2012 NBA Mock Draft: Predicting the Biggest Steals of Round 1

In an NBA draft class as loaded with frontcourt talent as the one headed for the pros in 2012, there are bound to be at least a few prospects who fall through the cracks.

Whether Lewis Black will be there to catch them remains to be seen, though, there figure to be enough teams in search of quality prospects to ensure that most of them get snapped up before too long.

But which first-rounders grade out as the biggest potential steals?

(Best value players italicized.)

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

With all of his talents, Anthony Davis would be a steal at just about any point in the draft.

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

Size is a major concern for the Hornets, which makes Andre Drummond an attractive option.

But Drummond is something of an enigma as far as his attitude is concerned. If New Orleans wants to build a winner, it'd be wise to start with a scrapper like MKG. 

3. Washington Wizards: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

What better way for D.C.'s troubled team to turn things around than by bringing in a local product like Thomas Robinson to fill the frontcourt? 

4. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

Kings GM Geoff Petrie better have his hazmat gear on hand if/when he builds his frontcourt around Andre Drummond and DeMarcus Cousins.

Then again, if the gamble works, Sacramento could be home to the league's most dominant forward-center combo for years to come.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Bradley Beal would be a perfect running mate for Kyrie Irving, and the Cavs will need help at shooting guard once Anthony Parker hits free agency this summer.

6. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

Overrated, underrated—whatever you think of Harrison Barnes, the kid can shoot and defend the small forward position, the latter of which is a particularly glaring weakness for the Warriors at this point.

7. Portland Trail Blazers (via Nets): Cody Zeller, C, Indiana

The Blazers' never-ending search for a center will yield them a skilled pivot in the form of Cody Zeller.

8. New Orleans Hornets (via Timberwolves): Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Damian Lillard's no Chris Paul, but the kid can fill it up from either spot in the backcourt, which should come in handy if/when Eric Gordon leaves town.

9. Toronto Raptors: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

The future of the Raptors' frontcourt is coming quickly, with Jared Sullinger potentially slated to join 2011 draftee Jonas Valanciunas in the de facto ouster of Andrea Bargnani.

10. Portland Trail Blazers: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

So long, Jamal Crawford (probably), Raymond Felton and Jonny Flynn! Helloooo, Kendall Marshall!

11. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor

The swing between steal and bust for Perry Jones III is massive, perhaps the biggest of any prospect in the 2012 draft class. On the one hand, PJ3 is a surefire top five talent—a 6'11" forward who can play just about every position on the court, thanks to his particular blend of size and athleticism. By all accounts, Jones also happens to be a good kid with a solid head on his shoulders.

On the other hand, Jones may well find himself outside of the top 10 due to his (somewhat deserved) reputation for passivity on the basketball court. Jones tends to take himself out of games by drifting toward the perimeter, where he's more than capable of hitting shots but ultimately allows much of his ability to go to waste.

Still, if PJ3 turns out to be a Lamar Odom clone, then the Pistons should be more than happy to pair him up with Greg Monroe on their front line. 

12. Utah Jazz: Austin Rivers, PG, Duke

Austin Rivers isn't a point guard, per se, but the son of Celtics head coach Doc Rivers is an NBA-caliber ball-handler with the sort of irrational confidence to be successful at the next level. The Jazz could certainly use a big dose of both in their backcourt.

13. Milwaukee Bucks: Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky

Terrence Jones would easily be a top 10 pick if it weren't for the perceived glut of big guys with inside-outside games in this draft. The Kentucky product can fly high and hit shots from the outside, but he seemed to struggle with inconsistency while playing alongside Anthony Davis and MKG as a sophomore.

Nonetheless, Jones should help to satiate the Bucks' need for help at forward, where Ersan Ilyasova and Carlos Delfino figure to leave behind something of a void should they opt for greener pastures elsewhere in free agency this summer.

14. Phoenix Suns: Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut

Jeremy Lamb is no Steve Nash, though, he'd be a solid start to the Suns' rebuilding project if their All-Star point guard goes chasing championships after the season.

15. Houston Rockets (via Knicks): Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

Daryl Morey, I give you Tyler Zeller. He's no Pau Gasol, but he's a legit seven-footer with some serious skills who should give the Rockets someone in the paint around whom to build.

