2012 NBA Mock Draft: Highlighting Best Fits for All 30 First-Round Picks

With the 2012 NBA draft coming on the heels of what's sure to be a thrilling postseason, scouts from all 30 teams have long been at work evaluating the upcoming draft class. 

From their perspectives, talent and potential may be prerequisites to a successful NBA career, but they are by no means guarantees—there still has to be a good fit.

Let's take a look at who the best fits would be for this summer's top-30 prospects.

1. Anthony Davis (Kentucky)

Who wouldn't be a great fit for this guy? He can do it all and will instantly improve a front line's defense by leaps and bounds.

The most likely destinations, however, are the teams with a shot at the first pick.

Those include the Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards, New Orleans Hornets and Sacramento Kings. Given Charlotte and Washington's desperate need for inside help, those teams emerge as both the best and most probable fits.

2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky)

The Wizards are in desperate need of elite help on the wing. With Nene in the fold and up-and-coming 4s like Trevor Booker earning some playing time, the need for help in the paint can take a backseat for now.

John Wall needs another scorer and—more importantly—needs a guy with the motor and defensive ability to change this club's culture. Kidd-Gilchrist should be able to do exactly that.

3. Bradley Beal (Florida)

The Sacramento Kings have a glut of guards to work with and Beal is far too similar to Eric Gordon for New Orleans to go that route. The Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers all have the need for a lethal backcourt scorer and they could all find themselves in position to draft Beal.

4. Thomas Robinson (Kansas)

Unless the New Orleans Hornets view Carl Landry as a serious candidate to start going forward (should they even re-sign him), Thomas Robinson could be a perfect piece for Monty Williams' club to continue building around Eric Gordon.

He brings intensity, athletic ability and a versatile scoring presence that would give New Orleans an instant jolt.

5. Andre Drummond (UConn)

Drummond could be a perfect fit for a team like the Toronto Raptors, who currently rely on a center who can shoot without doing much of anything in the paint.

If the Hornets let Chris Kaman go and view Emeka Okafor as capable of becoming either a sixth man or of playing time at the 4, then Drummond might also make a lot of sense there.

Either way, he adds the size and defensive presence that could dramatically aid a rebuilding team.

6. Harrison Barnes (North Carolina)

The Raptors and Cavaliers both have a need for well-rounded shooters who can play the 3. Barnes would seem to be the prototypical solution for such a need. Plenty will call this guy overhyped and lament a lack of offensive versatility, but neither Toronto nor Cleveland will need perfection right away.

7. Perry Jones (Baylor)

Questions about Jones' motor and whether he has the mental fortitude to reach his NBA potential, but that won't stop a team like Portland or Milwaukee from taking what just may become a very lucrative gamble.

If Ilyasova decides he wants to leave the Bucks, they could become a leading suitor. 

8. Terrence Jones (Kentucky)

Jones is a jack-of-all-trades athlete with all the upside in the world, but it's hard to tell how much of an impact he'll make right away.

That makes him an ideal pick for a team with two high selections, namely the Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Hornets.

In either case, Jones' versatility would improve a front line that could certainly use the depth in the near term.

9. Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)

Sullinger would make a perfect fit with the Detroit Pistons and represent an almost immediate upgrade over Jason Maxiell. He may not ever make it to an All-Star game, but he's the sort of complementary piece that could seriously strengthen the Pistons' front court.

10. Tyler Zeller (North Carolina)

Who doesn't need another talented center in the NBA? With Greg Oden and Marcus Camby gone from Portland, the Trail Blazers might be at the top of the list.

He could also help out the Milwaukee Bucks with Andrew Bogut now in Golden State.

11. Jeremy Lamb (Connecticut)

Lamb has the ability to become a prolific and multifaceted scorer—it would be shocking if he weren't near the top of the list for teams like the Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns.

All could use a lethal backcourt-scoring threat, and Lamb isn't a bad consolation prize for those missing out on Bradley Beal.

12. Damian Lillard (Weber State)

As one of the few promising point guards in this draft, Lillard becomes a natural fit for the handful of teams desperately looking for options.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz top that list and should find themselves in position to select a guy like Lillard. He could be the perfect young piece to help two organizations in the midst of semi-rebuilding mode.

13. John Henson (North Carolina)

Henson offers the defensive talent and athleticism to help a team with need for help at power forward.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns could certainly use precisely that.

Henson could develop behind Elton Brand during his remaining tenure in Philadelphia, or he could give the Suns a needed option to platoon with Channing Frye and/or Markieff Morris.

