2012 NBA Mock Draft: Point Guards Ready to Make Instant Impact

Big men may generally win championships, but point guards get teams into the playoffs.

And in this year's draft, there may not be the sort of elite talent at the position to be had like a Kyrie Irving, but there are still plenty of options for teams—options that should make an immediate impact in the league next season.

Let's take a look at where those players will fall in my latest mock draft.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF (Kentucky)

The decision to draft Davis for whomever holds the top pick will take all of two seconds. He's that good.

2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF (Kentucky)

He has the ability to help a team in every conceivable way and be a high-character, team-first guy in the process.

3. New Orleans Hornets: Andre Drummond, C (Connecticut)

He could be a dominant big man, or he could be a bust. Draft at your own risk.

4. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey): Bradley Beal, SG (Florida)

He may not make an instant impact in the NBA, but he'll be an electric player a few years from now.

5. Toronto Raptors: Thomas Robinson, PF (Kansas)

On sheer grit, will and determination alone, Robinson is a good pick. Add in his explosive athleticism, and you could be looking at next year's Rookie of the Year.

6. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones III, PF (Baylor)

His inconsistency will override his talent in the NBA. Unfortunately, he has too much potential to drop far in this draft.

7. Sacramento Kings: Jared Sullinger, PF (Ohio State)

If you are drafting him to be an offensive mainstay, you're barking up the wrong tree. His offensive game is limited. His defense and rebounding, however, will be an asset.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes, SF (North Carolina)

The Cavs could solve their lack of offense at the wing position with one simple pick.

9. Utah Jazz: Damian Lillard, PG (Weber State)

Lillard isn't going to be the next John Stockton by any stretch of the imagination, but he can flat-out score the rock. With a serious dearth of options in Utah at the point, drafting one should be the team's first priority.

Lillard is the best 1 available, plain and simple. He'll be a scorer before he's a pure assist man, but he'll make this Utah team a whole lot better next year.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller, C (North Carolina)

Zeller won't be a stud at the next level, but his fundamentally sound play and work ethic will make him a nice replacement for Andrew Bogut.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Meyers Leonard, C (Illinois)

Big men in the draft always shoot up the board. Leonard will seriously benefit from that phenomenon.

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

No, he won't be the next Chris Paul in New Orleans—he's not nearly athletic enough or a proficient enough scorer to replace Paul—but he is the draft's best pure, pass-first point guard and will instantly upgrade a position of need for the Hornets.

With a healthy Marshall, who knows if North Carolina would've made a run at the national championship? And with Marshall in town, the Hornets certainly will be a better team next year.

13. Phoenix Suns: Jeremy Lamb, SG (Connecticut)

He has all of the talent in the world, but he plays soft too often. He's a great value here, though I don't see him ever being an elite player in the NBA.

14. Utah Jazz: Austin Rivers, SG (Duke)

Rivers will probably be an undersized shooting guard in the NBA, and could end up having the sort of impact as a scorer that Monta Ellis brings to the table. Don't be surprised if he is off the board earlier than this.

15. Houston Rockets: Arnett Moultrie, PF (Mississippi State)

He has the potential to be a double-double guy at the next level, and he hasn't reached his upside even after averaging 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds this season. Houston could be getting a steal with this pick.

16. New Jersey Nets (via Houston): Tony Wroten, Jr., PG (Washington)

On one hand, Wroten is a bit of a project. He still isn't great at getting teammates involved in the offensive game and his jump shot could use work.

On the other hand, he's a big shooting guard capable of becoming a lock-down defender, and is an excellent finisher when taking the ball to the rim. It would be trial-by-fire for Wroten in Brooklyn next year, but he'll make an impact for this Nets team.

17. Boston Celtics: John Henson, PF (North Carolina)

If you're looking for rebounding and blocked shots, you've come to the right place.

18. Denver Nuggets: Terrence Jones, PF (Kentucky)

He could be the next coming of Lamar Odom. No, I'm not sure if I just complimented or insulted him, either.

19. Atlanta Hawks: Marquis Teague, PG (Kentucky)

The Hawks need a young point guard, and I think they'll reach slightly to snag Teague (if he declares, that is, though I think he will).

Sharing the ball on an offense with as much firepower as Atlanta has won't be a problem for Teague, coming from the team-first style of play Kentucky utilized despite being littered with superstars. And Teague is certainly tested on the big state.

He may come off the bench early in his career, but he'll play valuable minutes for the Hawks his rookie year.

20. Philadelphia 76ers: Andrew Nicholson, PF (St. Bonaventure)

If only the Sixers could find an elite scorer with this pick. As it were, they'll have to settle for an eventual replacement to Elton Brand instead.

21. Houston Rockets (via Dallas): Fab Melo, C (Syracuse)

Another guy with an unpolished offensive game but the potential to be dominant on the defensive end.

22. Memphis Grizzlies: Royce White, SF (Iowa State)

White has a ton of potential, and the Grizzlies can afford to let him develop it coming off the bench.

23. Indiana Pacers: Terrence Ross, SG (Washington)

He'll provide an offensive spark off the bench for the Pacers almost immediately. Ross is a pure scorer; that much is certain.

24. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): C.J. Leslie, PF (N.C. State)

More front-line flexibility, which the team will need if Kevin Garnett departs. Leslie's ability to play the 3 or 4 gives him added value.

25. Orlando Magic: Jeffery Taylor, SF (Vanderbilt)

This pick just makes too much sense not to happen. He's big, plays solid defense and shoots well from the perimeter—sounds like the perfect fit in Orlando to me.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Moe Harkless, SF (St. John's)

Harkless has a whole lot of potential. He could be the steal of the draft if he plays up to that potential.

27. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio): Dion Waiters, SG (Syracuse)

He would be a nice replacement for Monta Ellis, though his game is obviously much different. Another player that could climb up the boards and go much higher than this.

28. Miami Heat: Draymond Green, PF (Michigan State)

The versatile, playmaking Green would do a little bit of everything for Miami. This just feels like a natural fit to me.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: John Jenkins, SG (Vanderbilt)

A big man with an offensive game would be great, but not too many of those slip this late. The Thunder will add another shooter instead.

30. Chicago Bulls: Will Barton, SG (Memphis)

Barton was fantastic this year as the Conference USA Player of the Year. His length and ability to finish in transition make him a nice fit for Chicago.

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