2012 NBA Mock Draft: Highlighting Dark-Horse Lottery Picks

There are prospects destined to be lottery picks in the 2012 NBA draft and then there are the prospects on the fringe.

It would be a shock if players like Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal and Andre Drummond slipped out of the lottery.

On the other side of things, there are some intriguing prospects who performed very well this past season, including in the NCAA tournament.

Here's my latest 2012 NBA mock draft, complete with prospects who are fringe lottery picks (in italics).

Note: If Dallas finishes in the bottom 20, it keeps its pick (in trade w/ Houston). If Houston finishes in the top 14, it keeps its pick (in trade w/ New Jersey).

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Anthony Davis fills a need for the Bobcats and he's the best prospect in the draft. He can score from the post, finish at the rim, run the floor, rebound and swat shots into the stands. A potential perennial All-Star.

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

MKG has a great overall game. He finishes strong at the rim, rebounds excellently for his size, has a never-ending motor and is a tough defender. He's the kind of player who can star for you in multiple areas.

3. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

The Hornets have been looking for a power forward since David West left town and Thomas Robinson has the rebounding and explosiveness at the rim to be a star.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Bradley Beal is undoubtedly the No. 1 shooting guard in the draft. He has a great mid-range game, can penetrate the lane and finish with the best of them, rebounds well, knows the game and is a good defender. The Cavs need someone to pair up with Kyrie Irving.

5. Portland Trail Blazers (via NJ): Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

Andre Drummond is raw and was inconsistent this past season, but he has NBA size for a center and the explosiveness to match. He has the ability to dominate physically, he just needs to improve his mental game.

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

The Kings need a difference-maker at small forward and Harrison Barnes has the ability to be an electric scorer, as well as be a pesky defender with his length.

7. Toronto Raptors: Cody Zeller, C, Indiana

The Raptors' biggest need is at center and Cody Zeller could be a good one. He's very skilled on the low post and runs the floor extremely well.

8. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones, PF, Baylor

Perry Jones, like Drummond, is raw and inconsistent, but has the athleticism and explosiveness to be a star in the NBA. With some coaching, Jones could be a nice complement to Greg Monroe.

9. Utah Jazz (via GS): Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

The Jazz have been looking for a point guard ever since Deron Williams departed. Damian Lillard is an elite scorer who is extremely difficult to keep outside the paint. He's more of a shoot-first point guard now, but with some coaching he has the ability to create space for his teammates.

10. New Orleans Hornets (via MINN): Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

The Hornets, like the Jazz, lost a star point guard of their own: Chris Paul. Pairing pure point guard Kendall Marshall up with Thomas Robinson would be a great draft. Marshall, an excellent passer, makes everyone around him better.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut

The Trail Blazers need a shooting guard of the future and Jeremy Lamb has freakish athletic ability. His length and wingspan makes him a terror defensively and he has a very good mid-range game with three-point range.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

Tyler Zeller is not only a solid rebounder, he has nice touch around the rim and runs the floor well. That's a great fit with speedy guards Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis.

13. Utah Jazz: Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky

I'm a big fan of Terrence Jones. Once plagued by immaturity and inconsistency, he's rounded out nicely, evidenced by his performance in the NCAA tournament. He'll do a little bit of everything for you and has the ability to be a Lamar Odom-type player who can defend both forward spots.

14. Houston Rockets (via NY): Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

Meyers Leonard is raw, but he has NBA size for a center, runs the floor well, can make you pay in the paint (both offensively and defensively) and rebounds well. He does need more consistency offensively, though. He could be the Rockets' center of the future.

15. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Austin Rivers is more of a project after his first season at Duke than we would have thought, but he's still a dynamic scorer who hit some huge shots for the Blue Devils this past season. He needs to play better within the game, but with some coaching he has the ability to be a difference-maker in the NBA.

