2012 NBA Mock Draft: Filling Top Need for Each Team
If your team is waiting for the NBA to announce the draft order for the lottery, this mock is for you.
While this is a full first-round mock draft, there was an emphasis placed on the teams that didn't make the playoffs.
Everyone knows the Charlotte Bobcats will have the best chance at winning the top selection, but it isn't guaranteed.
The league's worst record earned them a 25 percent chance at being the first team on the clock.
The draft order here is based on the safe assumption that the draft order stays as is.
Allow me to offer you one detail of explanation: While I normally predict the player teams will draft in my mocks, this time I have placed the player with the team that I believe best fills their need. This isn't necessarily what I expect will happen so much as what I think should happen.
In short, instead of predicting the pick, I'm playing GM for every team.
Here are my thoughts:
1. Charlotte Bobcats: Andre Drummond, PF/C, UConn
Anthony Davis is the popular selection here, but he isn't the best one. The Bobcats are the opposite of the saying "what do you give to the person that has everything?"
An appropriate Bobcats twist on that question is "what do you give to the team that has nothing?"
My answer is "the player that has the most potential to be dominant."
In my opinion, that is clearly Drummond. At 6'10" and 270 pounds with amazing athleticism, Drummond has the highest ceiling of any prospect. He looks like a mixture of Amar'e Stoudemire and Shawn Kemp.
Though he was less than dominant at UConn, his 10 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game as a freshman is nothing to dismiss.
He didn't enjoy the same individual and team success as Davis did, but in terms of ceiling, there is no contest.
2. Washington Wizards: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
Don't take my affinity for Drummond as a disrespect for Davis. I know he is a very solid prospect. His defense and rebounding would be a better fit with the Wizards.
Davis isn't a great scorer, and honestly, he may never develop into one. Some of it has to do with deferring to his talented Wildcats' teammates, but some of it has to do with frame and strength.
What he is, is one of the most devastating shot-blockers I've seen coming out of college. He has great length, good leaping ability and even better timing.
He reminds me a lot of Marcus Camby. A player like him could really thrive in Washington, and the Wizards would definitely improve.
Washington needs a player that brings defense and rebounding every night, with a higher basketball IQ than JaVale McGee displayed.
Davis is that guy.
In some ways, the Wizards have a similar makeup to Kentucky. They are both set up to get in transition, and ideally, everything should come off their defense.
If the Wizards take Davis, the next step would be to find their Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
3. New Orleans Hornets: Austin Rivers, PG/SG, Duke
The Hornets are in a situation similar to the Bobcats, especially if unrestricted free agent Eric Gordon doesn't return. That situation is augmented by the uncertainty surrounding team ownership.
In short, they need a superstar for on-court improvement and commercial appeal.
Many will scoff at Rivers this high, as most mocks have him listed in the middle of the first round.
Despite that, I believe Rivers will be a much better pro than he was as a college freshman—and that wasn't too shabby.
At Duke, Rivers averaged 15.5 points, 2.1 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 2011.
I also believe that he will begin to prove that to NBA scouts once workouts and camps are in full swing. I fully expect Rivers to be one of the biggest risers on the draft board.
He has the ability to create and make tough shots. That is one of the rarest qualities in the NBA. In close games, there are possessions where a team has to be capable of giving it to a player and allowing him to make a play.
Rivers is that type of player.
Compounding that skill is his commercial appeal. Per Twee.co, Rivers was one of the top 10 trending topics on Twitter, five times in the past year.
His presence could help raise the value of the franchise, as well as helping the team on the floor.
4. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
Robinson is my early choice for Rookie of the Year. He is the prospect most ready to contribute from day one. He is a beast physically with the build of a NFL TE.
He proved he could score and rebound on the block, but showed the athleticism to guard on the perimeter.
His averages of 17.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, proved he could be dominant, and in my opinion, he was the nation's best player.
Davis deserved the Naismith award because of team success, but no one was better than Robinson.
