2012 NBA Mock Draft: Best Player-Team Fits in Updated First Round

With the college basketball season over and the NBA playoffs set to begin, the NBA draft will continue to slide into focus with every passing day.

The players have already turned their eyes to it, and soon enough we'll know exactly which teams have to start focusing on it.

Within the month the remaining lottery teams will be fleshed out, and we'll be able to get a better feel for what is going to happen.

But let's be honest, we know which players are going top three regardless.

Correct Order as of 04/13

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

The Bobcats are unlikely to win the lottery, but if they did Davis would make one heck of a formidable shot-blocking tandem with Bismack Biyombo. They'd obviously take him if they won the pick, but don't count on it.

2. Washington Wizards: Thomas Robinson, Kansas

Robinson's athleticism, scoring chops and hustle will fit in great with the Wizards. They thought they got some of that with Chris Singleton last year, but Robinson is on a completely different level.

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

The Hornets couldn't get much luckier than to land a shot at MKG. The Kentucky star checks in at 6'6", 216 pounds and is everything they want and need in a potential star.

He's an immediate defensive boost to this team and is just scratching the surface of his scoring ability.

It's not one of those cases where he doesn't have an offensive game either—he does—he just wasn't asked to use it all the time at Kentucky.

He'll help the Hornets start their rebuild.

4. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, Connecticut

This is a risky move. One, Drummond is the biggest boom-or-bust in the draft, and two, Sacramento isn't the best place for him to hone his game alongside DeMarcus Cousins.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, Florida

Like MKG in Washington, Beal is an ideal fit with the Cavs here. They're in desperate need of a scorer and playmaker, and the freshman is all of those things and then some.

At 6'4", 200 pounds, Beal's size shouldn't be too much of an issue defensively, and he's more than willing to work.

Offensively, he's a gifted scorer who Chad Ford said is "Ray Allen meets Eric Gordon"—the Cavs make this pick in a heartbeat.

Beal just declared today.

6. Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Harrison may not be too thrilled to go north of the border, but the Raptors could sure use his scoring talents.

If they had the sixth pick, Barnes would even be a steal here. The 6'8" swingman has elite potential and could mature into a dynamic threat at the next level.

7. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey): Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut

Portland needs someone to help energize them on both ends of the floor, and Lamb, who is sometimes inconsistent, is a guy whose length and athleticism can do that immediately.

8. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, North Carolina

Landing Henson would be a huge get for the rebuilding Pistons. Greg Monroe has proven to be the guy they need in the middle and Henson, about two inches shy of seven-foot, would an ideal candidate to play alongside him.

The North Carolina star knows how to get after it on the defensive end and has a bit of an offensive game to him as well.

He's a guy who'll work his tail off to get better.

9. Utah Jazz (via Golden State): Jared Sullinger, Ohio State 

There is limited upside with Sullinger, but he's NBA-ready and can help a Jazz team that will be competing for a playoff spot in the West for the foreseeable future.

10. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota): Damian Lillard, Weber State

The Hornets continue rebuilding, and Lillard is a perfect fit for them as well. What MKG, their first first-round pick, lacks as an offensive weapon, the explosive guard has in spades. Along with the Kentucky star, he will help New Orleans start to forget what it was like to have CP3 on the court.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

More out of need than anything else, the Blazers can get back to competing for the postseason with a senior prospect who played against some of the best competition in college basketball for four years.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Meyers Leonard, Illinois

This is a no-brainer for the team that sent away Andrew Bogut this season. Leonard's a genuine seven-footer with a ton of upside.

13. Phoenix Suns: Kendall Marshall, North Carolina

Marshall showed he could score in addition to dropping dime after dime in postseason play this year. He's the obvious heir-apparent to Steve Nash if the Suns get a chance to draft him.

14. Utah Jazz: Tony Wroten Jr., Washington

A youthful Jazz team lacks youth at one position: point guard. Wroten Jr. has as much upside as any guard in this draft and is exactly the type of player they're looking for here.

15. Houston Rockets (via New York): Doron Lamb 

GM Daryl Morey could certainly surprise here, but Lamb is a gifted sophomore who showed he can take over a game when needed. The Rockets could do much worse.

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Jones, Kentucky

The 76ers have a number of talented wings, but they don't know who is staying and who is going. Jones is a player with top-10 potential, but he lacks consistency.

17. New Jersey Nets (via Houston): Perry Jones, Baylor

The Nets blew their chance at a lottery pick with the trade for Gerald Wallace, but they get lucky here landing a lottery-talented player in Perry Jones.

If he plays up to his potential, he'll be a steal at this point in the draft.

18. Denver Nuggets: Terrence Ross, Washington

The talented shooting guard boosted his stock this postseason and earns a top-20 pick because of it. The Nuggets have some talent, but they haven't found a way to replace J.R. Smith yet.

19. Houston Rockets (via Dallas): Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt

Part of one of the best scoring duos in the country, Taylor is developing a shot and could be a dynamic offensive weapon in the league.

20. Atlanta Hawks: Moe Harkless, St. Johns

The Hawks' need for another athletic playmaker allows them to take a chance on a freshman like Harkless. He has great potential.

21. Boston Celtics: Austin Rivers, Duke

If Rivers falls this far down the board, we know exactly where he'll go. The Celtics aren't helping their chances to by winning so frequently down the stretch, and he could be well gone by now.

22. Orlando Magic: C.J. Leslie, NC State

This pick won't make the Magic much more enticing for Dwight Howard to stick around after next year, but Leslie will work his tail off on both ends of the floor and will make an immediate impact coming off the bench.

He made some noise in this year's tournament and is a kid who could get better.

23. Memphis Grizzlies: Royce White, Iowa State

Arguably the biggest mover from the tournament, White boosted himself into the first round and will give the Grizz another body to work with under the basket.

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

It is highly unlikely that Moultrie will fall this far down the board. He has lottery potential and could go anywhere from the top 10 down. This is his absolute floor.

That said, the he'd be a welcome addition to a Celtics team with little to no depth on the front line. 

25. Indiana Pacers: Dion Waiters, Syracuse

The 'Cuse star has great ability getting to the basket and has some upside to his game as well. The Pacers won't pass up an opportunity to add him to their ever-improving roster.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Fab Melo, Syracuse

This is a huge hit-or-miss pick for the Cavs. Melo has some unbelievable upside but needs to kept in check and needs to take basketball seriously before he'll be counted.

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

This is actually a great pick for a Warriors team that typically takes a chance in the draft. Green is a proven scorer who does everything. He may never be a star, but he'll be a solid role player.

28. Miami Heat: Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure

You might remember Nicholson from the Bonnie's near upset of Florida State in the first round (technically the second) of the tournament. He's a proven scorer with great height and athleticism.

He's an ideal backup to come to off the bench and provide instant offense to a Heat team that rely far too heavily on their big three.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt

The Thunder have few immediate needs and this late in the draft have the ability to take a player they can let develop. Ezeili would be a backup at best.

30. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins, Vanderbilt 

The Bulls get a kid they can throw on the court and simply let score the basketball. Jenkins is arguably the best shooter in the country and won't be asked to do much more than that.