2012 NBA Mock Draft: Perry Jones III and Every Steal in First Round

There are bound to be more than a few steals to be had in the 2012 NBA draft. While the pool of talent coming out of college basketball isn't quite as deep across the board as we've been led to believe, the glut of talented wing men and multifaceted bigs figures to force more than a few potential key contributors down the draft order.

As such, if you're a team in need of some size and skill up front or a microwave-type scorer in the backcourt, then this is the year for you.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Fear the 'Brow, Bobcats fan. The National Player of the Year is Charlotte bound, assuming the lottery works to Michael Jordan's liking.

2. New Orleans Hornets: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

The Hornets need help at just about every position. With his incredible motor, MKG will do his best to fill as many of them as possible all at once.

3. Washington Wizards: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

A talented but troubled D.C. kid joins a talented buy troubled D.C. team. It's almost too perfect. 

4. Toronto Raptors: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo has a penchant for picking up pivot men with a ton of upside. Andre Drummond was hardly the dominant force everyone expected him to be at UConn, though, his talent may well be worth the risk, especially when paired with the soon-to-arrive Jonas Valanciunas.

5. Sacramento Kings: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

Harrison Barnes may not be the once-in-a-generation talent for which he was once pegged, but he still fills the Kings' need at small forward and is far from the knucklehead that DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans are.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via Nets): Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

The Blazers won't be so sullen about the retirement of Brandon Roy once Bradley Beal enters the fold.

7. Detroit Pistons: Cody Zeller, C, Indiana

Pair Cody Zeller with Greg Monroe, and the Pistons may well have the most skilled frontcourt for years to come.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor

By all accounts, Perry Jones III is a great kid with a solid head on his shoulders and the sort of physical gifts with which so few are blessed.

The problem? PJ3 appears to be a bit too mild-mannered for top-five-pick stardom. He's shown flashes of brilliance during his time at Baylor, but never the consistent effort or engagement to dominate the competition from game to game.

Sound familiar? Maybe a bit like Lamar Odom? With Kyrie Irving dominating the ball in Cleveland, Jones could settle into a role as a superb supporting player, not unlike the one in which Odom served on two Lakers championship squads.

9. Houston Rockets: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

Think Kevin Love light, and then remember just how desperately Rockets GM Daryl Morey has sought out a quality big man in recent years. Voila!

10. Utah Jazz (via Warriors): Damien Lillard, PG, Weber State

Devin Harris, point guard of the future? Ehhhh not so much.

Damien Lillard isn't exactly a far cry from Harris, as both grade out as combo guards capable of filling up the stat sheet in any number of ways.

But Lillard is obviously younger and less injury prone, and he doesn't come saddled with the burden of having played for the Nets.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: John Henson, PF, North Carolina

The last time the Blazers drafted a spindly power forward, he turned out to be an All-Star.

And while John Henson is nowhere near the offensive standout that LaMarcus Aldridge is, the North Carolina star is a defensive force and could serve as a capable complement in Portland's frontcourt.

12. Phoenix Suns: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

In a draft so devoid of quality point guards, it's a wonder that one as good as Kendall Marshall might fall outside of the top 10. The UNC standout averaged nearly 10 assists per game as a sophomore—a particularly amazing feat given the inconsistency of college offenses.

Of course, the Tar Heels are point-scoring princes, and Marshall had the benefit of playing alongside the likes of Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller.

But, if anything, that suggests that he's already well adjusted and attuned to working with NBA-caliber talent and making those around him (even those as good as his teammates) that much better. One need look no further than Carolina's woes before his rise to prominence last season and after his wrist injury in the NCAA tournament for proof.

With his size and vision, Marshall should be more than capable of smoothing the Suns' transition into the post-Steve Nash era.

13. Utah Jazz: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

The Jazz could use some skill up front with the offensively-limited likes of Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter already clogging the middle. Tyler Zeller should provide plenty of value in that department, and he'll have time to ply his trade as a backup until Al Jefferson hits free agency in 2013.

14. New Orleans Hornets (via Timberwolves): Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut

Yeah...soooo Eric Gordon? Something tells me the Hornets won't be too heartbroken if the "prize" of the Chris Paul trade takes his talents back to the Hoosier State, especially if Jeremy Lamb is the one to replace him.

15. Milwaukee Bucks: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

Size matters in Milwaukee now that Andrew Bogut is gone. In Meyers Leonard, the Bucks would add a talented but raw seven-footer to grow with Ekpe Udoh in the paint.

16. New Jersey Nets (via Rockets): Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky

The Nets will likely have a ton of work to do in the offseason if/when Deron Williams and Gerald Wallace opt out. A multitalented power forward like Terrence Jones wouldn't be a bad start to the rebuilding process, especially this late in the draft.

17. Denver Nuggets: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Say what you want about Austin Rivers, but there's no denying that the kid's an absolute gamer with a primo pedigree and at least two NBA-caliber skills—his outside shooting and his ability to get to the basket.

The Nuggets will hope that their collectively unselfish approach will rub off on the coach's son, who developed a reputation as a bit of a ball hog with poor shot selection during his one year at Duke.

That being said, Rivers practically oozes confidence and has the attitude to be a star at the next level.

And for all their depth and ability, Denver still lacks a true go-to scorer who can take over games in critical stretches. Rivers may well be that guy, and at No. 17 in the draft, he'd be about as big of a steal as any in recent memory.

