2012 NBA Mock Draft: Projecting Where Top Sharpshooters Will Land

In this day and age of dunks and swats, the art of an effective jump shot is often lost on many players. Because of that, players who excel at shooting the ball from mid-range or beyond the three-point arc are at a premium.

There aren't a ton of players in this year's NBA draft class who have that dimension to their game, but the ones that do will be valued.

The top of the draft figures to be littered with elite big men like Anthony Davis and Thomas Robinson, but value can be had a bit later in the form of elite shooters. No matter how many good bigs a team has, it is difficult to win without being able to keep the opposition honest with three-point shooters.

Along with a full, first-round mock draft, here is some analysis on where some of the draft's best sharpshooters may eventually land.

1. Charlotte Bobcats - Anthony Davis, F, Kentucky

The Bobcats will bring every good luck charm they have with them to the draft as getting Davis could signal an immediate turnaround.

2. Washington Wizards - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, F, Kentucky

Few players in this draft can do more on the court than Kidd-Gilchrist as he excels in the paint and as a mid-range shooter, as well as on defense.

3. New Orleans Hornets - Thomas Robinson, F, Kansas

The Hornets were hurt by the loss of David West almost as much as the loss of Chris Paul, so Robinson will fill the void at power forward.

4. Sacramento Kings - Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

The Kings have all the makings of a team on the brink of contention and putting Drummond at center would be a big step forward.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers - Bradley Beal, G, Florida

Cleveland is still smarting from the loss of LeBron James, but pairing Beal with Kyrie Irving will give the Cavs one of the league's most exciting backcourts.

6. Toronto Raptors - Harrison Barnes, F, North Carolina

The Raptors are severely lacking when it comes to effective wing players, so Barnes is an absolute no-brainer if he's still available.

7. Portland Trail Blazers - Kendall Marshall, G, North Carolina

Things simply haven't worked out with Raymond Felton at point guard, so the Blazers won't hesitate to jump on a floor general like Marshall.

8. Utah Jazz - Jeremy Lamb, G, Connecticut

Although the UConn Huskies didn't experience anywhere near the success in 2011-12 that they did in the previous season when they won the national championship, it wasn't Jeremy Lamb's fault. Lamb became the go-to guy for the Huskies as Kemba Walker left for the NBA and Lamb certainly didn't disappoint.

Not only did Lamb score nearly 18 points per game, but he nailed over two trifectas per contest and developed into one of the best spot-up shooters in college basketball. His accuracy from long range wasn't always the best, but when he was on he could really fill it up, especially when it came to running off screens thanks to his beautiful jumper.

The Utah Jazz are a team with some good pieces inside as Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are a formidable combo, but their backcourt leaves a lot of be desired.

Not only will the play of Jefferson and Millsap allow Lamb to receive open looks, but if he hits his shots, then opposing defenses will have a tougher time with Jefferson and Millsap as well.

9. Detroit Pistons - Austin Rivers, G, Duke

There is certainly some concern with regards to how Rivers' game will translate, but having Brandon Knight next to him should do wonders.

10. New Orleans Hornets - Damian Lillard, G, Weber State

The Hornets really need a point guard to replace Chris Paul, and while Lillard isn't a great playmaker like Paul, he may very well be a better pure scorer.

11. Portland Trail Blazers - Jared Sullinger, F/C, Ohio State

After whiffing big time by drafting Greg Oden No. 1 overall a few years back, the Blazers need a center and they may turn to another Ohio State product in Sullinger.

12. Milwaukee Bucks - Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

The Bucks have seen good early returns from their trade of Andrew Bogut for Monta Ellis, but they need a big center like Leonard to replace the Aussie.

13. Utah Jazz - Perry Jones III, F, Baylor

Having already addressed their deficiency at shooting guard, the Jazz will take a versatile forward in Jones who can play the 3 or the 4 in the NBA.

14. Houston Rockets - Tyler Zeller, F/C, North Carolina

The Rockets continue to search for a replacement for the retired Yao Ming, and while Zeller may not be it, he has a refined offensive game that they'll love.

15. Phoenix Suns - John Henson, F, North Carolina

Phoenix has done a nice job injecting talent into the frontcourt in recent years, but Marcin Gortat could use an athletic complement such as Henson.

