2012 NBA Mock Draft: Which Players Will Be Biggest Steals of 1st Round?
The 2012 NBA Draft is going to be incredible. There are so many talented players coming into the league and guys that would be surefire lottery picks any other year are falling to the latter portions of the draft while normal first-round locks are being bumped to the second.
Let’s take a look at the most recent mock and keep an eye out for some late picks that just might turn out to be stars.
1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Davis is going to be a force in the NBA and if the Bobcats land him to pair up with Bismack Biyombo, there will certainly be a block party in Charlotte.
2. Washington Wizards: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
The UNC Tar Heel has unlimited range and a knack for putting the ball through the hoop.
He would be an instant-impact player next to John Wall in Washington.
3. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, Kansas
The Hornets certainly could use more size and someone willing to rebuild the franchise from the ground up. Robinson fits the bill.
4. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey): Andre Drummond, Connecticut
Drummond’s upside is too much for the Trail Blazers to pass up with this incredible pick they practically stole from the Nets.
5. Toronto Raptors: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky
Kidd-Gilchrist is contemplating returning to the Wildcats next season, but he would immediately become one of the best defenders on the Raptors with potential to become an all-around All-Star caliber talent.
6. Sacramento Kings: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
Sullinger is one of the most-NBA ready prospects in the class and adds maturity to a Kings team that lacks it.
7. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, North Carolina
Henson would add another long big man to the Detroit frontcourt and help push this team back into the postseason.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut
Some scouts may be dropping him down the big boards for his lackadaisical tournament performances, but there is no denying the talent this young man possesses and an NBA team can coax it out of him.
9. Utah Jazz (via Golden State): Brad Beal, Florida
This kid has the strength to get to the paint and the range to shoot the NBA three.
He’s a steal this late in the lottery, even if the Jazz selected a SG last year in Alec Burks.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: James McAdoo, North Carolina
McAdoo has a ton of upside and an NBA pedigree (his “uncle” was Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo).
He showed what he is capable of after John Henson went down with an injury and manned up as a replacement.
Those performances coupled with his size and skill make him a lottery lock if he declares.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, Weber State
Raymond Felton clearly isn’t the answer in Portland at PG and a team in a transition phase could direly use a skilled young player like Lillard.
12. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota): Tyler Zeller, North Carolina
Zeller, along with Robinson if the Hornets land him, would rejuvenate the Hornets' front line and give them a lot of size.
13. Utah Jazz: Kendall Marshall, North Carolina
Marshall is the best passing point guard in the class and puts his teammates before himself.
That ideology meshes perfectly with what the Jazz are trying to accomplish in the post-Deron Williams era.
14. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, Duke
Rivers is going to be an NBA star and is a steal for the Suns with the last pick in the lottery.
He didn’t have the best college season, but his father is an NBA coach and the kid has an NBA game.
15. Houston Rockets (via New York): Meyers Leonard, Illinois
Leonard would add some much needed youth to a team that just added Marcus Camby at center. He’s got the size and will have time to develop.
16 New Jersey Nets (via Houston): Quincy Miller, Baylor
Miller is a great value here if he plays up to his ability in the pros.
In any other draft, he’s certainly going top 10 and the Nets would be foolish to pass up on a possible future star.
17. Boston Celtics: Perry Jones, Baylor
PJIII could go in the top five or he could fall all the way down to here. The Celtics and their lack of size will not allow him to drop any further.
He’s got world-class talent but has struggled to harness it. He's someone the C’s would love a chance to develop.
18. Denver Nuggets: Terrence Ross, Washington
Ross is an athlete and shooter that still has a raw game, but Denver could turn him into a productive player off the bench in no time.
19. Atlanta Hawks: Moe Harkless, St. Johns
Harkless has been skyrocketing up draft boards and the Johnnies freshman could now go somewhere in the mid-first round.
Atlanta would be a great spot for him to land as he would make a lengthy, athletic team even better.
20. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Jones, Kentucky
Jones hasn’t been as big, athletic, fast or skilled as originally thought, but he still has the game to be a lottery pick if he chose to display it on a nightly basis.
He’s worth a risk for a team with a solid locker room such as Philly.
21. Houston Rockets (via Dallas): Jeffrey Taylor, Vanderbilt
Taylor can jump out of the gym and would be an immensely athletic player for a team that needs one.
22. Indiana Pacers: Dion Waiters, Syracuse
Waiters is a slasher who does whatever is necessary to get to the rim. The explosive Orangeman would be a boon off Indy’s bench.
23. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten, Washington
Wroten may turn out to be the best PG in the class, but his raw game and unheralded school, coupled with the fact that he missed the NCAA Tournament, hurts his stock.
24. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State
Moultrie could go as earlier as the lottery, but there are still some questions about his game and why it took so long for him to make an impact at the college level.
Boston will not care because they are desperate to add a big man who can score.
25. Orlando Magic: C.J. Leslie, NC State
This freakish athlete can play the 3 and 4 and will be able to come off the bench in Orlando and spell a number of players.
26. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Tony Mitchell, North Texas
Mitchell could turn out to be the dynamic scoring wing the Cavs have lacked since LeBron James took his talents to South Beach.
27. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio): Draymond Green, Michigan State
Green has done everything necessary to help the Michigan State Spartans win and there is no question he’ll do that for his NBA team.
He may not be the most skilled guy in the draft, but he might just have the most heart.
28. Miami Heat: Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure
Nicholson is an ideal backup to Chris Bosh because of his mid-range game.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt
Ezeli is a nice prospect that has size and athleticism. This is a luxury pick for a deep, stacked team.
30. Chicago Bulls: Kris Joseph, Syracuse
It would be wiser for the Bulls to go with a foreigner here to stash away in the Euro leagues for a while, but Joseph is the best available player.
