2012 NBA Mock Draft: Most Polarizing First-Round Prospects

Every year, there are prospects who have the right combination of positives and negatives to create turmoil among NBA scouts.

Some are extremely talented but have character concerns. Some lack explosiveness and athleticism but have great desire and all-around games.

Here's my latest 2012 NBA mock draft, complete with the most polarizing prospects in the first round (in italics).

Note: Draft order as of 4/8/12

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Polarizing Anthony Davis is not. When you have the explosiveness, athletic ability and skills to dominate at the NBA level, that is when you start being compared to such players as Tim Duncan. Davis, with his scoring, rebounding, defense and shot-blocking, is the kind of player to build a team around.

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

MKG will score, rebound, defend and lay his heart out on the line for a team. He's a dynamic prospect with a never-ending motor whose impact goes beyond the box score.

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

This is a no-brainer for the Hornets. They've missed David West ever since he departed, and Thomas Robinson has the explosiveness and athleticism to crash the glass with the best of them and finish strong at the rim. He posted 18 points and 17 rebounds against Anthony Davis and Co. in the national championship game.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Bradley Beal is a legit top-four prospect in this year's draft. He's an explosive scorer, both inside and outside, and he rebounds and defends. A nice guy to pair up with Kyrie Irving in Cleveland.

5. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

Andre Drummond is a boom-or-bust prospect, which makes him risky in the top five. Nonetheless, his explosiveness and size will counteract his character concerns for a lot of NBA teams. He played inconsistent basketball as a freshman at UConn, but he has all the tools to excel at the next level, right next to DeMarcus Cousins.

6. Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

The Raptors need another scorer to pair up with Andrea Bargnani, and Harrison Barnes is certainly a scorer. There may be concerns about Barnes' rebounding at the next level, but he has the length to be a pesky defender and can flat-out score the basketball.

7. Portland Trail Blazers (via NJ): Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Damian Lillard is a dynamic scorer who averaged 24.5 points last season for Weber State. He gets into the lane almost at will, but he does need some coaching to be less of a shoot-first guard. Raymond Felton is an unrestricted free agent in 2012 and the Trail Blazers need a future point guard.

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

Perry Jones, like Drummond, has the explosiveness and athleticism to be a nightmare down the road, but his consistency and inability to play within the game at times makes him a prospect who needs some work. However, his rebounding, shot-blocking ability and shooting range make him hard to pass up, and the Pistons would love to pair him up with Greg Monroe.

9. Utah Jazz (via GS): Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Kendall Marshall is the best pure point guard in the draft. With his ability to find open teammates, he could spell "Deron Williams" in Utah.

10. New Orleans Hornets (via MINN): Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky

With Lillard and Marshall gone, the Hornets would likely turn to adding depth at the forward spots, and Terrence Jones may just have a better NBA career than his career at Kentucky. After years of answering questions about his maturity and consistency, Jones woke up in the NCAA tournament this year, doing a little bit of everything to help Kentucky to a title. He could become the next Lamar Odom, with the ability to guard both forward spots for the Hornets.

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

Jeremy Lamb virtually glides across the floor, and his shooting ability, combined with the length and wing span to create havoc defensively, would be a nice fit for the Trail Blazers.

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

Tyler Zeller is almost too good a match for the Bucks. They need a center, and his rebounding, combined with his soft touch around the rim and ability to run the floor, works perfectly with the speedy backcourt of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis.

13. Utah Jazz: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Austin Rivers has dynamic scoring ability, but he also needs to improve his court vision and play better within the game. He's still a raw prospect, as evidenced in the NCAA tournament, but he has the ability to be a star at the next level with some guidance.

14. Phoenix Suns: Tony Wroten, PG, Washington

Tony Wroten has a lot of talent, and he's a powerful guard who can finish at the rim or make the beautiful pass. His inconsistency is troubling, but he has immense upside.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

Jared Sullinger may be the most polarizing prospect in the draft class. He has a post game well beyond his years, complete with the rebounding ability, but his lack of explosiveness has some NBA teams luke-warm about the 6'9", 265-pound big man. His last performance against Thomas Robinson and Co. didn't help his draft stock. But he's still a top-15 prospect, and the 76ers need a heir to the aging Elton Brand.

