NBA Mock Draft 2012: Breaking Down Ideal Prospects for Every First-Round Team

June’s upcoming NBA draft is considered a very deep one, with talent at almost every position.

That’s good for each team in the first round, as every team in the league will have at least one hole to fill somewhere on its roster. Unfortunately for them, not every team can draft Kentucky’s Anthony Davis, but there are ideal picks who can step right in and contribute for each team in the first round.

Here’s a look at the ideal first-round pick for every team, as the Charlotte Bobcats get the party started.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

The Bobcats rank last in the NBA in scoring and 28th in the league in points against. Davis will help immediately change how the team plays on the defensive end with his rebounding and shot-blocking skills. He averaged 10.4 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per game en route to leading the Wildcats to a title during his freshman season.

He will contribute offensively as well. His post game still has needs some work, but he can finish in the paint, shooting over 62 percent from the floor this season.

2. Washington Wizards: Thomas Robinson, Kansas

Washington needs an impact player, and Robinson is a guy who is ready to come into the NBA and be exactly that.

He was a double-double machine while at Kansas, averaging 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game on the season. He should have success running the floor with Wizards point guard John Wall.

Robinson’s game translates to the NBA. He’s a guy who can score in the post either facing up or with his back to the basket, but he can also take things way above the rim as well. He’s a relentless rebounder and has a motor that doesn’t stop.

Given how things have gone in Washington the past few years, Robinson is a winner and a high-character pick, which is also very important.

3. New Orleans Hornets: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky

The Hornets are rebuilding, and selecting the multi-talented Kentucky product is the way to go. Kidd-Gilchrist brings not only talent to New Orleans, but leadership, work ethic and energy as well.

He’s a good rebounder, pulling down 7.6 per night, and he has the talent to become a lockdown defender in the NBA. Offensively, he showed he can take over a game as well, exploding for 24 and 19 points respectively against Indiana and Baylor in the NCAA tournament.

The only major concern with Kidd-Gilchrist’s game is his perimeter shot, as he knocked down only 25.5 percent of his attempts from behind the arc on the season, but that should improve within time.

4. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, Connecticut

Drummond has a ton of promise and upside. Paired with DeMarcus Cousins in the Kings frontcourt, things could turn around quickly in Sacramento.

His numbers weren’t great at UConn during his freshman season, but he showed that he can rebound (7.7 RPG) and block shots (2.7 BPG) consistently. He has an NBA body and has a decent back-to-the-basket game already. He can finish close to the rim, shooting nearly 54 percent from the floor.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, Florida

The Cavs could go Harrison Barnes or Beal here, but both guys will fill a need for a scorer who can play with Kyrie Irving. I like Beal ending up in a Cleveland uniform.

He averaged 14.8 points per game as a freshman at Florida and can shoot both off the pass and the dribble effectively. Beal’s also possibly the best rebounding guard in the draft, pulling down 6.7 per game.

My only concern is that Beal is viewed as a shooter but only knocked down 34 percent of his attempts from three-point range on the season.

6. Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Despite his struggles in the NCAA tournament, Toronto gets the potentially productive wing player it desperately needs in Barnes.

He’s a scorer, averaging 16.4 points per game through his two seasons in a North Carolina uniform and has a deadly pull-up game when he’s going.

Barnes isn’t a great defensive player, though, and does little else effectively other than score. He only averaged 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists during his college career, which is a little concerning.

7. Portland Trail Blazers, Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

Portland needs to add quality young big men, and while Zeller is a reach, he's a good athlete and a legitimate center prospect. He runs the floor very well and attacks the glass with his leaping ability.

Zeller averaged 16.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game as a senior, and while he may not become a big-time scorer at the NBA level, he’s a guy who can contribute some in many different ways.

8. Detroit Pistons: Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State

After averaging only 9.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in two seasons at UTEP, Moultrie exploded this season after transferring to Mississippi State, jumping those numbers up to 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds.

His stock has soared as well and is a great fit next to Greg Monroe in Detroit, as the Pistons need to get more athletic. Moultrie can play the 4 or the 5 but is as athletic as a guard. Within time, he can become an explosive scorer and rebounder.

9. Utah Jazz (via Golden State Warriors): Damian Lillard, Weber State

Utah needs a point guard to replace Devin Harris, and Lillard is still the top one on the board.

He’s a good athlete who was an explosive scorer at Weber State (24.5 PPG). He showed the ability to not only run an offense effectively, but to get his shots within the flow of the offense as well.

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

This could be a tremendous draft for the Hornets, who could add two big pieces for the future in Kidd-Gilchrist and Marshall.

Marshall may be a reach at No. 10, but he’s a tremendous floor general with an outstanding basketball IQ who makes passing look easy, as he nearly led the nation in assists with 9.8 per game.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Austin Rivers, Duke

Rivers' potential bumps him up a little bit up to the Blazers at No. 11. He has a scorer’s mentality and finished his freshman season averaging 15.5 points per game.

He’s a streaky shooter and a creative finisher around the rim, but he tends to forget about his teammates at times and doesn’t play very well without the ball. His shooting numbers weren’t great, only hitting on 43 percent of his attempts from the floor, 37 percent from behind the arc and 66 percent from the charity stripe. Despite that, though, he showed glimpses at Duke of possibly becoming a No. 1 scoring option in the NBA.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

Sullinger’s stock has been up and down throughout the season, but he’s a solid bet for Milwaukee here as the Bucks need to land a solid big man. He can score and rebound, evidenced by his 17.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game during his sophomore season at Ohio State.

There are concerns about whether or not he can play effectively against longer and more athletic big men. He shot 52 percent from the floor this season, which isn’t bad, but given his skill set and his nearly polished post game, that number is actually lower than some would like.

