2012 NBA Mock Draft: Late First-Round Gems You Need to Know
The late first-round picks are reserved for contenders, unless said contenders have traded those selections. Such is the case for the San Antonio Spurs and LA Lakers, whose selections will be taken by the needy Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors.
Beyond those two exceptions, the late first round picks will be as expected.
Here is a look at the best players that'll be available for the contenders and stand-ins at the bottom of the first round.
1. Charlotte Bobcats: Andre Drummond, PF/C, UConn
If Drummond reaches his potential, he will be a dominating player in the NBA. Because he's the only player in the draft with that type of potential, he's my top pick.
2. Washington Wizards: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
Davis is an excellent shot-blocking and rebounding prospect. He will be a solid pro.
3. New Orleans Hornets: Austin Rivers, PG/SG, Duke
Sub-Zero will have far more success in the NBA than he did in college. His skill set screams professional over collegiate.
4. Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
Barnes showed he is a talent, but he isn't the alpha male many teams may be looking for.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
Beal is here because I'm predicting where players will be drafted, not where I would draft them. I'm not as high on him, but he does have a strong build. He's a solid scorer that plays bigger than his 6'3" frame.
6. Sacramento Kings: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
MKG is one of my favorite players in the draft. I fully expect him to turn into a Shawn Marion clone.
7. Portland Trailblazers (from New Jersey): Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn
Lamb has everything you need physically. He's long at 6'7", and he has long arms and explosive hops. Though I don't see him as a star, he's a solid starter in the NBA.
8. Detroit Pistons: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
Robinson is another favorite of mine. A key for him will be his measurements at workouts. If he is 6'10" with shoes on, he may shoot into the top three, but I'm concerned he's more like 6'8.
9. Utah Jazz (from Golden State): Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
This is a dynamic combo guard that reminds me of a better-shooting (at this stage) Russell Westbrook. He played for a small program, but Lillard is the truth.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: John Henson, C, North Carolina
Henson is a great shot-blocker/rebounding prospect with awesome length. He must get stronger and continue to develop the mid-range jump shot for his overall game.
11. New Orleans Hornets (from Minnesota): Perry Jones III, SF/PF, Baylor
PJ3 is one of the three most talented players in the draft, but his work ethic and desire have been questioned.
12. Portland Trailblazers: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
The Blazers need a center, and Zeller is a true seven-footer with good athleticism and interior defense.
13. Phoenix Suns: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
Marshall is the best pure point guard in the draft, and he may be replacing the best pure point guard in the NBA over the next 7 years.
14. Utah Jazz: Terrence Ross, SF, Washington
Ross is an athletic wing player that would really improve Utah on the perimeter.
15. Houston Rockets (from New York): Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
The Rockets also need a center badly. I think Leonard needs more seasoning, but he's a legit seven-footer and athletic. That makes you a millionaire.
16. New Jersey Nets (from Houston): Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
Sullinger is what he is; there isn't a ton of upside. He will score on the block, but be limited against long athletic front courts. Think Carlos Boozer or Paul Millsap.
17. Denver Nuggets: Terrence Jones, SF/PF, Kentucky
Jones' stock fell a bit this year. Had he come out last year, he would have been a lottery pick. Now he is a mid-first-rounder.
18. Philadelphia 76ers: Moe Harkless, PF, St, John's
I love Moe Harkless' game; he reminds me of a slightly more athletic Shareef Abdur-Rahim. He could play the SF, but either forward spot is a possibility.
19. Memphis Grizzlies: Doron Lamb, PG/SG, Kentucky
Lamb can score, and he projects as a solid sixth man to provide instant offense off the bench.
20. Dallas Mavericks: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky
Dallas needs youth at the point, and Teague has great physical talent. He needs to hone his playmaking ability, though.
21. Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
Taylor is a scorer with great range on his jump shot. He could easily supplant anyone Atlanta has at SF.
22. Boston Celtics: Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
Waiters is a bit under-sized, and he needs to work on his outside shooting. That said, he has good quickness off the dribble and strength on the drive.
23. Boston Celtics (from LA Clippers): Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt
Boston needs size and youth; those are two things Ezeli would provide.
24. Indiana Pacers: Arnett Moultrie, PF/C, Mississippi State
I like Moultrie a lot. He reminds me of Taj Gibson, and thus would be a perfect compliment to Roy Hibbert.
25. Orlando Magic: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
Whether he's Dwight Howard's backup or his successor, Melo makes sense for Orlando.
26. Cleveland Cavaliers (from LA Lakers): John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
As the Cavs continue to rebuild, a sharpshooter off the bench like Jenkins would be a solid selection. He shot over 42 percent from three in 2011, and his style would mesh nicely with PG Kyrie Irving.
Every good team needs a long distance specialist, and that is exactly what Jenkins is.
The Cavs have a great opportunity to rebound to respectability quickly, and they are in position to really make hay again in the draft.
27. Golden State Warriors (from San Antonio): Evan Fournier, SG/SF, France
This 6'7" Frenchman is the most highly touted international prospect in the 2012 NBA draft. He plays aggressively, and possesses a nice array of dribble-drive moves and finishers near the basket.
He isn't a great shooter yet, but it is obviously something he could add to make himself a more balanced offensive player.
The Warriors could take him and plug him in where Dorell Wright is now. They could subsequently use Wright as trade bait.
Fournier will likely play the style Mark Jackson is looking for. That is, assuming Jackson survives the offseason.
28. Miami Heat: Furkan Aldemir, C, Turkey
One of the few deficiencies the Heat have is their lack of size. A shot-blocker/rebounder with legit center size would be huge for them.
Aldemir is exactly that, at seven feet tall, drawing comparisons to his countryman, Bulls' Omer Asik.
Aldemir shows a great sense of timing for blocked shots, and remains tall when contesting and playing low post defense.
The Heat don't need more stars; they need role players to bring this group together.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Draymond Green, PF/SF, Michigan State
Draymond Green couldn't go to a better place than Oklahoma City.
First, they can really use a backup SF for Kevin Durant.
Secondly, Green's ability to fill in at PF would also add to their overall depth. He is a solid three-point shooter and a good passer. Those elements would bring something new to the Thunder's offense from the 4-spot.
Green is also a marvelous locker room presence, and that would fit in so well with the family-like atmosphere that surrounds this team
30. Chicago Bulls: Tony Wroten, PG/SG, Washington
Wroten has a lot of upside. He is 6'5" with very good athleticism. He can handle and pass like a point guard, but he has the size to play either guard spot.
He doesn't shoot the jump shot well, and that causes him to struggle on the offensive end. In 2011, he shot 16 percent from three-point range.
He reminds me of a poor-man's Tyreke Evans at this point, but he has potential to be a star.
Wroten in the backcourt with Derrick Rose would be explosive. The combination could finally provide another threat off the dribble for Chicago.
