2012 NBA Mock Draft: Failures Lurking in First Round
The NBA draft is tough to figure out. Most times, great talent is hard to miss and early lottery picks go on to have great careers in professional basketball.
On other occasions, guys with incredible potential and skills simply don’t pan out and end up floating around the D-League and summer camps before moving overseas and out of mind.
Let’s take a look at the latest 2012 NBA mock draft with an eye on players who are risky and might not ever turn out to be great players.
1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Davis is going to become a surefire-success in the NBA and the Bobcats would love to add someone who has potential to be a career First-Team All-Defensive player.
2. Washington Wizards: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
Washington needs to get their hands on a swing-man scorer to compliment John Wall, so they should definitely pick the best available one in the class here with Barnes.
3. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, Kansas
Robinson is regarded as one of the best collegiate players right now, but there are concerns that he took so long to really break out and become a beast.
New Orleans should take the risk that he’ll continue this level of play in the pros, but there are some warning signs.
4. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey): Andre Drummond, Connecticut
Red flags are everywhere with this pick, but Portland will not be able to help themselves from gambling on Drummond’s immense upside.
He’s got a huge frame and great athleticism and should be able to dominate the paint in the NBA, but he struggled to accomplish that at UConn.
If he can get it all together, this is a great selection, and if not he’s just another lottery big-man bust.
5. Toronto Raptors: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky
Kidd-Gilchrist exerts a ton of energy on both offense and defense and has the potential to become a star that Toronto has desired since Chris Bosh departed in 2010.
6. Sacramento Kings: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
Sullinger is an extremely safe pick and may be the most NBA-ready of any player in the draft class. Even if he doesn’t have superstar potential, he will be a valuable role-player for a long time.
7. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, North Carolina
Detroit has been able to turn talented, young bigs into studs and Henson will be no different if he joins forces with Greg Monroe in the Motor City frontcourt.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut
Even if Lamb did not have the best postseason tournaments, he still has a ton of talent and playing with Kyrie Irving should help him focus on channeling that into becoming a productive NBA player.
9. Utah Jazz (via Golden State): Brad Beal, Florida
Beal could become a bona fide superstar and the starting SG in Utah because of his incredible all-around game and solid size and athleticism.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Cody Zeller, Indiana
The youngest Zeller in this class will go before his older brother because he has much more upside and his size fills a huge need for the Bucks.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, Weber State
Raymond Felton simply stinks and the Blazers need to address that by adding a new point guard. Lillard is the best available in a weak class and has the ability to play some SG as well.
12. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota): Tyler Zeller, North Carolina
This senior will find a home in the lottery because he can run the floor and find a way to put the ball in the hoop with a 7-foot frame. New Orleans would be excited to add another productive big as well.
13. Utah Jazz: Quincy Miller, Baylor
Miller has insane talent but he’s working his way back from injury. Even so, he’s worth the risk for a skilled young squad like Utah in the midst of a rebuilding effort.
14. Phoenix Suns: Kendall Marshall, North Carolina
Marshall may not be Steve Nash, but he’s a great facilitator that will help keep the Suns offense fluid when the Hall-of-Fame PG retires or signs elsewhere.
15. Houston Rockets (via New York): Meyers Leonard, Illinois
Houston isn’t going to find a replacement for Yao Ming in Leonard, but he’s got the chance to become a starting center in the NBA and help protect the paint and rim.
16. New Jersey Nets (via Houston): Perry Jones, Baylor
PJIII is an extremely puzzling prospect. He should be a top lottery-talent, but he continues to have up-and-down performances in college and never truly harnessed his incredible potential.
If he becomes a stud, the Nets will be counting their blessings for getting him this late, but it’s just as possible he’s nothing but a dud.
17. Boston Celtics: Austin Rivers, Duke
The Celtics are likely going to lose Ray Allen and Rivers is one of the better SGs available. Being the coach's son doesn't hurt, either.
18. Denver Nuggets: Terrence Ross, Washington
Ross seems like he will carve out a nice career as a rotation player, exactly what Denver needs right now.
19. Atlanta Hawks: Moe Harkless, St. Johns
Harkless has the potential to add more star power to the Hawks, who sorely need some if they want to really make noise in the East.
20. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Jones, Kentucky
Jones' talent and potential are incredible, but his effort is sometimes lacking and his consistency is terrible.
Should he be able to put it together, he’s going to become a superstar. If not, he will be just another bust who wasted his talents.
21. Houston Rockets (via Dallas): Jeffrey Taylor, Vanderbilt
Taylor’s an incredible athlete who is still working on his all-around game, and Houston will be a good place for him to develop.
22. Indiana Pacers: Dion Waiters, Syracuse
Waiters' ability to slash to the basket is uncanny, making him a potential superstar or just a key role-player. Regardless, either is fine for an already-deep Pacers squad.
23. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten, Washington
Wroten is another decent member of an underwhelming PG class, but he would make a nice reserve behind Mike Conley Jr to start his career.
24. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State
Moultrie has the size and skills that Boston needs in the frontcourt more than anything right now.
25. Orlando Magic: C.J. Leslie, NC State
Leslie’s ability to play both forward positions with extreme athleticism is going to be a boon for the Magic.
26. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Tony Mitchell, North Texas
The poor man’s Kevin Durant can score with the best of them, but needs to get better in other aspects of his game to see significant minutes.
27. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio): Draymond Green, Michigan State
Green is a proven winner who makes his teammates better, and that is what Golden State needs right now.
28. Miami Heat: Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure
The senior forward has experience and skills to contribute to an already established team like Miami.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt
Ezeli would be an optimal backup to Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka.
30. Chicago Bulls: Kris Joseph, Syracuse
Joseph could log some minutes and be a nice player at the end of Chicago’s bench.