16. Denver Nuggets: John Henson, PF, North Carolina

Think anyone would dare challenge the Nuggets in the paint if they had a premier shot blocker like John Henson playing alongside JaVale McGee?

17. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

If there's one thing Terrence Ross can do at an NBA level, it's shoot the basketball from long range.

Something that very few current Sixers can do with any proficiency. 

18. Dallas Mavericks: Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor

Quincy Miller wasn't quite able to show off his full arsenal of skills during his freshman season at Baylor. The skinny 6'9" forward was still recovering from an ACL tear he suffered during his senior year of high school and was stuck behind the likes of Perry Jones III and Quincy Acy in the Bears' battle for supremacy at forward.

Those factors may well be enough to lure Miller back to Waco for one more year, to improve his draft stock while shouldering the bulk of the load for Scott Drew's squad.

However, if Miller comes out and winds up in the latter half of the first round, he figures to surprise some people with his full-court abilities. As for the Mavs, Miller would make an excellent successor at small forward to Shawn Marion, who's due to hit free agency after next season.

19. New Jersey Nets (from Rockets): Tony Wroten Jr., PG, Washington

Yeah...so, Deron Williams probably ain't stickin' with the Nets. They'll need a point guard to replace him, and Tony Wroten is the best of the bunch left on the board.

20. Orlando Magic: Royce White, PF, Iowa State

Royce White is just the sort of high-variance prospect the Magic may need to take a chance on to smooth the transition into the inevitable post-Dwight Howard era. Trouble is, Orlando might not be stable enough as an organization to get the most out of a kid like White, who struggles with crippling anxiety.

21. Memphis Grizzlies: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

The Grizzlies love raw bigs like Meyers Leonard, whose seven-foot frame and ability to run the floor make him a project worth investing in.

22. Atlanta Hawks: Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Dion Waiters would be a lottery pick if not for lingering concerns about his character and maturity. The 6'4" Syracuse product is capable of playing either the 1 or the 2 on both ends of the floor in the pros, though, his defensive proficiency figures to be of particular interest to scouts and GMs.

The Hawks will need help at both positions once Kirk Hinrich hits free agency this summer, especially if the front office doesn't think Jeff Teague is the answer at the point. Either way, Waiters should prove particularly useful in Atlanta, where the organization already has $60 million committed to six players for next season. 

23. Boston Celtics: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt

The Celtics will need another dead-eye shooter if Ray Allen leaves Boston this summer, and John Jenkins is the best there is this year.

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

Size matters for the C's as well, and they'll get plenty of it when the still-developing Arnett Moultrie climbs aboard.

25. Indiana Pacers: Mason Plumlee, PF, Duke

Old Jeff Foster's out. New Jeff Foster's in.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Lakers): Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

More slashers off the wing for the Cavs, you say? Boy, Kyrie Irving's going to give the long-suffering fans in Cleveland something to cheer about next season with all those passes to Jeff Taylor on the break.

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

The Heat have finally found a glue guy with some size, skill and crunch-time know-how to bolster their bench, and his name's Draymond Green.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

Andrew Nicholson should bolster the Thunder's lack of frontcourt scoring outside of Kevin Durant.

29. Golden State Warriors (via Spurs): CJ Leslie, PF, North Carolina State

The Warriors will miss Ekpe Udoh, whom they traded to Milwaukee in the Monta Ellis deal, and subsequently will seek to replace him with a near clone in the person of CJ Leslie.

30. Chicago Bulls: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

The revolving door at shooting guard next to Derrick Rose will continue to spin this offseason now that it's become abundantly clear to the Bulls that Richard Hamilton's body won't allow him to play with any measure of regularity.

Next up, Moe Harkless, a rangy, athletic kid who's drawn favorable comparisons to Trevor Ariza for his length and ability to defend the perimeter. The freshman phenom out of St. John's could stand to pack on a few pounds and remains somewhat inconsistent as far as his shooting stroke and his effort are concerned.

But with Harkless' inherent talent and Chicago's need for a backcourt scorer to help out D-Rose, a pick like this may be too much for the Eastern Conference leaders to pass up.

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