2012 NBA Mock Draft: Point Guards Who Are Ready To Contribute Immediately

The most important position on the floor of a basketball court is the guy that brings the ball up the floor.

The guy that initiate’s the offense, calls the plays and keeps all of this teammates involved.

I’m talking about the point guard, of course.

This year the talent isn’t exactly top-heavy, but there are going to be at least five drafted in the first round that already possess the polish and the maturity to be a starter in this league.

As we go through the latest mock draft, point guards will be the main focus.

(Point guard’s highlighted in italics)

1. Charlotte Bobcats - Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Davis is a rare talent that had the single greatest year a freshman could ever have.

Winning National Player of the Year, a national title and Most Outstanding Player in the tournament tells us that Davis was without a doubt the best player in college for the 2011-12 season.

2. Washington Wizards - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

Kidd-Gilchrist is one of the most unselfish players to come around in recent college history and that’s exactly what the Wizards need.

John Wall could learn something from another former Wildcat.

3. New Orleans Hornets - Andre Drummond, PF/C, UConn

Do you smell that?

It reeks like a guy who is overvalued because of his size (6’10’’, 270 pounds) but clearly lacks a passion for the game.

When a guy struggles to stay focused on a semi-regular basis, you have to wonder what his effort level will be like after cashing his first NBA paycheck.

4. Toronto Raptors - Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

Did you see the motor of Robinson in the post Monday night? He is relentless on the boards and refuses to give up on any loose ball.

Sure, he’s undersized at 6’9’’ and only has one real year of full-time starter experience, but the tournament showed us this guy is going to do whatever it takes to win.

Robinson can add some much needed toughness to a team that severely lacks it.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers - Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

The 6’4’’ shooter is incredibly gifted and fundamentally sound. Pairing him up with Kyrie Irving would give the Cavaliers potentially the best backcourt in the league rather shortly.

6. Sacramento Kings - Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

A lot of people are low on Barnes after his rough tournament. I remind those critics that he is still 6’8’’, 210 pounds, only 19, one of the premier defenders and an elite jump shooter.  

ESPN’s Chad Ford compares him to Glen Rice. I think Barnes has the same shooting touch, but his defense will make him a much better player.

7. Portland Trail Blazers (from New Jersey) - Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn

At 6’5’’ with the shooting abilities of Lamb, he can bring some much needed scoring to a team that quickly became one of the worst in the league.  

He has strong athleticism and explosiveness, all that’s missing is a bit more in the strength department. Lamb still needs more polish, but there is no doubt Lamb can pour in 20 points a game for a team like Portland.

8. Detroit Pistons - Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

The ceiling for Sully may not be as high as others around him, but he’s a proven winner that doesn’t shrink in the moment and has a terrific head on his shoulders.

He may never make an All-Star game, but he’s a very safe pick and can help the Pistons defense instantly.

9. Utah Jazz (from Golden State) - Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Moultrie is an outstanding rebounder that has a wide frame, which allows him to eat up plenty of space in the lane. This guy is tough to move.

10. Milwaukee Bucks - Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Nobody helped their draft stock more in the second round of the NCAA Tournament than Marshall, despite logging zero minutes.

His absence absolutely sunk the Tar Heels offense and that’s what ultimately doomed them. At 6’4’’ and 190 pounds, Marshall has the ideal size on top of impeccable vision and an overall knowledge of the game that few have.

He is a special talent and is more than capable of kicking Brandon Jennings to the curb and picking up the keys to the anemic Bucks offense in a flash.

11. New Orleans (from Minnesota) - Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

Leonard is an elite rebounder that stands at 7’0’’. That automatically gives him a strong chance to compete for major minutes off the bat on a Hornets team that will likely be losing Chris Kaman to free agency.

12. Portland Trail Blazers - Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor

Jones III’s stock tumbled this season, but he still possesses plenty of potential to become one of the better big men in the league. However, with his mental make-up, it certainly is a gamble.

13. Phoenix Suns - Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Despite coming off the bench this past season, the 6’4’’ and 215-pounder has a knack for getting into the lane and finishing strong. His play in transition is another highlight of a guy that has an incredibly high ceiling.

He would be an outstanding weapon for Steve Nash.

14. Utah Jazz - Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

The Jazz certainly need a point guard and there is no doubt that Lillard is the second best available.

He became the first-ever player from the Big Sky conference to be named an AP All-American, landing third-team honors. What sets him apart from Marshall is his ability to really fill it up. He led the nation in scoring for the most of the season at 24.5 PPG  and has the speed and quickness to continue it at the next level.