18. Boston Celtics: Royce White, PF, Iowa State

The Celtics will need to take some big risks as they look to rebuild after the presumed departures of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. Royce White is about as mercurial a prospect as you'll ever see, given his well-documented battle with overwhelming anxiety, but he could blossom into a star with some tough love from Doc Rivers.

19. Dallas Mavericks: Terrence Ross, SF, Washington

If the whole Deron-Williams-to-Dallas conspiracy comes to fruition, and the Mavs are forced to part ways with half their roster (including Jason Terry and Vince Carter) as a result, they'll need an athletic three-point marksman of Terrence Ross' repute to fill the void on the wing. 

20. Atlanta Hawks: Tony Wroten Jr., PG, Washington

One of these days, the Hawks will find a long-term solution at point guard—something that Jeff Teague has yet to appear to be in Atlanta.

Tony Wroten Jr. is a bit unpredictable, but he has all the talent to be one of the five best players out of this draft class and (more importantly) an answer to the prayers Atlanta ignored when it chose Marvin Williams over Deron Williams and Chris Paul in 2005.

21. Boston Celtics (via Clippers): Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Celtics GM Danny Ainge has something of a soft spot for troubled souls.

Hence, the choice of Royce White at No. 18, followed by Dion Waiters at No. 21. The former Syracuse star can fill it up with the best of 'em in the class of 2012, whether it be as a wing man on the break or a slasher charting a path to the cup in the half court.

And with Ray Allen presumably out the door, Boston will need reinforcements at shooting guard, be it in the starting lineup or off the bench as Avery Bradley's backup. Waiters showed during his days with the Orange that he can thrive in any number of roles, so long as he has a coach (like Doc Rivers) who isn't afraid to hold him accountable.

22. Philadelphia 76ers: Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

Jeffery Taylor can play either spot on the wing and has shown dramatic improvement shooting from deep over the course of his college career.

Of course, if the Sixers are singularly keen to improve their three-point percentage, they would do well to consider reaching for John Jenkins, Taylor's teammate at Vanderbilt.

23. Memphis Grizzlies: Arnett Moultrie, C, Mississippi State

Size is still something of a concern in Memphis, unless anyone's actually convinced that Hamed Haddadi is the answer behind Marc Gasol. Arnett Moultrie, meanwhile, has the tools to be a star but has been somewhat slow to develop. A team as well stocked as the Grizzlies could afford him the time to actualize his potential on the way to a productive pro career.

24. Indiana Pacers: Mason Plumlee, PF, Duke

Jeff Foster is retired! Long live Jeff Foster!

Errr...I mean, Mason Plumlee. Same thing, really.

25. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Lakers): Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

If you're Cavaliers GM Chris Grant, it's essentially your job this offseason to surround Kyrie Irving with as many young shooters and wing scorers as you can.

With PJ3 already on board at the "4," the Cavs would be wise to turn their attention to the small forward/shooting guard spots, where the likes of Anthony Parker and Alonzo Gee leave much to be desired. 

In Moe Harkless, Cleveland would have itself a veritable Trevor Ariza clone, albeit one with considerably more upside. Like Ariza, Harkless can already get to the rim at will and has the length and athleticism to be a lockdown defender on the perimeter. He'll need to improve his outside shot (much like Ariza did) if he's to maximize his pro potential and emerge as Kyrie's top sidekick. 

26. Orlando Magic: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Dwight Howard's back in Orlando, but for how long?

Now, nobody's suggesting that Fab Melo is the Magic's next Superman, but with his size and athleticism—and in a pro system that doesn't hamper his rebounding like Syracuse's 2-3 zone did—he may well develop into a solid center in the Association for some time.

27. Golden State Warriors (via Spurs): Tony Mitchell, PF, North Texas

The Warriors have long had an organizational affinity for do-everything forwards with the size to go inside and the perimeter skill to handle the ball and hit outside shots. At the very least, Tony Mitchell should help Golden State fill out its ranks at small forward.

28. Miami Heat: Draymond Green, PF, Michigan State

The Miami Heat will continue their never-ending quest for quality size with Draymond Green. At 6'7" and 230 pounds, Green is your classic tweener—too small for a power forward, not athletic enough to handle small forwards.

That doesn't mean, though, that Green can't or won't be a productive pro, especially as a glue guy off the bench for a top-tier ball club like Miami. The former Michigan State star and Big Ten Player of the Year grades out like a Udonis Haslem clone with more skill, a jack-of-all-trades type up front who can anchor your second unit.

If nothing else, the Heat can be assured that, in Green, they'll be getting a dedicated, hard-working kid who knows how to win and has made the most of his particular talents along the way. 

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tyshawn Taylor, PG, Kansas

The Thunder will be in search of some more backcourt depth with the departures of Derek Fisher and Royal Ivey and the uncertainty surrounding Eric Maynor's reconstructed knee. Tyshawn Taylor has the skill and athleticism to fill it up behind Russell Westbrook and handle the ball up top if Reggie Jackson runs into trouble at the point. 

30. Chicago Bulls: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

The Bulls could go any number of ways with this pick, perhaps opting for Vandy's John Jenkins or Lehigh's CJ McCollum if they're intent to upgrade the shooting guard spot next to Derrick Rose.

Or, they could prepare for a future without the disappointing Carlos Boozer by picking up the David West-like Andrew Nicholson.

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