NBA Mock Draft 2012: Slam Dunk Selections for Every Team in 1st Round

Several teams stand to improve drastically when June’s NBA Draft comes around.

With a very deep draft loaded with both talent and size, immediate holes can be filled by simply taking the right guy.

There are slam dunk picks across the board for every team in the first round and more than one team stands to add the missing piece, or pieces, that’s needed for them to contend.

With that being said, let’s jump right into our latest mock draft and take a look at those slam dunk first-round picks for each and every NBA team.

The Charlotte Bobcats are on the clock.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

While no player will come in and turn the woeful Bobcats around instantly, Davis is the No. 1 player on the board and will have a big impact on the defensive end.

He’s big and physical, with a great feel for the game. We all know about Davis as a rebounder and shot-blocker, putting up fantastic numbers in each category during his freshman season at Kentucky (10.4 RPG and 4.7 BPG), but he’s shown that he can score effectively from anywhere on the floor as well, shooting an impressive .623 from the floor.

He will need to add some muscle to his frame to do that in the NBA, but the talent to do so is certainly there.

2. Washington Wizards: Thomas Robinson, Kansas

Washington needs an impact player and Robinson can step right in and be that guy alongside point guard John Wall.

He’s a physically dominating, prototypical power forward with a polished game.

Robinson’s a double-double machine, averaging 17.9 PPG and 11.8 RPG in leading Kansas to the title game. He’s relentless in the paint and is ready to contribute as a rookie.

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

The Hornets are rebuilding and drafting Kidd-Gilchrist makes perfect sense as he’s the type of player that will turn into a leader.

He’s extremely athletic and is an excellent defender who can guard multiple positions. It’s not all about his defense though as Kidd-Gilchrist can score effectively as well (11.9 PPG). He can get to the rim at will with either hand, but his perimeter shot is a bit of a concern, only knocking down 26 percent of his long-range attempts.

4. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, Connecticut

The Kings could use a big body to pair with DeMarcus Cousins and Drummond is not only big, but he’s very talented as well.

He’s got a NBA frame and a very long wingspan with a great feel for the game. Drummond has a solid back-to-the basket game but his immediate impact will be felt as a rebounder (7.7 RPG) and shot-blocker (2.7 BPG).

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, Florida

The Cavs get a nice shooting guard prospect in Beal to pair with Kyrie Irving.

Beal’s got the potential to become an impact scorer, after averaging 14.8 PPG as a freshman at Florida. He’s got great shooting mechanics and could turn into the best pure scorer in this draft class.

6. Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

He didn’t perform well in March, but Barnes can be an explosive scorer (17.1 PPG) at times. He understands the game and can attack the basket.

Barnes will be an instant upgrade in Toronto on the wing considering Linas Klezia and Amir Johnson have combined to average 16.7 PPG this season.

7. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey), Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State

Portland needs a big body and Moultrie is an athletic guy with size and length who can play the 4 or the 5. He’s got the agility of a guard and could become an explosive scorer and rebounder in the NBA.

He’s still getting better and his rise in numbers makes him an intriguing prospect.

Moultrie averaged only 9.3 PPG and 7.5 RPG in two seasons at UTEP, but those numbers exploded up to 16.4 PPG and 10.5 RPG after transferring to Mississippi State.

8. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, North Carolina

Detroit needs to get bigger and more athletic and pairing Henson with Greg Monroe give the Pistons a pair of potentially dominating big men for the future.

Henson’s athletic and runs the floor great, but his true value comes in his length as he’s an extremely effective shot-blocker, swatting away 2.9 shots per game as a junior. He’s disruptive and has outstanding court coverage

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

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

He’s a high character guy and a prolific scorer, who averaged 24.5 PPG during the season. Lillard’s very capable of running an NBA offense.

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

This may be a bit early for Marshall, but if the Hornets can pair an outstanding floor general with the likes of Kidd-Gilchrist, then this will be a very good draft for them.

Marshall’s a natural floor leader and has the knack of making everyone around him much better. He excels in transition, but is also a tremendous decision-maker in the half-court set as well, nearly leading the nation in assists with 9.8 per game while only turning the ball over 2.8 times per night.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Austin Rivers, Duke

Rivers could turn into the perimeter backcourt option the Blazers need. He understands the offensive side of the game and is a natural scorer (15.5 PPG), with a decent jumper and a great first step that allows him to attack the rim at will.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

If Sullinger plays the way his size says he should, he can become a big, dominating inside presence with the ability to create space and finish around the rim, shooting 52 percent from the floor on the season.

Sullinger has the talent to become a solid scorer (17.5 PPG) and physical rebounder (9.2 RPG ).

13. Utah Jazz, Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut

Lamb became UConn’s No. 1 scoring option this season, averaging 17.7 PPG.  He’s long and athletic with a great wingspan. The UConn product has an explosive first step and can also take his game out to the three-point line, knocking down 34 percent of his attempts from behind the arc.

Within time, Lamb has the ability to become a top-notch NBA scorer.

14. Phoenix Suns, Perry Jones III, Baylor

Jones is a crazy athlete who has the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. He’s very agile and explosive around the rim.

But his numbers—13.5 PPG and 7.6 RPG—don’t suggest that Jones lived up to his potential while at Baylor.

Jones is a risk but has all the talent in the world if someone can bring it out of him on a consistent basis.

