2012 NBA Mock Draft: Playoff Teams That Will Steal Impact Player

In NBA mock drafts, we generally look to the players in the lottery who will have a big impact next season, the sort of elite talents that can change the course of a franchise.

Not in this mock. Here, we're going to look at a few playoff teams from this season that will find a gem later in the draft.

The best organizations manage to find players down the board that can develop into contributors down the road. Let's take a look a few picks that will do just that.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF (Kentucky)

He's the one "can't miss" prospect in this draft. He'll change the course of this organization, and make a dreadful 2012 season seem worth it in the long run.

2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF (Kentucky)

He has the ability to help a team in every conceivable way and be a high-character, team-first guy in the process.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG (Florida)  

A backcourt of Kyrie Irving and Beal will frighten the NBA for years to come.

4. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, PF (Kansas)  

Robinson brings excellent athleticism, a non-stop motor and great work ethic to the Hornets. He'll be a candidate for Rookie of the Year next season.

5. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, C (Connecticut) 

Alongside DeMarcus Cousins, Drummond could help form one of the game's most dominant frontcourts in a few years. Or, he'll just be a huge bust. The Kings will take the risk.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey): Austin Rivers, SG (Duke)

He may be a bit of a reach here, but the Blazers need backcourt help, and I think Rivers is going to be a lot better than people think at the next level. I believe he'll be Rookie of the Year next season.

7. Golden State Warriors (from Utah): Harrison Barnes, SF (North Carolina)

The Warriors would love if Barnes fell to them at No. 7, taking care of the team's pressing need at the 3.

8. Toronto Raptors: Perry Jones III, PF (Baylor)

He's a boom or bust prospect, but the Raptors won't be able to pass up his potential. If he continues to develop his game and becomes more consistent, he could end up as the steal of the draft.

9. Detroit Pistons: Jared Sullinger, PF (Ohio State)

Adding a high-character player who will rebound and block shots for your team is never a bad thing. His offensive game won't ever impress people, but he'll score plenty of ugly buckets.

10. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota): Kendall Marshall, PG (North Carolina) 

After selecting power forward Robinson, the Hornets will add Marshall, who won't score much but will soon enough be one of the finest passers in the NBA. The Hornets instantly improve with this draft, adding two very solid, safe prospects.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Tyler Zeller, C (North Carolina)

The Blazers addressed their needs in the backcourt when they selected Rivers. They'll keep it in the ACC to bolster another position of need at center by selecting the hard-working Zeller.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Meyers Leonard, C (Illinois)

And just like that, the Bucks find their replacement for Andrew Bogut.

13. Phoenix Suns: Jeremy Lamb, SG (Connecticut)  

Lamb is a bit risky, as I've always felt he was a bit soft and inconsistent. But if he decides he wants to be an elite talent, the Suns could be getting a steal here.

14. Houston Rockets: Arnett Moultrie, PF (Mississippi State)     

He's climbing up boards, and his upside is pretty huge. He may not be a huge gamble either—he averaged 15.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game last season.

15.  Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Ross, SG (Washington)

The Sixers could use help in several areas, namely players who can score and, preferably, players who shoot the ball well.

Ross helps in both regards.

He has the ability to be a dynamic scorer at the next level, albeit a streaky one. He wasn't a great shooter from 3 at the college level (.371 percent last season), but he's certainly an upgrade over what the Sixers have now.

16. Houston Rockets (via New York):  Terrence Jones, PF (Kentucky)

He can play either the 3 or the 4, and his upside is big. His consistency is questionable, but his talent is not.

17. Dallas Mavericks: Dion Waiters, SG (Syracuse)

Waiters won't come in and be a dynamic shooter for Dallas, but he'll do just about everything else well. He'll defend, he'll get out on the break, he'll be an excellent finisher at the basket and he should make an instant impact in Dallas.

With the possibility of Deron Williams signing in Dallas next season, a backcourt of Williams, Waiters and Jason Terry would be one of the league's best next year.

18.  Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah): Quincy Miller, SF (Baylor) 

Shooting guard is the team's biggest need, but they won't find a player worthy of selecting this high at the position. But adding Miller to the wing is certainly a solid alternative.

19. Orlando Magic: Fab Melo, C (Syracuse)

The Magic know they will need to stockpile quality big men in case Dwight Howard indeed jumps ship after the 2012-13 season. With Melo, they add depth in the frontcourt and a player they can develop slowly if Howard stays for the long haul.

20. Denver Nuggets:   John Henson, PF (North Carolina)

Henson is a great value here, and the Nuggets aren't in a position where they need to reach for a player at this point in the draft.

Henson is a rebounding and shot-blocking machine, and he will instantly be given minutes in the Nuggets' frontcourt rotation. Henson should be a solid NBA player for years to come.

21. Boston Celtics: Doron Lamb, SG (Kentucky)

With Ray Allen unlikely to return next season, Lamb will have the chance to earn instant minutes in Beantown. He's got the talent to be sneaky good in the NBA.

22. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Royce White, SF (Iowa State)

There are various concerns regarding White, but talent isn't one of them. The Celtics can afford to take a risk on him with the 22nd pick.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Tony Wroten Jr., PG (Washington)

When is the last time the Hawks had an excellent point guard?

They'll address that issue in this draft. Wroten is raw, and there are questions about his shooting ability and whether or not he'll ever be the sort of point guard that gets his teammates involved.

But he's always a brilliant finisher at the basket and could develop into an excellent defender at the point guard position. The Hawks aren't just getting value at this pick, they're addressing the only question spot they have on their roster as well.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Andrew Nicholson, PF (St. Bonaventure)

The backcourt is settled. Now, the Cavs will start building up the frontcourt.

25.   Memphis Grizzlies: Moe Harkless, PF (St. John's)

They don't have a ton of pressing needs, so they can simply add the best available player here. Harkless will be that guy.

26.   Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, PG (Kentucky)

The Pacers need help at the point, and I think Teague could be one of the steals of this draft.

He's got a ton of talent, and he really learned how to play the point guard position in his one year at Kentucky. He came in as a scorer, and he left as a more complete player.

He lacks some polish, and he won't be a stud immediately, but he'll contribute right away and could end up being the point guard of the future in Indiana.

27. Miami Heat: Draymond Green, PF (Michigan State)

He'll wear multiple hats on the Heat next season. I envision him as being the perfect type of unselfish, multi-faceted role players coming off the bench.

28.   Oklahoma City Thunder: John Jenkins, SG (Vanderbilt) 

A big man with an offensive game would be great, but not too many of those slip this late. The Thunder will add another shooter instead.

29. Chicago Bulls: Jeffrey Taylor, SG (Vanderbilt)

His ability to shoot from outside while also playing excellent defense makes him a perfect fit in Chicago.

30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio): Will Barton, SG (Memphis)

Barton was fantastic this year as the Conference USA Player of the Year. His length and ability to finish in transition are worth taking a flyer on to add even more depth to the wing in the Golden State alongside Harrison Barnes.

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