He would bring a hard-working and capable presence, that would either inspire DeMarcus Cousins, or make him expendable.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
MKG reminds me so much of Shawn Marion—minus the weird form on the jump shot. Strangely, the jump shot is one of the few areas MKG needs to improve. He shot only 25.5 percent from three in 2011, but discussion of his weaknesses end there.
He is a defensive stalwart that I can easily see drawing the toughest defensive matchup every night.
He has great intangibles, and he is a tremendously hard worker that rebounds at clip closer to a PF's standards.
MKG would bring a winning mentality to a team that is moving in the right direction. His approach fits in perfectly with Byron Scott's coaching style.
6. Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
Barnes is not a superstar, or an alpha male personality.
That said, his solid overall game would be an asset to the Raptors. The team has DeMar DeRozan at the SG, with Andreas Bargnani at PF. Jonas Valunciunas is set to join the team for the 2012-2013 season.
Adding Barnes on the wing would give the Raptors a solid young starting lineup.
He is a capable and willing defender that can knock down the three (17 points per game, 35.8 percent from three-point range).
His stay in Toronto would be a strong one, as long as the team has a strong presence at the PG position.
That may not be Jose Calderon.
7. Portland Trailblazers (from New Jersey): John Henson, C, North Carolina
LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the premier PF in the NBA. But, the Blazers always planned for Greg Oden to play next to him in the paint.
Obviously, that never really came to pass.
The Blazers should try to tab Henson as Aldridge running mate.
He is a major defensive presence. He averaged three blocks per game over his sophomore and junior seasons. Henson is also developing a nice 15 foot jump shot.
Because Aldridge is solid on the offensive end of the floor, the Blazers need a defensive stalwart. Henson is that type of presence.
He is limber enough to run the floor, but he does need to add some bulk—especially as a low-post defender.
But he is the best fit for the Blazers.
8. Utah Jazz (from Golden State): Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
The Jazz made the playoffs and they have a chance to benefit greatly from the Warriors' futility. Lillard is a potentially dynamic player at the PG position.
9. Detroit Pistons: Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn
Ben Gordon is not the answer at SG for the Pistons. They need a player with more size and a willingness to defense.
Lamb is a solid scorer and three-point shooter (17.1 points per game and 33.6 percent from three-point range). He is also a potentially elite defender.
Lamb is a legit 6'6", with long arms and outstanding athleticism.
He isn't a go to man, but he's a solid player that reminds me of Eddie Jones.
If the Pistons believe in their big man-little man combo of Brandon Knight and Greg Monroe; Lamb would be a great addition on the wing.
10. New Orleans Hornets (from Minnesota): Perry Jones III, SF/PF, Baylor
PJ3 has as much talent as anyone in the draft. At 6'11", he has the handle and skill set of a guard. He still needs to work on his perimeter game, but he hasn't had the opportunity to play away from the basket as much as he needs to.
PJ3 reminds me of Lamar Odom in his abilities and his approach. I don't think he'll ever be a No. 1 scorer, or an alpha male.
But on the right team, he could be a very valuable second fiddle. A Robin to someone's Batman; believe it or not, that is a very important part of allowing superstars to reach their potential.
Generally, they need a player, almost as talented to back them up and not care about the limelight.
I think PJ3 could be that guy for Rivers.
If the Hornets take my advice, they could have a very nice one-two punch.
11. Portland Trailblazers: Bradley Beal, G, Florida
I'm not quite as high on Beal as many others are. He is a bit undersized for the SG at 6'3", even though he plays a bit bigger than that.
He doesn't create off the dribble as well as he needs to for a SG, in my opinion.
What he can do is shoot the ball, and use his strength on straight line drives. He is also a solid rebounder for a guard. He averaged over six boards per game in 2011.
That total led the team.
The Blazers need to find a SG to place on the wing with Nicolas Batum, and Beal could be a nice fit.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
After moving the oft-injured Andrew Bogut, the Bucks need a center. It is unclear if the Bucks will return their speedy and exciting backcourt, but either way, they need to address the middle.
Zeller is a true seven footer with solid athleticism.
He averaged 16 points and 9.6 rebounds per game as a senior. He is a solid shot-blocker and a hard worker.