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

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

He’s a seven-footer, has great length and is extremely agile for a guy his size. Leonard’s offensive game is still evolving, but he’s a solid post player and a decent shooter (58 percent) who can take his game out to the mid-range area.

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrance Ross, Washington

The Sixers need a go-to scorer and Ross has the ability to become that guy.

He’s big for his position, standing 6”6 and has outstanding range, shooting 37 percent from behind the arc. Ross is a gifted scorer who can finish around the rim as easily as he can create space for his smooth jumper.

His size also makes Ross a very good rebounder, pulling down 6.5 boards per game as a sophomore.

17. Denver Nuggets: Dion Waiters, Syracuse

Waiters will fit Denver’s fast paced attack very well. He’s a combo-guard who can play with the ball in his hands, but he possesses a scorer’s mentality, averaging 12.6 PPG in only 24 minutes of action.

He excels at getting into the paint, but has decent range on his jumper as well shooting 36 percent from behind the arc.

18. Dallas Mavericks: Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

Dallas needs to get younger and more athletic and can add some size in the process with North Carolina’s Zeller.

He got better every season in college, going from a guy who averaged 3.1 PPG and 2.0 RPG as a freshman to a guy that averaged 16.3 PPG and 9.6 RPG as a senior. Zeller doesn’t really do anything great, but he’s a good athlete that can leap.

He’s going to be able to compete at the NBA level and within time could possibly become a starter.

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

The southpaw Jones is a great athlete and has decent size for a small forward at 6”9. He’s smart and can defend either forward spot.

Offensively he can score at any level, shooting 50 percent from the floor en route to winning a national championship. Jones can also shoot it behind the arc, hitting 33 percent of his 3-point attempts on the season.

20. Boston Celtics: Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure

Boston needs to add quality young big men, and Nicholson could turn into the steal of the draft.

He’s an experienced big body who can score both inside (57 percent from the floor) and outside (47 percent from behind the arc), and is also a good rebounder (8.4 RPG) and shot-blocker (2.0 BPG).

Nicholson is very talented and put together an outstanding four-year career at St. Bonaventure in which he finished with career averages of 17.1 PPG and 7.2 RPG.

21. Orlando Magic, Royce White, Iowa State

White is another guy who could be drafted late, yet could make an impact right away.

He’s a big, physical and aggressive forward who can attack the rim. White has guard instincts in a small forward’s body. He rebounds effectively (9.2 RPG) and sees the court very well, dishing out 5.0 assists per game.

22. Memphis Grizzlies, Tony Wroten, Washington

Wroten has the talent to eventually become the best point guard in this draft, but will need the time to develop.

Given the Grizzlies roster that’s loaded with young talent, they can afford to allow Wroten to grow. He’s an extremely athletic point guard who has solid court vision and a great change in direction.

While he develops, Wroten can add some scoring punch off the bench for Memphis , as he’s showed the ability to be an explosive scorer during his freshman season at Washington, averaging 16.7 PPG.

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

The Celtics get their replacement for Ray Allen by drafting Jenkins.

He’s got unlimited range and a quick release and is deadly from behind the arc, shooting 44 percent from downtown on the season.

24. Atlanta Hawks, Doron Lamb, Kentucky

Lamb can come in and give the Hawks some additional scoring punch.

He’s a big-game performer, seemingly getting every big basket that Kentucky needed on the season. Lamb can get to the rim and is very good in transition, but he’s lethal from behind the arc, shooting nearly 47 percent on the season.

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

Harkless has great size and athleticism and will be a guy that can become an effective slasher.  He’s a good defender and ball handler, and put up very good numbers (15.3 PPG and 8.6 RPG) as a freshman at St. Johns.

Indiana can stand to get more athletic and add some scoring punch, so adding a guy like Harkless with a high upside makes sense.

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

Taylor is a very good athlete with NBA ability, who’s outstanding on the defensive end and improved his offensive game throughout his four seasons at Vanderbilt.

He can get to the rim effectively but Taylor improved as a perimeter shooter, hitting 42 percent of his three-point attempts last season as a senior, after connecting only nine percent of the time as a sophomore.

27. Miami Heat: Fab Melo, Syracuse

The Heat could use a big body and Melo’s a seven-footer who's got great length. He’s a good rebounder (5.8 RPG) and outstanding shot-blocker (2.9 BPG), but he’s very raw offensively.

Miami is fortunate enough to be in a position where they can take their time with him and allow him to develop.

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

The Warriors need a productive small forward and Green can step in and contribute right away.

He’s not the most talented guy in the draft, but he’s productive and is a playmaker, evident by his pair of double-doubles and a triple-double in the NCAA Tournament.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt

Similar to the position Miami is in with Melo, Oklahoma City can afford to be patient and develop Ezeli as well.

He’s more polished than Melo offensively, averaging 13.0 points per game as a junior and 10.1 as a senior, but overall his post-game is very raw.

He can use his length as a shot-blocker and rebounder in the meantime while his offense develops.

30. Chicago Bulls:  William Buford, Ohio State

The Bulls could use some additional scoring and Buford has been a consistent one at Ohio State, averaging 14.4 points as both a sophomore and junior and 14.5 as a senior.

He got better at putting the ball on the floor and driving, but his three-point percentage dropping this season could be a concern. Buford shot the long ball at a 44 percent clip as a junior, but that number dropped to only 36 percent this season.