2012 NBA Mock Draft: Point Guards Who Will Make Immediate Impact
June's NBA Draft has plenty of talent and a few stars in the making, but its point guards aren't among the prospects receiving the most attention.
While there might not be another Chris Paul or Derrick Rose in this draft class, teams in need of floor generals still have to look at their options. Some of those options may be more under-the-radar than the likes of Anthony Davis and Thomas Robinson, but—then again—most guys are.
Scorers and pass-first guards should wind up being selected in the first round, and a few 1s could even go in the lottery.
There's also a good chance that some of the shooting guards in this draft will eventually play some point in the NBA—or at least take on the combo-guard roles popularized by stars like Monta Ellis and Eric Gordon.
Here's a complete guide to who's going where with a little extra attention paid to this summer's unheralded point guard options (and guys who could become point guards).
1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF (Kentucky)
This pick has absolutely nothing to do with what Charlotte wants or needs. They'll take Anthony Davis simply because he's the best player in this draft, both in terms of upside and his immediate impact.
He's got the length and superlative athleticism to make a huge defensive impact in the paint.
2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF (Kentucky)
Kidd-Gilchrist is both an outstanding talent and a fighter at heart, and Washington will need his contributions both on and off the court.
This team also needs a small forward and a sidekick for John Wall—Kidd-Gilchrist should succeed on both counts.
3. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, PF (Kansas)
New Orleans could go with Andre Drummond here if it's interested in taking some risks. Otherwise, Robinson is the best available front-line option.
With or without Carl Landry, Robinson is an ideal fit. He can score, play defense, hustle and rebound.
4. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, C (UConn)
The Kings' horrific defense could use Drummond to help clog up the paint. He's big, strong and mobile enough to keep pace with an up-tempo team like Sacramento. Yes, he could be a project, but the Kings can't afford to be too conservative.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes, SF (North Carolina)
Barnes will be the best small forward left on the board, and Cleveland needs a guy who can help out on both ends of the court. He's a solid defender, consistent shooter and smart player. Whether he's superstar material or not, he'll give Kyrie Irving a much-needed helping hand.
6. Toronto Raptors: Bradley Beal, G (Florida)
Beal will probably be the biggest difference-maker still available with the sixth selection, assuming of course that he's even still available. For now, he's more of a shooting guard, but he could become more of a combo-guard with an improved handle and court vision.
The 18-year-old is a slightly taller version of Eric Gordon—he could take over on the perimeter for Toronto and let DeMar DeRozan focus more on getting to the rim.
7. Portland Trail Blazers: Kendall Marshall, PG (North Carolina)
Marshall isn't an especially exciting pick this high in the lottery, but he's a safe bet to distribute the ball for a team that desperately needs a capable, pass-first floor general. Still, if Portland opts to take the best available talent, Marshall could slide quite a ways in this draft.
He's got good size at 6'4" and a basketball IQ rare for young point guards. If he develops better scoring ability, he could become an All-Star. At the very worst, though, he could turn into a Jose Calderon-type starter.
8. Utah Jazz: Damian Lillard, PG (Weber State)
Lillard has a bit of Kyle Lowry in his game, and that's exactly what Utah needs at the moment. Lillard is a better scorer than Marshall and may have more all-around upside. You could certainly argue he's the best true point guard in the draft.
At the end of the day, Lillard is still more of a scorer than passer. He improved his shooting in his three seasons at Weber St., but he never averaged more than four assists in a season. He'll need to prove he can get his teammates involved before he gets a starting gig in the NBA.
9. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones III, PF (Baylor)
Detroit needs an athletic front court, and Jones III may be the solution. He's one of the best pure athletes in the draft, and he's got the skills to match. If he remains focused, the sky is his limit.
10. New Orleans Hornets: Terrence Jones, SF (Kentucky)
Jones has tons of all-around talent and a huge wingspan for a small forward. He'd give New Orleans an immediate upgrade defensively and might be a piece to build around over the long haul. His potential is rivaled by few in this draft class.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Tyler Zeller, C (North Carolina)
Portland could use a quality center given Marcus Camby's departure at the trade deadline. Zeller moves his feet, hustles and has a shooting touch that's good enough to eventually make him a starter at the pro level.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: John Henson, PF (North Carolina)
The Bucks will need help in the paint without Andrew Bogut around, and Henson's a great rebounder and has the length to block plenty of shots. As he gets stronger, he could become a little bit like Milwaukee's version of Serge Ibaka.
13. Houston Rockets: Jeremy Lamb, SG (UConn)
Lamb is a skilled scorer with a long wingspan, and he could turn into a better version of Jamal Crawford. The Rockets would be very fortunate to grab that kind of talent so late in the lottery. This guy is almost a lock to become a solid starter, if not more.
14. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, G (Duke)
Rivers has the potential to be a star in the NBA, and Phoenix has to take some risks to get that kind of guy this late in the draft. He may never develop into much of a point guard—but he's a good enough scorer that it may not matter.