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

Meyers Leonard is a raw prospect, but he has the size and athleticism to make him dangerous in the post (both offensively and defensively). He does need to show some consistency, however. He could develop into the Rockets' starting center.

17. Denver Nuggets: Terrence Ross, SF, Washington

Terrence Ross showed in the NIT tournament that he can flat-out score the basketball. He also has the length and leaping ability to create havoc defensively. He would be a nice fit for a team already loaded with depth.

18. Dallas Mavericks: Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

The Mavericks need youth at almost every position. They need a replacement for Jason Terry, whenever that time comes, and Dion Waiters is an explosive scorer with the length, athleticism and leaping ability to make him a handful on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

19. New Jersey Nets (via HOU): John Henson, PF, North Carolina

John Henson is a legit top-15 pick, so if he lands here the Nets will have no problem nabbing him. He has the athleticism, rebounding, defense and shot-blocking ability to instantly impress in his rookie season, and his length and leaping ability allow him to finish well. He does need to add muscle and work on his mid-range game, though.

20. Boston Celtics: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

Doron Lamb was always known as a silky-smooth shooter, but he nonetheless boosted his draft stock in the national championship game. He's a steady, headstrong player whose length should make up for his lack of size at shooting guard. Sounds like a nice replacement for Ray Allen down the line.

21. Memphis Grizzlies: Royce White, F, Iowa State

  At this spot, the Grizzlies are really looking to just add depth. Royce White is a point-forward type of player who has good size at 6'8", 240 pounds. There are a lot of questions surrounding his focus on the court, but he has tons of upside and can guard both forward spots.

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

The Magic and Dwight Howard are heading in the wrong direction. In that case, the Magic need to start thinking about their center of the future, or at least some depth for the time being. Arnett Moultrie's explosiveness and leaping ability make him a scary scorer and rebounder in the interior, and he absolutely dominated for the Bulldogs last season. He does need to add bulk, though.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

Jeff Taylor would be a great replacement for Josh Smith, who appears to be on his way out. Taylor has the explosiveness to be a terror on defense and around the rim, and he considerably improved his perimeter game this season.

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

Moe Harkless is a great finisher around the rim with the length to create problems defensively (he averaged 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks as a freshman at St. John's). He's a nice young piece to add behind aging Paul Pierce.

25. Indiana Pacers: Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State

The Pacers already have a solid team, but adding some depth behind Danny Granger would be a smart move. Draymond Green is a bit of a tweener and isn't the most explosive of athletes, which gives some NBA teams pause. But he knows the game and will do virtually everything for his team, including threading the ball through tight spaces. 

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (via LAL): C.J. Leslie, SF, N.C. State

I'm a big fan of C.J. Leslie—he has great explosiveness and athleticism, allowing him to finish strong and block shots, and he's vastly improved his mid-range game. He could challenge for the small forward spot down the line.

27. Miami Heat: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Fab Melo was the anchor of Syracuse's 2-3 defense this season, and don't think NBA teams didn't take note. He has the size, defense and shot-blocking ability to instantly upgrade the Heat's center spot. He's raw offensively, but a team won't draft him for his offense.

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

The Thunder could use a backup big man, and Festus Ezeli has the size, rebounding, shot-blocking ability and emerging offensive game to be a surprise in the late first round.

29. Golden State Warriors (via SA): Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

The Warriors could use a small forward here, but there isn't a remaining small forward I like in the first round. Andrew Nicholson is a long, explosive athlete. He's a good rebounder and shot-blocker who has developed his perimeter game, even out to the three-point line. He has great upside and could provide instant depth to the Warriors' frontcourt.

30. Chicago Bulls: Will Barton, SG, Memphis

The Bulls really need to address their shooting guard position. Will Barton had a great sophomore season at Memphis and he's a solid mid-range shooter and tremendous rebounder for his position. He needs to add strength and improve his three-point consistency, but it's hard to imagine him not being a solid scoring option in the NBA.

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