Lillard can also turn into a play-maker with outstanding vision and anticipation (especially on the break) that makes him everything you’d like to have in a point guard.

15. Houston Rockets (from New York) - Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

You know the draft is loaded when the top freshman entering last season is pushed all the way back to outside of the lottery after having a rather solid campaign.

Rivers still has to realize he’s not a point guard, though. We’ll see if he agrees.

16. New Jersey Nets (from Houston Rockets) - Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

Zeller is never going to be a star in this league, but you know what he’s going to give you every night. At 7’0’’ and 235 pounds, he runs the floor like a guard and can be a 10 rebound a guy player if given the opportunity.

On the Nets, that shouldn’t be a problem.

17. Denver Nuggets - Moe Harkless, SF, St. John’s

The Nuggets need a star, not another first-round pick outside the lottery. The team should do everything in its power to trade this pick and find a star.  

18. Philadelphia 76ers - John Henson, PF, North Carolina

Elton Brand isn’t getting any younger and Henson can relive some of the minutes of the vet while providing stellar defense with his long 6’10’’ frame.

Henson still has room to improve and has the potential to be an All-Star in the near future.

19. Memphis Grizzles - Mason Plumlee, PF, Duke

Plumlee has the perfect skill-set to back up Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph and can co-exist with them on the floor together as well.

Plumlee has the opportunity to be an important contributor for a Memphis team that needs more depth.

20. Houston Rockets (from Dallas) - Royce White, SF/PF, Iowa State

White played his way into first-round status this past month and landing with the Rockets could net him a decent amount of playing time right off the bat.

21. Atlanta Hawks - Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky

The 6’9’’ versatile forward sacrificed a lot for the good of the team, but don’t forget how talented this guy really is.

He can dribble the ball with ease, create his own shot off the dribble and shoot the ball at a high percentage. Jones has the versatility to play on the wing in addition to the post and would bring a lot to the table for whomever he plays for.

22. Boston Celtics - Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

This is a terrifying scorer that has the potential to average 20 points…on 20 shots a game. Boston needs a shooting guard with Ray Allen likely out the door.

23. Boston Celtics (from LA Clippers) - Andrew Micholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

Not much is known about Micholson, but he is a dominate rebounder that can fit into the defense-first mentality of the Celtics rather quickly.

24. Indiana Pacers - Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

The Pacers are a solid point guard away from being a serious title contender. Teague is more than just solid. He is unstoppable in one-on-one situations and is an absolute bull in the lane. When he picks up steam on the fast break and attacks the basket, nobody can get in his way.

His ball quickness is tremendous and Teague uses that to essentially live at the free-throw line. With the lateral agility to be a shutdown defender, don’t be surprised to see Teague’s stock continue to rise as the pre-draft process rolls on.

This guy can play from Day 1.

25. Orlando Magic - Tony Wroten, PG, Washington

Wroten might be the biggest boom/bust pick in the entire draft.

The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year averaged 16 points a game and set all kinds of Huskie rookie records. He has the uncanny ability to create his own shot anytime he wants to.

Yet, time and time again he failed to make the simple play in attempt to make the fancy one. He shot only 9-of-56 (16 percent) from three-point range and didn’t make a single one after Jan. 28.

There are some serious issues to work on with Wroten, but there are also some serious reasons to believe he can figure it out and become a premier scorer in the game at the point.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (from LA Lakers) - Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

Taylor is an established scorer that may be one of the best three-point shooters in the entire draft. The Cavs need to surround Irving with shooters that can stretch the floor and make the offense more balanced.

27. Golden State (from San Antonio Spurs) - Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

The Warriors would be incredibly luckily to get a defensive star like Melo this far back in the draft. This is a match made in heaven.

28. Miami Heat - BJ Young, PG, Arkansas

The Heat need a reliable point that is fearless going to the basket and can pass the ball after penetrating.

Enter Young, who has a deadly first step and a great floater to go with it. While he does need to improve his jumper, Young is a very intriguing talent and could be plugged into the Miami lineup instantly.

The 19-year-old averaged over 15 points per game last season and is ready to roll now.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder - Draymond Green, SG, Michigan State

The All-American had an unbelievable career with the Spartans and can be a decent piece to a puzzle that doesn’t need much help at all.

Kevin Durant would approve.

30. Chicago Bulls - John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt

Shooting guard depth is the only thing really holding back the Bulls right now. Jenkins is the best available.   

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