2012 NBA Mock Draft: How Kentucky Starting 5 Will Morph the First Round
Here's how you can tell it's spring: birds are singing, flowers are blooming, seasonal allergies are flaring up.
And John Calipari is ushering teenagers and twenty-somethings into the NBA Draft.
Coach Cal has sent 10 underclassmen to the pros in the last four years (eight since arriving at Kentucky in 2009), and is poised to make millionaires out of five more from the 2012 NCAA Tournament champions.
Don't be surprised if all five turn out to be first-round picks in late June to extend Calipari's reign as the King of One-and-Donesylvania.
1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
Get your brows ready, Charlottespeople...Charlatans...Charlotteans!
(There we go.)
Michael Jordan's got his wandering eye on another tall, athletic teenager who specializes in paint protection.
Granted, Anthony Davis is already light years ahead of where Kwame Brown will ever be, but don't underestimate MJ's ability to turn everything he touches into whatever the opposite of gold is.
I mean, have you seen the Bobcats play basketball?
2. New Orleans Hornets: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
Sure, the Hornets want size. Heck, every team wants size.
New owner Tom Benson would also like to change mascots. I'm thinking the New Orleans Boba Fetts would be pretty sweet, if only as a complete and utter affront to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Anywho, New Orleans needs a player the team can build around, a winner who will give his heart and soul to the franchise.
Who better to do that than MKG? The kid's still a bit rough around the edges, but he's got all the tools (and the work ethic to maximize them) to be a star swingman for years to come down on the Bayou.
3. Washington Wizards: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
I'm pretty sure Kanye West wrote a song about Thomas Robinson going back to his DC roots to play for the Washington Wizards.
And no, it's not the one about Paris.
4. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut
Combine Andre Drummond's defensive prowess with DeMarcus Cousins' offensive skill, and what do you get?
That's right, a franchise on the move to Anaheim!
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
A backcourt of Kyrie Irving and Bradley Beal could be enough to get the Cavs back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture as soon as next season.
6. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
Here's a fun T-shirt idea for you Dubs fans out there: "We tanked the season and all we got was this lousy T-shirt...and Harrison Barnes."
7. Toronto Raptors: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
The Raps would love nothing more than a good excuse to dump Andrea Bargnani. A pairing of Jared Sullinger and Jonas Valanciunas should give GM Bryan Colangelo the flexibility to do just that.
8. New Orleans Hornets (via Timberwolves): Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
Damian Lillard's no Chris Paul, though he's still the best point guard in this draft, and is versatile enough to be a backcourt scorer if Eric Gordon bolts for Indiana via free agency.
9. Portland Trail Blazers (via Nets): Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
Good news: Raymond Felton and Jonny Flynn are coming off the books this summer in Portland.
Bad news: Jamal Crawford probably will too, leaving Elliot Williams and Nolan Smith as the lone ball-handlers on the roster.
Good news: Kendall Marshall's available...unless whoever the new GM turns out be decides to continue the Blazers Curse by springing for a big man...
10. Portland Trail Blazers: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
Which he/she could do just as easily at No. 10 with a skilled center like Tyler Zeller.
11. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor
The Pistons need a center, but could just as easily bump Greg Monroe into the middle to make way for PJ3.
12. Utah Jazz: Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut
Jazz fans, raise your jazz hands for the new Jazz man, Jeremy Lamb.
13. Milwaukee Bucks: Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky
Anthony Davis and MKG may have gotten all the attention at UK this season (and rightfully so), but don't forget about Terrence Jones. The Portland native has the athleticism, shooting ability and versatility to play just about every spot on the floor, though he's best as a "3" or a "4".
The Bucks could use a helping hand at either of those spots once Ersan Ilyasova and Carlos Delfino come off the books. Jones could turn out to be the steal of this draft class, especially if he works hard and plays with passion consistently.
14. New Jersey Nets (via Rockets): Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
According to ESPN's Chad Ford, Arnett Moultrie is becoming something of a hot commodity amongst NBA scouts. The Mississippi State product is still a bit raw, but sports the sort of length and athleticism that the Nets have long lacked (and sought) up front.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
Austin Rivers may be a bit unruly for Doug Collins' squad, but the dude can shoot—something that very few current Sixers can do with any consistency—and could be the bona fide star that Philly so desperately needs.
16. Phoenix Suns: Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
The Suns would love to replace Steve Nash with a star-in-the-making like Austin Rivers, but will have to settle for a solid (if troubled) shooting guard in Dion Waiters instead.
17. Houston Rockets (via Knicks): John Henson, PF, North Carolina
"Upside" is still the word with John Henson, though with the way GM Daryl Morey has been after big men of late, the Rockets probably won't mind waiting a bit for this kid to develop, while he shows off the skills that made him the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
18. Dallas Mavericks: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
The Mavs could take a chance on another former Husky (Tony Wroten), but, assuming Deron Williams returns to his Metroplex roots, pairing him in the backcourt with a shooter like Terrence Ross makes more sense.
19. Denver Nuggets: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
The Nuggets would be wise to add a center like Fab Melo, on the "off" chance that JaVale McGee doesn't pan out like they'd hoped.
20. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Someone is going to have to fill the Magic's front court when (not if) Dwight Howard leaves for "greener" pastures.
21. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten Jr., PG, Washington
The Grizz are pretty well set at just about every position. This gives them the flexibility to add Tony Wroten as a backup to Mike Conley, and hope his enormous talent overcomes his presumed issues in the process.
22. Atlanta Hawks: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's
Another athletic scoring wing for the Hawks?
Why not?
23. Boston Celtics: Royce White, PF, Iowa State
Royce White is falling fast, on account of his well-documented issues with anxiety, though Doc Rivers might be just the nurturing coach he needs to let his talents flourish in the NBA.
24. Boston Celtics (via Clippers): Jeff Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
Paul Pierce can't play forever, you know. The C's can groom Jeff Taylor, who brings a nice dose of aged maturity along with his athleticism and improved shooting ability, as the eventual successor to "The Truth."
25. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Lakers): Draymond Green, PF, Michigan State
The Cavs went hard after Tom Izzo a couple years ago, so why not settle for the next best thing—Draymond Green, one of his all-time favorite players?
26. Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky
Homecomings may be a bit simplistic to predict, but dang, are they fun or what?!
Not enthused? Eh, well.
Anyway, Marquis Teague is both a native of Indianapolis and a solid fit for the Pacers. Their point guard situation is good (not great) with Darren Collison atop the depth chart.
And while Teague isn't a pure point, per se, he has the sort of speed (to push the ball) and fearlessness (to get to the basket) that these young Pacers could use in bunches.
27. Miami Heat: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
Doron Lamb is easily the least tantalizing of the Kentucky Five, though he's no slouch when it comes to NBA ability. The New York native can wine and dine the twine from behind the three-point line as well as just about anyone in this year's draft class.
He'll give the Heat a shot of instant offense off the bench to help avoid all those times that LeBron James and Dwyane Wade would need to come up big in the clutch.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Evan Fournier, SG, France
No, France isn't a school; it's a country, from which Evan Fournier hails. He's been known to score in bunches and, given the depth across the Thunder's roster, would be a nice pick to stash overseas for another year or two.
29. Golden State Warriors (via Spurs): Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
The Dubs' front court will be better next season, with a healthy Andrew Bogut playing next to David Lee, though it could still use some depth from a guy like Andrew Nicholson.
30. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
One of these days, the Bulls will find a healthy shooter to play next to Derrick Rose. That day, my friends, is June 28th...and that healthy shooter is John Jenkins.