16. Philadelphia 76ers - Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky

The Sixers aren't hurting badly at any particular position, so the versatile Jones is a logical pick as he can excel at both forward positions.

17. Houston Rockets - Terrence Ross, G, Washington

Although the Rockets already have Kevin Martin, you can never have too many scorers in the backcourt, so Ross would be a great fit.

18. Dallas Mavericks - Arnett Moultrie, F, Mississippi State

The Mavericks are aging pretty much everywhere, and even though Dirk Nowitzki is entrenched at power forward, he can co-exist with Moultrie.

19. Denver Nuggets - Dion Waiters, G, Syracuse

Few teams in the league have as much depth as the Nuggets, so when a player such as Waiters is capable of playing and defending multiple positions, he's a major target.

20. Boston Celtics - Moe Harkless, F, St. John’s

Like the Mavs, the Celtics just need a youth infusion on their roster and Harkless very well may be the heir apparent to Paul Pierce.

21. Memphis Grizzlies - Tony Wroten, G, Washington

The Grizzlies have a fantastic starting five, but lack depth, so Wroten could possibly serve as a spark-plug scorer off the bench immediately.

22. Orlando Magic - Doron Lamb, G, Kentucky

No prospect in this year's class was more deadly accurate from long range than Kentucky's Doron Lamb, and that should make him a very popular player on draft day.

Lamb was often overlooked as he had to share the floor with studs like Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but he was the one who led the way against Kansas in the national championship game.

Lamb scored 22 points in that contest and made three from long range, which was indicative of what he did all season long. He wasn't always counted on to put up big numbers, but when the Wildcats needed a three-pointer, he was the player head coach John Calipari turned to. Lamb shot 47 percent from downtown on the season after shooting nearly 49 percent as a freshman, so he's no fluke.

The Orlando Magic need something to appease Dwight Howard and Lamb may be the perfect fit. Orlando's entire offense runs through Howard, but if Lamb can loosen up the defense a bit with his deadly shot, then it will open up so much more space for the big man. It seems like a match made in heaven.

23. Atlanta Hawks - Royce White, F, Iowa State

With Josh Smith likely entering his last year as a Hawk, Atlanta would be wise to grab a possible replacement in the athletic White.

24. Boston Celtics - Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

The Celtics desperately need a center and while this may be viewed as a reach and a huge risk, no center in the draft has more untapped potential than Melo.

25. Cleveland Cavaliers - Jeffery Taylor, F, Vanderbilt

The post-LeBron Cavs really seem to be coming together, and adding Taylor to the tandem of Kyrie Irving and Bradley Beal is a scary proposition for opposing defenses.

26. Indiana Pacers - Marquis Teague, G, Kentucky

The Pacers don't particularly need another point guard with Darren Collison and George Hill in the fold, but they have depth everywhere, so he'll add to that.

27. Miami Heat - Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt

Miami is solid at every position except center and while Ezeli figures to be a bit of a project, he's a better option than Joel Anthony or Ronny Turiaf.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder - Andrew Nicholson, F, St. Bonaventure

The Thunder are the envy of pretty much every team in the league thanks to their young talent, but they could use a versatile forward like Nicholson who can step out and hit shots.

29. Golden State Warriors - Draymond Green, F, Michigan State

The Warriors have really nice spine with Andre Bogut, David Lee and Stephen Curry on board, and Green could be the straw that stirs the drink.

30. Chicago Bulls - John Jenkins, G, Vanderbilt

No player in the nation took more threes or made more threes this past season than Vanderbilt shooting guard John Jenkins.

He connected from long range at a blistering 45 percent and often put the Commodores on his back. That was the case in the SEC championship game as the threat of his potent shot drew in the Kentucky defense en route to a Vandy upset.

Like any shooter, Jenkins was hot and cold during his collegiate career, but over the past two seasons he averaged nearly 20 points per game and over three trifectas made per contest as well. That type of shooter is incredibly important when it comes to spacing the floor and opening up opportunities for teammates.

One team that could really use him is the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls have been looking for an answer at shooting guard as Richard Hamilton has been unable to stay healthy. Jenkins seems like the ideal fit as his great shooting should mesh well with Derrick Rose's ability to get to the basket. If Chicago is lucky enough that he falls this far, he'll undoubtedly be the pick.