Both of those traits should endear him to Scott Skiles.
13. Houston Rockets: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Leonard is a very athletic seven footer, but I don't think he'll ever be a star. He is raw right now, but he has some tools.
The Rockets are big man starved, so while I endorse this pick, I'm not sure it will amount to much more than their time with Hasheem Thabeet.
He does have far more offensive skills than Thabeet, but he needs to get stronger and tougher in my opinion.
14. Phoenix Suns: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
This pick would make perfect sense to me. Steve Nash is probably not returning to Phoenix for the 2012-2013 season. The franchise needs a new floor general.
Marshall is the best pure point guard prospect in the draft. He is a natural leader, and he has the potential to be a coach on the floor type.
He reminds me of Mark Jackson with a little better jump shot.
This is perhaps the biggest lay up pick of the first round.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
Taking Sullinger would allow the Sixers to amnesty Elton Brand, while giving them a quality low-post scorer.
16. Houston Rockets (from NY Knicks): Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
Waiters is a bit undersized, but he has a natural scorers mentality. He has been compared to Dwayne Wade.
Though I think those comparisons are a little bit of a stretch; I do think he could be a solid pick for the Rockets.
This is especially the case if the team moves Kevin Martin, and or loses restricted free agent Courtney Lee.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah): Terrence Ross, SF, Washington
The Timberwolves are in not in dire straits for the first time in a while. They have one of the top five players in the NBA in Kevin Love.
Provided Ricky Rubio returns to form after his injury, they have one of the games best young point guards as well.
That is why Ross would be such a solid addition.
He excels on the wing and has excellent athleticism. He would be the beneficiary of his share of Rubio lobs if the Wolves take him.
18. Dallas Mavericks: Moe Harkless, SF/PF, St. John's
Moe Harkless' game reminds me of a slightly more athletic Shareef Abdur-Rahim; this would be a solid pick for the Mavs.
19. Orlando Magic: Arnett Moultrie, PF/C, Mississippi State
With so much uncertainty surrounding Dwight Howard, the Magic must select the best big man available.
20. Denver Nuggets: Terrance Jones, SF/PF, Kentucky
Jones reminds me of Al Harrington. He is versatile and he could add depth behind Harrington; if he isn't moved.
21. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
The C's need size, as Kevin Garnett will likely be leaving after this season.
22. Atlanta Hawks: Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor
Miller wasn't amazing as a freshman, but he has tremendous upside. He could replace Marvin Williams, if the Hawks are dissatisfied with the play at SF.
23. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten, PG/SG, Washington
Wroten could be a star, if he improves his sub 20 percent three-point shooting. He's still a solid pick for the Grizzlies as a potential backup for Mike Conley and the SG position.
24. Boston Celtics: Jeff Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
Taylor can score, and he could help soften the blow from possibly losing Ray Allen. If he plays well, he could help the C's feel good about trading Paul Pierce.
25. Cleveland Cavaliers (from LA Lakers): John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
The Cavs could use a sharpshooter off the bench like Jenkins. He shot over 42 percent from three in 2011, and his style would mesh with PG Kyrie Irving.
Every good team needs a long distance specialist, Jenkins is one of the best pure shooters in the draft.
The Cavs could be on the fast track to redemption if they can follow up the successful 2011 draft with a strong 2012.
26. Indiana Pacers: Evan Fournier, SG/SF, France
The Pacers may not be satisfied with Danny Granger at SF. Fournier could be a nice pick, even as a future reserve.
27. Oklahoma City Thunder: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky
The Thunder need a backup for Russell Westbrook in case Eric Maynor doesn't come back full strength after his knee injury.
28. Miami Heat: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt
The Heat's chief need is size. Taking Ezeli would give the team a true seven footer inside.
29. Golden State Warriors (from San Antonio): Royce White, PF, Iowa State
White has size and potential. The Warriors need a true inside presence that can score with his back to the basket.
30. Chicago Bulls: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
The Bulls may still be looking for the answer at SG after this season. Even if they are able to acquire a player like Eric Gordon, Lamb would be a solid scorer off the bench.
