Austin Rivers: Top Landing Spots for the Duke Star in 2012 NBA Draft

Austin Rivers has officially declared his intentions to leave Duke after his freshman season and become eligible for the 2012 NBA Draft.

The next step for the young shooting guard is to improve his draft stock.

Rivers is all over the draft board's right now, but he believes he will be a lottery pick come this June, according to Buddy Collings of The Orlando Sentinel.

Let’s take a look at some teams that could use a player with the 6’4”, 200-pound 2 guard’s skills, and which locations would be best for him to land with.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Right now, the Cavs are projected to pick No. 8 overall and that would be quite early for Rivers.

However, he makes a perfect backcourt running mate for the clear Rookie of the Year, Kyrie Irving, for a number of reasons.

Rivers can create his own shot, handle the ball for stretches and simply put up points.

The Cavs have lacked an elite scorer since LeBron James abandoned them for South Beach and Rivers represents a chance to become the star player who replaces him.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics are going to have two picks in the middle of the draft and have to be hoping that their coach’s son falls to them with one of them.

This would be a perfect scenario and an incredible story—to have a father coach his kid in the NBA.

Rivers also makes sense considering Ray Allen is most likely on his way out and will sign with a contender to finish out his career, rather than stay with the soon-to-be rebuilding C’s.

Rivers would have a shot at becoming the next great guard in Boston’s history.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers could use help at nearly every position and just acquired a top three protected first-round pick from New Jersey at the trade deadline.

Assuming the Nets do not tank and finish that awfully, this pick could very well be in the 3-6 range and it wouldn't be that crazy for Portland to reach for Rivers.

Jamal Crawford is most likely on his way out and the Trail Blazers’ backcourt is in desperate need of an overhaul.

They could take a gamble on Rivers living up to his potential and becoming a star that helps offset the sudden retirement of Brandon Roy.