16.  Denver Nuggets: Terrence Ross, SF, Washington

Terrence Ross showed in the NIT tournament this past season that he has elite scoring ability, both inside and outside. He also has the length and leaping ability to be a terror on the defensive end.

17. Philadelphia 76ers: John Henson, PF, North Carolina

Elton Brand is aging and the 76ers need to add depth at power forward. John Henson, with his length and athleticism, can be a difference-maker defensively. He's also a superb rebounder who can run the floor well.

18. New Jersey Nets (via HOU): Tony Wroten, PG, Washington

Will Deron Williams stay in New Jersey? I don't think so and I think the Nets are skeptical, too. Tony Wroten has tons of talent and athleticism, but is inconsistent. With some coaching, he could be a legit starting point guard in the NBA.

19. Boston Celtics: Royce White, F, Iowa State

Royce White has tons of upside and he's a forward who can defend both forward spots, but he has character concerns. Doc Rivers and the Celtics' veterans would be good for White.

20. Dallas Mavericks: Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

The Mavericks simply need youth. I think they would prefer a point guard, but with the top three off the board, I could see the Mavs going with someone like Dion Waiters. Waiters is a dynamic, tough shooting guard who finishes at the rim with the best of them. His length, athleticism, quickness and leaping ability make him a scary prospect, on both sides of the floor.

21. Memphis Grizzlies: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

One of the draft's biggest risers, Doron Lamb showed in the national championship game that he's not only a legit first-rounder, he could be a solid, steady player in the NBA. Every time I see Lamb shoot, it's beautiful to watch. He's a headstrong player who can play big in the big moments and he has the length to make up for his lack of size at shooting guard.

22. Orlando Magic: Arnett Moultrie, PF/C, Mississippi State

Arnett Moultrie has the size and explosiveness to be a star in the NBA. He has range out to the three-point line and crashes the boards. And let's be honest: Dwight Howard isn't going to be around for much longer in Orlando.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

Jeff Taylor's defense makes him a solid prospect. When you add his explosiveness at the rim and improved perimeter game, you have yourself a sure-fire first-round pick. Josh Smith may be out of town soon, so the Hawks need to find their small forward of the future.

24. Boston Celtics (via LAC): Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

Moe Harkless needs to be a more consistent man-to-man defender, but the Celtics have a way of making you play defense. Harkless does have the length and explosiveness to be a very good defender and he averaged 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks in his freshman season at Vanderbilt. He's a great finisher, as well.

25. Indiana Pacers: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

Andrew Nicholson has the length, athleticism and shooting ability to be a strong NBA player. He uses it to crash the glass and hammer it home in the paint, as well as shot swats back where they came from. He would provide nice depth for the Pacers.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (via LAL): Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State

Draymond Green's "tweener" status is concerning and he's not the most explosive of athletes, but he simply knows the game and was a constant triple-double threat at Michigan State with his great scoring, passing ability and rebounding. He could challenge for the starting small forward spot down the line.

27. Golden State Warriors (via SA): C.J. Leslie, SF, N.C. State

C.J. Leslie needs to add strength, but his athleticism and explosiveness are eye-opening. He has the ability to take over games with his athletic ability alone, but also vastly improved his mid-range game this past season. He also showed he could play big in the NCAA tournament.

28. Miami Heat: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Fab Melo almost makes too much sense for the Heat. He proved himself as one of the premier low-post defenders and shot-blockers in college basketball last season and the Heat desperately need a center.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt

The Thunder only really need depth and Festus Ezeli—with his rebounding, shot-blocking and emerging offensive game—is a nice pick at No. 29 overall. He has a lot of potential.

30. Chicago Bulls: C.J. McCollum, SG, Lehigh

Remember when Lehigh upset Duke this year in the NCAA tournament? Well, C.J. McCollum had 30 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals in that game. He's an explosive player with good range on his jumper who averaged 2.6 steals this past season. Albeit a bit undersized for a shooting guard in the NBA, he fits a clear need for the Bulls and has lots of upside.

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