14. Austin Rivers (Duke)

If Phoenix opts to prioritize a dynamic scorer over its need for inside help, Austin Rivers could be the guy. If Utah misses out on Jeremy Lamb, Rivers becomes an instant candidate to serve a similar role there.

15. Dion Waiters (Syracuse)

Waiters is the ultimate back-up plan for teams that had their eyes on Jeremy Lamb and Austin Rivers.

He might be the ideal candidate to give the Denver Nuggets backcourt depth in the event Andre Miller skips town. He's a scorer first and foremost and he'd make for a promising sixth man.

16. Arnett Moultrie (Mississippi St)

Moultrie has an athletic 6'11'' body that could do wonders for the Boston Celtics' inability to rebound and secure the paint. He could be a bit of project, but the Celtics don't have many other options in the meantime.

17. Meyers Leonard (Illinois)

Leonard could be a great find for a team needing depth at center—the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers may top that list, but there probably isn't a team in the league that couldn't use the extra help.

This guy may not make a huge impact right away, but he's a good catch nonetheless.

18. Kendall Marshall (North Carolina)

Marshall's passing ability makes him an attractive option for both the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz—perhaps, whichever team passes on Damian Lillard.

Marshall would be an especially useful addition in Portland, where perimeter threats like Nic Batum and Wesley Matthews could use the distribution.

19. Terrence Ross (Washington)

Ross would be a nice upgrade for a Phoenix Suns team in need of an upgrade at shooting guard.

If he drops far enough, he'd also become an affordable piece for a team like the Dallas Mavericks who are looking to preserve cap room, rather than retaining their impending free agent.

20. Tony Wroten, Jr. (Washington)

Wroten has the kind of point guard skills and combo-guard capabilities that would make him an ideal backup for Ty Lawson on the Denver Nuggets.

If the Lakers trade their way back into the draft, that might also appreciate having a guy like this come off the bench.

21. Fab Melo (Syracuse)

Melo could add defensive-oriented depth in the paint to a team like the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat.

He might even serve as a legitimate backup to Anderson Varejao, should the Cleveland Cavaliers show interest with their second pick.

22. Royce White (Iowa State)

The Boston Celtics need some depth behind Paul Pierce in the worst way, and White would find himself in a winning situation with a coach well-equipped to get his head straight.

23. Jeff Taylor (Vanderbilt)

For any teams out there in need of some defensive help on the wing, Jeff Taylor would be the perfect fit.

That makes him a perfect fit for just about any team.

The Celtics could use him for the same reasons they could use Royce White, and the Orlando Magic could certainly benefit from adding youth to a wing rotation—including the aging likes of Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson.

24. Moe Harkless (St. John's)

Harkless falls in line as the next best wing option after White and Taylor, so count the Celtics and Magic as potential destinations.

He also might make sense in Cleveland if Alonzo Gee goes elsewhere.

25. Marquis Teague (Kentucky)

Teague has the speed and upside to potentially sneak higher in a draft with so few viable point guard options.

The Orlando Magic could use a nice backup for Jameer Nelson.

The Golden State Warriors' late pick (from the San Antonio Spurs) might be wisely spent on a guard like Teague, given Ellis' absence and Stephen Curry's injury troubles.

26. Andrew Nicholson (St. Bonaventure)

This guy has the Miami Heat written all over him. He may be the best available size left for the Heat in the draft and it would be wise to give Udonis Haslem some help in that second unit.

After all, Haslem himself may not be around for too much longer.

27. Draymond Green (Michigan State)

Green probably won't find himself starting in this league any time soon, but he could serve as valuable depth to late round picks for the Golden State Warriors or Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder in particular could use a strong guy on the wing to spell Sefolosha, Harden and Durant.

28. C.J. Leslie (NC State)

Leslie could make any team selecting after the 25th pick a very happy organization and he has all the makings of a steal.

The Celtics or Magic might even prefer him to guys like Jeff Taylor or Royce White—he's insanely athletic and could gradually turn into a standout forward.

29. Doron Lamb (Kentucky)

Lamb can score, but he's a poor man's version of more premium options like Dion Waiters or Austin Rivers.

Nevertheless, he'd be great value to a team like the Chicago Bulls. As deep as Chicago is, it stills lacks a shoot-first sixth man and Lamb would be a good fit.

30. Evan Fournier (France)

Fournier is likely to fall pretty low in the first round, but he'd provide solid wing depth to either the Golden State Warriors or Oklahoma City Thunder.

A top-flight team like the Thunder could afford to wait for him to develop his game further.