2012 NBA Mock Draft: Late-Round Talent Guaranteed to Succeed

The NBA draft is here to infuse the sport with a great many more sharpshooters and high flyers. This is a deep class that features a few studs lurking in the late first round as well.

Here is our latest mock draft with a couple of changes. First, we have highlighted some great talent that will be around at the tail end of this draft. 

This is one of the deeper drafts, giving some tremendous value to contenders that will be on the clock at the bottom of the first round. 

Secondly, the order has been changed to reflect the recent tiebreakers held by the NBA. Remember that the lottery will change the final standing, and this is only a placeholder of a draft order to come. 

Here is that order from the official NBA page. 

Standings are fluid—from lottery teams to playoffs, things will change. 

1. Charlotte Bobcats—Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

This is still the pick now, and will be in the future. There is no way the best player last season slides from his perch. 

2. Washington Wizards—Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

I love him as an immediate-impact player that comes in with a great balance to his game and the tenacity to make sure he is no bust. 

3. Cleveland Cavaliers—Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

The Cavaliers move up a bit in this mock, but the pick is still Beal. He is a pure scorer that comes in with a high ceiling. I love him in the backcourt with Kyrie Irving. 

4. New Orleans Hornets—Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

He ranges everywhere from solid starter to superstar. He needs to demand more from himself on offense, but I have no questions about his desire to improve.  

5.  Sacramento Kings—Andre Drummond, C, UConn

He is a big man with solid contributor written all over him. The Kings would have a fantastic paint presence pairing Drummond with DeMarcus Cousins.  

6. Portland Trail Blazers (Via NJ)—Harrison Barnes, SF, UNC

I am interested to see if he can truly dominate in the pros, but he has the polish as a wing scorer to be an early prospect off the board. This is best player at the right time for the Blazers.

7. Utah Jazz (via GS from NJ)—Damian Lillard, PG, Weber St.

I like Lillard as a point guard that can actually score the rock. There may be better point guards from a court vision regard, but he can light up the stat line in other ways. 

8. Toronto Raptors—Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn

The Raptors get an enigma of a player. He plays with an ease that gives many scouts pause, taking that for nonchalance. I say he is an elite player. 

9. Detroit Pistons—Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

Sullinger will prove to be a steal, even as a top-10 talent. He is a versatile big man that has a consistent shot out to 18 feet, and he is a born leader. 

In time, he will rise to the top as one of the more solid picks from the 2012 class. 

10. New Orleans Hornets (via LAC from MIN)—Kendall Marshall, PG, UNC

He is as safe a pick as you get. Marshall is a known quantity that will find a nice cozy niche in the NBA as a great passer with elite court vision. 

11. Portland Trail Blazers—Tyler Zeller, C, UNC

The Blazers need to shore up durability issues in the frontcourt. Zeller is the best at the time and runs the court well despite his size.   

12. Milwaukee Bucks—Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

The most interesting prospect on the board slides no further. Rivers is the young man that everyone loves to hate, as he lacks consistency on his shot and generally needs another year to mature. 

However, he is my favorite to be a draft gem after a few years in the pros. He has that killer instinct we like and the ability to finish at the rim, making him dangerous now. 

13. Phoenix Suns—Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky

I keep sending this guy higher and higher on the board. He has a complete game and is a jack of all trades. Can guard multiple positions. 

14. New Jersey Nets (via HOU)—Perry Jones III, F, Baylor

There are a ton of questions the Nets have to answer in the offseason. I like them to go with the best big man on the board. PJ3 also comes with elite-level upside and a knack for defensive measures. 

15. Philadelphia 76ers—Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

The Sixers go big with a center that is 7'0" and moves well in the paint.  

16. Houston Rockets (via NYK)—Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

He has the size we love, but he settles far too often for perimeter measures. He would be far better using his stature in the paint more often. 

17. Dallas Mavericks —John Henson, PF, UNC

This draft is stacked with players dedicated to defense. Henson may actually be one of the best on that end of the court. Anything offensive in his rookie season is pure icing. 

18. Utah Jazz—Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

He can lock down multiple decisions and showed a consistent shot, making him a near guarantee as a top-20 pick. 

19. Orlando Magic—Royce White, SF, Iowa State 

There are no questions about his defense, which is predatory, and he finishes very well at the rim. I just need to see more consistency on the perimeter.   

20. Denver Nuggets—Tony Wroten, G, Washington

He will be brilliant in spurts, but he needs a couple years on the bench to polish his game. 

21. Boston Celtics—Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

He can get a little sloppy with his decisions, but that is a perfect reason for him to go to a team that can iron that all out with time. 

22. Boston Celtics (via LAC from OKC)—Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Melo is all over the place on mock drafts. I am convinced that he will move up the closer we get to the draft, and that's why he is our first highlight of the late round.

He is a big man that does everything well on defense. He is committed to blocking shots and hitting the boards. He shows flashes of garnering a great offensive game as well.   

23. Atlanta Hawks—Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

He has a great first step and is a dynamo on the court, finishing very well at the rim. His biggest issue is that he forces the issue far too often.

That can definitely be addressed with time and maturity. Teague will be a star at some point down the line.  

24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via LAL)—Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure 

Big size and soft hands make him a great asset in the right system, but needs to add bulk.  

25. Memphis Grizzlies—John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt

Solid shooter that can light it up from anywhere on the court.   

26. Indiana Pacers—Moe Harkless, SF, St. John’s

He will hit the boards and play defense, enough said.   

27. Miami Heat—Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt

Here is the thing: I am not about to call Ezeli an All-Star, but he will have a great career filling a niche for the Heat.

He is a big man that is dedicated to defense and rebounding, something that would be of tremendous help to the Heat.   

28. Oklahoma City Thunder—Draymond Green, F, Michigan State

He doesn't have elite-level athletic ability, but this is the "intangibles" portion of the draft. Green will have time and patience on his side going to a solid contender. 

He has the drive and passion to hone his craft and be a solid contributor down the line. 

29. Chicago Bulls—Kevin Jones, PF, West Virginia

Jones is an underrated big man that can shoot from distance and has a sound balanced game. 

30. Golden State (via SA)—Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

It may be a bit much to see Lamb slide this far, but I really like him for the Warriors. He plays with fearlessness on offense and loves to have the ball in clutch situations. 

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