13. Utah Jazz, Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut

Phil Chardis, UConn's assistant director of athletic communications, recently tweeted that Lamb will enter the NBA draft after his sophomore season with the Huskies. Lamb became UConn’s No. 1 scoring option this season, averaging 17.7 points per game, up six points from his freshman campaign. He’s athletic, long and will add some punch to the Utah lineup right away.

He’s not the best three-point threat, only shooting 34 percent from behind the arc, but he has a solid mid-range attack and can get into the paint effectively.

14. Phoenix Suns, Perry Jones III, Baylor

Jones has the talent to go much higher, but consistency and immaturity issues keep holding him back.

He may have the best skill set in the draft but tends to disappear at times, especially in big games. His scoring was down to 13.5 points per game as a sophomore (13.9 as a freshman), and his field-goal percentage dropped to 50 percent (55 percent as a freshman).

Naturally you would like to see an increase in numbers somewhere on the board between the two seasons, but that didn’t happen.

The Suns get a multi-talented player, who—if he can ever figure out how to bring it out on a nightly basis—could turn into the steal of the draft.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: John Henson, North Carolina

The Sixers can shore up their interior defense by selecting Henson here.

Defensively is where Henson will make his impact, having an outstanding junior season in which he averaged 10.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. He’s extremely athletic and runs the floor great for a big man, but he covers the court defensively as well as anyone in this draft class.

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

The Rockets need a big man to build around for the future, and Leonard is that guy.

He’s got a nice touch around the rim, shooting 58 percent from the floor on the season. He has the ability to bang on the block and the athleticism to put the ball on the floor to drive by defenders.

17. Denver Nuggets: Dion Waiters, Syracuse

Denver’s uptempo attack seems to be perfect for Waiters, who brings energy and the ability to attack the rim. He will likely be a guy who will play both guard positions in the NBA.

He does a lot well, but he’s primarily a scorer. His 12.1 points per game for the Orange this season is a little misleading given Syracuse's depth and the fact that Waiters played only 24 minutes per game.

18. Dallas Mavericks: Terrence Ross, Washington

Dallas needs to get younger and more athletic, and adding a guy like Ross on the perimeter makes sense.

He’s a streaky shooter—37 percent from long range—but is also athletic enough to get to the rim effectively and is a very good rebounder (6.4 RPG).

19: New Jersey Nets (via Houston): Terrence Jones, Kentucky

Jones is a solid pick for the rebuilding Nets. He’s extremely versatile, as he's able to play either forward spot. He has a tremendous face-up game and can score effectively at all three levels, averaging 14.0 points per game through his two seasons at Kentucky.

20. Boston Celtics: Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure

Boston needs to add some young, talented frontcourt players and Nicholson is certainly that. He completed an outstanding career at St. Bonaventure, in which he averaged 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

He could turn into the surprise of the draft and make an immediate impact in a Boston uniform.

21. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten, Washington

Wroten could eventually turn himself into the best guard in this draft class, but will need time to develop.

While he works on becoming a complete point guard, he can add some scoring punch off the bench for the Grizzlies after averaging 16.7 points per game as a freshman in Washington.

22. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): John Jenkins, Vanderbilt

Jenkins is the shooter who will eventually replace Ray Allen.

He shot 48 percent from behind the arc as a freshman and 44 percent this season as a junior. Jenkins has unlimited range and a quick release. While he doesn’t do much else great, he can make a nice career for himself shooting the ball.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Doron Lamb, Kentucky

Speaking of shooters, the Hawks get one in Lamb, who averaged 13.7 points per game on a loaded Kentucky team. He’s explosive and can get to the rim, but he’s a big shot-maker—especially from long range, where he knocked it down at a 46.6 percent clip this past season.

24. Orlando Magic: Royce White, Iowa State

White had a solid season at Iowa State and an especially impressive NCAA tournament, where he combined for 38 points and 22 boards against Connecticut and Kentucky.

He has guard-like skills in a forward's body and has the raw talent to step into any lineup and make an impact right away.

25. Indiana Pacers: Moe Harkless, St. John’s

Indiana could use some additional scoring punch, and Harkless averaged 15.3 points per game as a freshman at St. John’s. He has a high upside with the potential to become a dominant scorer, but he’s also a very good defensive player.

He snagged 8.6 rebounds per game last season and has a skill set that could allow him to one day become dominant in the NBA.

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

Taylor had a very good senior season. He can not only put the ball on the deck and get to the rim, but has added a jumper to his repertoire as well.

Taylor hit 42 percent of his three-point attempts last season as a senior, which is really impressive, considering the fact that he hit on only nine percent as a sophomore.

He’s a great athlete who should also excel as a defender, and Cleveland needs to get more athletic.

27. Miami Heat: Fab Melo, Syracuse

Melo’s a big body, which the Heat could use, but Miami also has the luxury of allowing him time to develop.

He should contribute on the defensive end as he blocked 2.9 shots per game as a sophomore, but his game has a ways to go to become an offensive threat in the NBA. He shot 57 percent from the floor and averaged 7.8 points per game, but he needs to develop a go-to move and better footwork in the post.

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

Green fills a need for the Warriors as they need better production at both ends of the floor from the small forward spot.

He’s not a guy who does any one thing great, but he does everything very well, as evidenced by his triple-double and two double-doubles in the NCAA tournament.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt

Ezeli is a big body with potential. He's similar to Melo in that he can block shots and rebound, but has a ways to go to develop his offensive game.

30. Chicago Bulls: William Buford, Ohio State

The Bulls have a chance to add some additional scoring this late in the draft and take a chance on Buford, who averaged a solid 14.7 points per game for the Buckeyes this season.

The only concern is that his percentage from behind the arc dipped to 36 percent, after shooting it at a 44 percent clip a season ago.