2012 NBA Mock Draft: Teams That Must Add a Competent Shooter
A few teams enter the upcoming NBA draft with a glaring lack of shooting that they must eliminate. Lucky for them, there are plenty of quality shooters in this draft.
Some of the teams in need of shooting have so many holes that they simply must focus on drafting the best available players. Others have the luxury of focusing on filling specific needs.
It is the teams that fall into the latter category that will be given extra attention in my full first-round mock below.
Langford's 2012 NBA Mock Draft
1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
The Bobcats are most definitely a team that must take the best player available, and Davis leaves little doubt as to who that player is.
2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
Kidd-Gilchrist flashed the ability to take over games and cemented himself as the second-best player in this draft.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut
Drummond has tremendous size and athleticism. He needs some polish but has the ability to be a dominant force.
4. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
Robinson is a polished scorer and great rebounder. He is a solid selection at No. 4.
5. Sacramento Kings: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
The Kings have to find a fierce scoring threat for their backcourt, and Beal is definitely that.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey Nets): Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
After a terrible season, the Blazers have to rebuild their roster, and Barnes' potential is through the roof.
7. Golden State Warriors: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
Sullinger has some weaknesses on defense, but the newly acquired Andrew Bogut will help hide those deficiencies. His offense will also be a great complement to Bogut.
8. Toronto Raptors: Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut
The Raptors can use the perimeter scoring that Lamb will bring.
9. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones III, SF, Baylor
Jones is a unique small forward prospect and a nice fit for the Pistons.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Leonard has to bulk up, but he has solid fundamentals and athleticism.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
Raymond Felton was one of the bigger disappointments of this season. The Blazers must find someone to either push or replace him.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
The Bucks must beef up their frontcourt. Moultrie has a ton of potential.
13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
Why the Suns Must Add Shooting
The Suns have likely played their last season with Steve Nash as their point guard. This is going to leave their backcourt incredibly void of shooting.
Their starting shooting guard this season was Shannon Brown. Brown is a streaky shooter, but he does not have the kind of consistent stroke that will stretch a defense out.
The Suns need someone that the opposition cannot leave unattended on the perimeter. Rivers will do just that.
The guard from Duke will need to add consistency to his stroke, but he is far too deadly for teams to leave him alone on the outside.
14. Houston Rockets: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
The Rockets need to add some length to their frontcourt. Zeller will have to bulk up, but he has the height the Rockets need.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
Marshall is the best pure point guard in this draft, and that is exactly what the Sixers need.
16. Houston Rockets (via New York Knicks): Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
By adding length with their first pick, the Rockets will be able to add depth to their backcourt, which will free them up to deal with Kevin Martin.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah Jazz): Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky
Jones' lockdown perimeter defense will go nicely with Kevin Love in the Wolves frontcourt.
18. Dallas Mavericks: John Henson, PF, North Carolina
Lamar Odom was a huge failure for the Mavericks. They will turn to the draft to address their still present need for frontcourt help.
19. Orlando Magic: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
Why the Magic Must Add Shooting
When the Magic made the finals with Dwight Howard, it was largely due to the fact that they surrounded their dominant big man with shooters.
Howard commands a double team down low, and this is particularly deadly when he can dish the ball out to players waiting to stroke a three.
They have that in place with smooth-shooting power forward Ryan Anderson. Jameer Nelson is also decent from distance at the point guard position.
At shooting guard, the Magic got decent production from Jason Richardson, but at 31, he is ready to start declining.
The Magic must find someone that is capable of taking his minutes, and backup J.J. Redick is not a complete enough player to do that on a full-time basis. Lamb will bring that potential and the shooting touch the Magic need.
20. Denver Nuggets: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's
Harkless' length, athleticism and defense is a perfect fit for the Nuggets scheme.
21. Boston Celtics: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
Why the Celtics Must Add Shooting
The Celtics have to add shooting because Ray Allen is about to become a free agent, and even if he does re-sign, he is about to turn 37.
Boston has to replace his shooting, It is vitally important that Boston has perimeter shooters. Rajon Rondo has no shooting touch from distance. What he does have is tremendous vision.
This vision isn't going to find many openings if Boston does not have someone that can stretch out the defense.
They currently have Avery Bradley at shooting guard, but he does not have the shooting touch required to open things up.
Terrence Ross does. He hit 37.1 percent from distance last season, and that was while attempting 5.5 shots from three-point range per game.
22. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
Having addressed the replacement for Ray Allen with their previous pick, the Celtics must look for someone who can be groomed to fill Kevin Garnett's defensive shoes.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
Nicholson will be a nice piece of the bench for the Hawks, and he will help them push the pace.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
The Cavs have to find a potential long-term answer at small forward.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
The Grizzlies have excellent depth at shooting guard, but it is no secret that they've been trying to trade O.J. Mayo.
26. Indiana Pacers: Tony Mitchell, SF, North Texas
Mitchell is an excellent and long defender that will fit right in with the Pacers' team style.
27. Miami Heat: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt
The Heat have to find a permanent solution at center. Drafting this low, that is a hard task, but Ezeli has that potential.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tony Wroten, PG, Washington
Wroten's athleticism is a perfect fit for the Thunder who need a solid backup for Russell Westbrook.
29. Chicago Bulls: Draymond Green, PF, Michigan State
Green is the exact kind of all-around player that the Bulls have featured while climbing the Eastern Conference ranks.
30. San Antonio Spurs: Kevin Jones, PF, West Virginia
Jones will give the Spurs some needed frontcourt length and help ease the load on Tim Duncan.
