will give him a big body in the middle to give the ball to. He is also a very good rebounder. 

4. New Orleans Hornets – Austin Rivers, G, Duke

This is an aggressive move for the Hornets, but Rivers is going to be the biggest star in the draft and they desperately need a marquee name to sell tickets. 

5. Sacramento Kings – Perry Jones, PF, Baylor

Pairing Jones with DeMarcus Cousins will give the Kings a dynamic frontcourt that can upgrade their soft defense and give them 30 combined points per game.

6. Toronto Raptors – Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

Robinson is getting the opportunity to play a lot this year, and he is making the most of his time. His points (17.8) and rebounds (12.0) are both career highs. 

7. New Jersey Nets – Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

The Nets are a great wild card in the draft. They could be going after a point guard--Marquis Teague perhaps--depending on what happens with Deron Williams. Sullinger's shot looks a lot better this year, and he could end up being a Top 5 pick. 

8. Utah Jazz – Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn

Lamb gives the Jazz the versatile scorer who can create his own shot.

9.  Phoenix Suns – Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

Teague is a very different point guard than Steve Nash, who could be traded or leave via free agency after the season. He is very raw and has to improve his shot, but he can be a dynamic passer in the right system. 

10. Houston Rockets – Brad Beal, SG, Florida

Beal is a hybrid guard. He isn't a strong enough passer to play the point, nor does he shoot well enough to be a starting No. 2. He does have a great feel for the basket and knows how to score. 

11. Cleveland Cavaliers – Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

Kyrie Irving has given the team a spark, but there is still a long way to go before this franchise can get back in the playoff race. 

Ross will make a perfect backcourt complement to Irving. He has an easy shot, isn't afraid to have the ball in a big moment and will use his lanky frame to battle for rebounds. 

12. New Orleans Hornets – Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

After finding their point guard with the fourth overall pick, the Hornets are going to focus on finding a presence in the paint. 

13. Memphis Grizzlies – Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

Lamb will add to the Grizzlies' already loaded roster. He is not a versatile guard, but he has a great shot. 

14. Houston Rockets – Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky

Another Kentucky player, Jones might not be the best player on the roster, but he has improved his overall game enough and could end up going a lot higher than he is right now. 

The Rockets have an excellent backcourt with Kevin Martin and Kyle Lowry. Luis Scola has turned into a good power forward. The one thing they are missing is a dynamic small forward. 

Jones' progress with his shot will get him a lot of notice. He is not grabbing rebounds like he did last year, but that can be a product of Anthony Davis living on the glass. 

15. Milwaukee Bucks – Dion Waiters, G, Syracuse

Waiters is an excellent shooter who could be the second-best scorer on the Bucks next year. 

16. Boston Celtics – Patric Young, PF, Florida

The Celtics are going to have to get younger after this season. Young (no, it's not supposed to be a pun) has the toughness and intensity that Doc Rivers requires from his players. He can be a 10-15 point, 5-7 rebound per game player. 

17. Orlando Magic – Tyler Zeller, PF/C, North Carolina

It's strange to say that someone who played at North Carolina is a sleeper, but Zeller is not getting the hype that his teammate Harrison Barnes is. 

The Magic will be more than happy to see him fall to them, especially since they are probably going to need an inside presence.

Dwight Howard's future does not appear to be in Orlando, so the franchise must rebuild. 

18. Portland Trail Blazers – Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor

The Blazers have a deep roster, though the results have not been there, so they have the luxury of going with the best available player instead of filling needs. If Miller can add some bulk to his long frame, he can be a star. 

19. Los Angeles Lakers – Tony Wroten, G, Washington

The Lakers' problems this season come from a lack of depth and old age. They need to get dynamic young scorers to put alongside Kobe Bryant. 

Wroten is a slasher who wants to drive to the basket. He does have to improve his shot to be an effective NBA player. 

20. Minnesota Timberwolves – Kris Joseph, SF, Syracuse

The Timberwolves have a great frontcourt already, but Joseph can add depth to the roster while contributing valuable minutes off the bench. 

21. San Antonio Spurs – Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Moultrie is flying under the radar largely because he plays at Mississippi State, a good program that doesn't get national attention. But he is one of the most dynamic big men in this year's draft. He is going to be a star in Gregg Popovich's system. 

He is a strong, confident shooter already. He is effective with his back to the basket, but can also take it to the hoop. 

22. Los Angeles Lakers – Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Marshall will be a perfect point guard for the Lakers. He passes the ball well and can't shoot, meaning his task is going to be setting up Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum. 

23. Denver Nuggets – LeBryan Nash, PF, Oklahoma State

The Nuggets need to find more backcourt scoring. Nash isn't a great shooter, but he does know how to score. 

24. Boston Celtics – James McAdoo, PF, North Carolina

This is going to be one of those picks that does not get a lot of credit when it happens but could pay dividends in a few years. 

McAdoo is a raw prospect who is still trying to find time on the court and a shot that works for him. He has the size and projection to be a very good low-post player with the right system and proper development. 

25. Indiana Pacers – Mason Plumlee, PF, Duke

Plumlee will give the Pacers more depth behind Granger and David West, though he may not be a good enough scorer to stick. 

26. Atlanta Hawks – Myck Kabongo, PG, Texas

The Hawks need a backup point guard to take pressure off Jeff Teague. 

27. Philadelphia 76ers – Tony Mitchell, SF, North Texas

Mitchell is getting a push right now thanks to a sterling debut season with the Mean Green.

He will have to prove he can handle playing against elite competition in the NBA, but the Hawks have been able to build a great roster of undervalued players. 

The freshman forward has a great shot and is confident enough in his ability to take over a game. He can be a great closer when he gets the chance to play every day.

28. Miami Heat – Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Lillard can give the Heat a legitimate point guard that can set up LeBron James and Dwayne Wade. 

29. Chicago Bulls – Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

While the Bulls are one of the best teams in the NBA, their roster is still not as deep as it needs to be. Taylor has dramatically improved his game and could be a starting forward on a playoff team in the near future. 

30. Oklahoma City Thunder – Draymond Green, F, Michigan State

The Thunder are so good and so deep that they don't have to fill a big hole right now. Green is a solid prospect, but he lacks the upside that makes you think he can be a star. He will likely be most effective in a backup role. 

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