2012 NBA Mock Draft: Celtics and More Teams Who Should Trade Up

In drafts with a ton of talent, like this year's, there are a lot of reasons to trade up and select an impact player who can star as a rookie.

With the depth and talent in this year's NBA draft class, there could be several teams who look to make a jump up the draft board.

Let's look at who some of those teams might be in this fresh first-round NBA mock draft.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

The Bobcats need a big man who can dominate defensively and also add some scoring punch, which makes Davis the sure pick for Charlotte.

2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky  

Kidd-Gilchrist is a high-character kid with an ability to score the basketball consistency and defend well on the perimeter. Three things the Wizards need more off.

3. New Orleans Hornets: Andre Drummond, Connecticut

With Chris Kaman likely to leave the Hornets in the summer through free agency, the team will need to add a big man in the draft to improve the interior defense.

4. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson, Kansas

Robinson's ability to score and dominate the boards at both ends of the floor make him the perfect player for the Kings. Sacramento needs an NBA-ready player who can star as a rookie.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

 Barnes is a very good offensive player whose length and athleticism allow him to create his own offense against quality defenders. 

6. Toronto Raptors: Brad Beal, Florida

The Raptors need scoring help badly, which makes Florida sharpshooter Brad Beal an ideal pick at No. 6.

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

The Blazers would rather a center, but with Drummond off the board at pick No. 7, expect Portland to select Lamb to improve their back court.

8. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, North Carolina

Henson's defense and athleticism would be quite valuable to a young Pistons team in the midst of a rebuild.

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

Sullinger doesn't address a need for the Utah Jazz, but he's too talented to pass on in the top 10 of the draft.

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

The Hornets need a point guard who can score and run the offense well, like Chris Paul, and Damian Lillard has that skill set. 

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

Zeller would address the No. 1 need for the Blazers, which is a center that can defend in the paint and stretch the floor.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Meyers Leonard, Illinois

Leonard is a good defensive player, but his low-post scoring needs work. He's still worth taking at No. 12 at center because the Bucks need front court help. 

13. Phoenix Suns: Kendall Marshall, North Carolina

Marshall is the obvious choice as Steve Nash's replacement if he's available at pick 13.

14. Utah Jazz: Tony Wroten Jr., Washington

Wroten, Jr. is a talented scorer who give the Jazz the offensive boost they need in the back court.

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

Lamb is a very intelligent player who takes coaching well and is NBA-ready. He's a great fit on Houston. 

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Jones, Kentucky

Jones' athleticism and length on defense would make him a good backup for Andre Iguodala at small forward.

The 76ers have a roster full of young talent to use as trade bait if they want to move up in the first round. 

Philadelphia lacks an impact player who can take over games and would be smart to trade into the top seven picks and select a future star.

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

Jones' offensive ability and raw talent makes him a great pick at No. 17 if he's available at this point.

18. Denver Nuggets: Terrence Ross, Washington

Ross is a great talent and someone who can contribute at both ends of the floor right away, which is good for the Nuggets because they are a playoff-caliber team.

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

Taylor is a great talent whose defense would make a real difference at the forward spot for the Rockets. Taylor's athleticism and length is also impressive.

20. Atlanta Hawks: Moe Harkless, St. John’s

The Hawks need a legitimate center who can allow star forward Al Horford to move to his natural position of power forward.

Atlanta would also benefit from trading up as well since there are better big men in the first round than Harkless.

Perry Jones of Baylor and Tyler Zeller of North Carolina would be two players worth trading up for from Atlanta's standpoint.

21. Boston Celtics: Austin Rivers, Duke

Rivers is a talented offensive talent who can address the Celtics' need for more athleticism and bench scoring.

Boston, however, would be smart to trade up in the draft and select a potential star. General manager Danny Ainge has two first-round picks to work with and knows that there is a ton of talent in this class.

Someone like John Henson would be a great addition to the Celtics. He would give them much-needed athleticism and shot-blocking at the power forward position.

The Celtics would be smart to move up and draft an impact player who can speed up their rebuild next season.

22. Orlando Magic: Marquis Teague, Kentucky

Teague is one of the better point guard prospects in this draft and should be the successor to Jameer Nelson.

23. Memphis Grizzlies: Royce White, Iowa State

White is a quality big man, but his offensive game needs a bit of work. The Grizzlies certainly don't need more guards, so adding front court depth makes the most sense. 

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

The Celtics' depth at center is almost non-existent. Greg Stiemsma, who wasn't even in the NBA last season, is their best player at that position. 

25. Indiana Pacers: Dion Waiters, Syracuse

The Pacers would love to add someone like Waiters who can defend well in one-on-one situations and score in transition with the athletic Indiana players.

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

Melo's size, defense and rebounding skills would address several weaknesses on a Cavaliers team in rebuild mode.

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

Golden State needs a leader, a player with a high basketball intelligence and a strong work ethic. Green gives it all of that in one package.

28. Miami Heat: Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure

The Heat will need front court help this season, especially if they decide to trade Chris Bosh. Nicholson is a fundamentally strong player who can contribute well at both ends of the floor from day one in the pros.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Evan Fournier, France

Fournier would be a project for the Thunder, since he's not NBA-ready physically yet, but his scoring talent and shooting skills make him worthy of a first-round pick.

30. Chicago Bulls: Tomas Satoransky, Czech Republic

The Bulls need more scoring off the bench, which is exactly what Satoransky could give them from the shooting guard position.