2012 NBA Mock Draft: Jared Sullinger and Players That Will Drop in First Round

The NCAA Tournament will conclude tonight and then the collegiate basketball world will turn their collective focus towards the 2012 NBA draft.

Let’s take a look at the latest full first-round mock with a focus on players who haven’t done much to help their stock as of late and might continue to fall during workouts and other pre-draft events.

 

Order based on current standings and projected finish.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

There is absolutely no way this young man is falling down from the No. 1 spot unless he blows out his ACL before the draft.

Even then, most GMs would still agree that his upside is worth the risk.

2. Washington Wizards: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Barnes did not have the best 2012 NCAA Tournament, but he’s still the best and most natural scorer in this draft class and deserves to go early to a team that needs his skills, such as Washington.

3. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, Kansas

Robinson has used the NCAA Tournament to boost his stock, not drop it. He’s been a fixture on a team that improbably made it to the championship game, and it’s going to ensure a team that needs a winner and leader—like New Orleans—picks him early.

4. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey): Andre Drummond, Connecticut

The Nets really shot themselves in the foot if their top-three protected pick they trade for Gerald Wallace ends up being the fourth pick.

Regardless, the Blazers would be ecstatic and could use it to take a risk on a big man like Drummond—giving them size they direly need after cutting Greg Oden and trading Marcus Camby.

5. Toronto Raptors: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky 

MKG is perhaps the hardest working player in this class and gives 100 percent on both offense and defense at Kentucky. Toronto needs a player like that to eventually become an NBA superstar—something they have lacked since Chris Bosh departed in the summer of 2010.

6. Sacramento Kings: Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut

Lamb has the versatility and scoring ability to land this high in the lottery, but there has been some concerns about his poor tournament performances and sometimes-sleepy play on the court.

If he proves himself in interviews and workouts, there is no reason he will not go this high to the Kings or another team.

7. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, North Carolina

A sizeable athlete with decent athleticism is what Henson would bring to the Pistons, and that is exactly what they need.

Greg Monroe is developing nicely and Henson has a chance to join him in a Motor City frontcourt revival.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Brad Beal, Florida

Beal makes the perfect teammate for Kyrie Irving in Cleveland’s backcourt.

The 6’5”, 200-pound SG certainly passes the eye test and looks like a future NBA star.

9. Utah Jazz (via Golden State): Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

Sullinger is perhaps the most polished and NBA-ready player in the 2012 draft. This fits well with a young Utah team that is ready to start making some playoff runs and is hopefully done with the lottery after this season.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Cody Zeller, Indiana

Zeller has yet to declare, but he’s definitely a top-ten talent and worthy of a selection here by Milwaukee. They just traded Andrew Bogut away at the deadline and need to get a new center desperately.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, Weber State

Lillard is a beastly scorer that can play both guard positions. He would be an excellent fit in the plodding Portland half court system that saw an up-tempo guy like Raymond Felton fail miserably trying to play in. 

12. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota): Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

New Orleans isn’t going to be competitive for a few seasons, but building around Zeller, Thomas Robinson (selected earlier in this mock) and other young pieces they can hopefully keep (Eric Gordon) is promising.

13. Utah Jazz: Quincy Miller, Baylor

Miller would be a top-ten pick most seasons, but his injury concerns coupled with a loaded class have him at the end of the lottery.

Utah would be foolish to let a talented young swingman drop any further.

14. Phoenix Suns: Kendall Marshall, North Carolina

Marshall is the best facilitator in this weak crop of PGs and a natural replacement for Steve Nash in Phoenix.

15. Houston Rockets (via New York): Meyers Leonard, Illinois

Leonard could definitely fall when the draft rolls around. He’s an unpolished big body that looks unable to contribute anything more than a few fouls in the NBA right away.

He played for an Illinois team that was unable to get selected for the NCAA Tournament, the NIT or even the new CBI. It’s clear he isn’t a winner and that could hurt his stock.

16. New Jersey Nets (via Houston): Perry Jones, Baylor

PJIII is one the most enigmatic prospects in a while. He’s got the talent to be a top-five pick but doesn’t play like it on a consistent basis whatsoever.

If the Nets can get him here, he is without a doubt worth a shot for a franchise that desperately needs another star.

17. Boston Celtics: Austin Rivers, Duke

Rivers didn’t have a great collegiate season, but the young man has potential through the roof. He would be a great fit here with the Celtics, who need a new SG. It also doesn’t hurt that he is the coach’s son.

18. Denver Nuggets: Terrence Ross, Washington

Ross is a solid two guard who could come off the bench for a deep Denver team.

19. Atlanta Hawks: Moe Harkless, St. Johns

Harkless is a good scorer and defender right now with the potential to get much better. Atlanta needs to gamble on someone like this to become another star so they can become serious competitors in the conference.

20. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Jones, Kentucky

Jones may go much earlier now that he’s having a stellar tournament and doing everything well for a winning team.

Consistency issues are his biggest concern, but it looks like he is figuring them out and Philly would be getting a bargain by selecting Jones here.

21. Houston Rockets (via Dallas): Jeffrey Taylor, Vanderbilt

Taylor may be one of the better athletes in this draft. If he can continue work on his jumper and all-around game, he’s got a future in the NBA.

22. Indiana Pacers: Dion Waiters, Syracuse

Waiters runs the court like a gazelle and gets to the rim like no other. There is star potential here if he can start processing the game, mentally, at a high level.

23. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten, Washington

Wroten has the most upside of any PG in the class and Memphis shouldn’t be hesitant to take a chance. At the worst, he’ll be a decent backup to Mike Conley.

24. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State

Moultrie has lottery-selection skills and ability but the lack of Mississippi State’s success as a team may have hurt his stock.

Boston would love to snap up a big man with the No. 24 pick, and none more talented than Moultrie is left on the board.

25. Orlando Magic: C.J. Leslie, NC State

Leslie is a tweener with incredible athleticism to make up for it.

Orlando is a stacked team and may be looking to make some moves in order to appease Dwight Howard. They could easily package this pick to make a blockbuster trade.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Tony Mitchell, North Texas

Mitchell can simply score the basketball, and Cleveland could use a SF with the ability to do so. He’s not going to replace LeBron James, but he’ll help make this team a playoff contender eventually.

27. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio): Draymond Green, Michigan State

Green is a proven winner who makes his teammates better and legitimately cares about every game.

That is exactly what G-State needs under coach Mark Jackson.

28. Miami Heat: Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure

Nicholson has the experience and mid-range game that Miami could use in a backup big man.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Fab Melo, Syracuse

Melo destroyed his stock by doing whatever it is he did to make himself ineligible for the NCAA Tournament.

OKC could take a gamble this late in the first round and hope he becomes a decent rotation player behind Kendrick Perkins.

30. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins, Vanderbilt

Jenkins represents another stab at a SG for Chicago. It’s a position they desperately need to find an above-average player at.