If he can play some point down the road, his value would increase exponentially. That will require him to play a lot more unselfishly, so there's no telling how effectively he'll diversify his game.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Jared Sullinger, PF (Ohio State)
Elton Brand may be the perfect person to mentor Sullinger and teach him the kind of tricks that help undersized 4s get by in the league. As strong as Sullinger may be, he could still use the help against the NBA's taller front lines.
16. Houston Rockets: Arnett Moultrie, PF (Mississippi St.)
Moultrie is a gamble, but the Rockets could use his size over the long haul after giving up on Hasheem Thabeet and Jordan Hill in midseason trades.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Terrence Ross, SG (Washington)
The Timberwolves are set at every position other than the 2, and Ross has a ton of potential at the position. He has the ideal size with athleticism and talent to boot. He'll also add some solid defense to Minnesota's backcourt and would be a nice pair with Ricky Rubio on the fast break.
18. Dallas Mavericks: Meyers Leonard, C (Illinois)
19. Orlando Magic: Jeff Taylor, SF (Vanderbilt)
Orlando's wing players are getting old, and Taylor would make a nice replacement for Hedo Turkoglu whenever he moves on. The 6'7" forward is a great defender and has a much-improved perimeter shot. His draft stock benefited a lot from staying at Vanderbilt through his senior year.
20. Denver Nuggets: Tony Wroten Jr., PG (Washington)
Wroten Jr.'s size (at 6'5'') would be a great change of pace from the pint-sized Ty Lawson, and he'd be especially valuable if Andre Miller departs via free agency. The 19-year-old point guard still needs to work on his shooting and other offensive skills, but he's got enough upside to take here.
If he's taken ahead of guards like Dion Waiters and Marquis Teague, it will be at some risk—other options reason to be more ready to go, but Wroten Jr. has worlds of potential.
21. Boston Celtics: Quincy Miller, SF (Baylor)
Miller has the length and athleticism the Celtics would love to have backing up Paul Pierce—he could even become a long-term replacement. For a team without a shot-blocking center, Miller's length and defensive potential would also be a plus.
22. Atlanta Hawks: Dion Waiters, G (Washington)
Atlanta needs a spark-plug to energize the reserves, and Waiters could do exactly that. If he's not already snatched up before the Hawks' pick, he'll become an instant replacement for Kirk Hinrich and add some youth to an increasingly veteran bench unit.
Waiters is more of a combo-guard than he is a pure point guard, but his trajectory may depend on what a team like the Hawks expect from him. Given the average size of 2 guards in the NBA, Waiters may have to expand his repertoire a little.
23. Memphis Grizzlies: Marquis Teague, PG (Kentucky)
Memphis might pursue a backup for Mike Conley Jr., especially if they aren't 100 percent confident in Josh Selby to fill that role. Adding point guards would also give Memphis the option of moving Conley Jr. if he becomes too expensive. Teague has great speed and floor leadership—he also plays a lot like his older brother Jeff.
If Gilbert Arenas is sticking around Memphis for a while longer, Teague might slip a little further in this draft. Wherever he ends up going, there's a good chance he winds up being a steal down the road.
24. Boston Celtics: Doron Lamb, SG (Kentucky)
With the likelihood that Ray Allen won't be back in Boston, Lamb's elite shooting ability makes him an attractive replacement option. He needs to get a lot stronger, but it's too hard to pass up such a talented option—Lamb could become a reliable sixth man in short order.
25. Cleveland Cavaliers: Fab Melo, C (Syracuse)
Melo is a well-rounded center with the ability to explode to the rim. Cleveland's lack of depth in the middle was revealed when Anderson Varejao went down this season, and a legitimate backup could be a high priority.
26. Indiana Pacers: Andrew Nicholson, PF (St. Bonaventure)
Nicholson has become a solid mid-range shooter who could eventually replace David West and give the Pacers the flexibility to make offseason deals. Indiana doesn't have many roster needs, so this pick could become part of a larger plan to acquire a star.
27. Miami Heat: Draymond Green, F (Michigan St.)
With Mike Miller and Shane Battier getting on in age, Miami should look for some wing depth to develop over time. Green's a tweener who could be a project, but the Heat aren't going to make an immediate impact with this selection.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Festus Ezeli, C (Vanderbilt)
Ezeli would give the Thunder some nice size and allow the team to rely a bit less on Nick Collison. With Kendrick Perkins' susceptibility to foul trouble, having the extra depth might be a smart move.
29. Golden State Warriors: Moe Harkless, SF (St. John's)
Harkless is probably the best talent left on the board for Golden State, and they'll take whoever that ends up being. The Warriors don't need to get much younger, so they could also look to move this selection if it netted them a veteran upgrade.
30. Chicago Bulls: Evan Fournier, SG (France)
The Bulls can let Fournier incubate in Europe until his services are needed. That's the perfect option for a team with so much depth at every position.
