2012 NBA Mock Draft: Overhyped Frontcourt Prospects Teams Shouldn't Gamble On

Anthony Davis is certainly the kind of player worth expending a first-round pick on because he has the potential to entirely change a franchise. Some of the other frontcourt "powerhouses" making headlines as the NBA draft nears? Not so much.

There is a plethora of talent available on this year's board, but some of it just isn't quite as good as the hype would suggest.

Here's a complete first-round mock draft with special emphasis on the players who are more likely to be busts than game-changers. 

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Nothing is going to prevent the Bobcats from taking Anthony Davis first (unless, of course, they don't win the lottery). He was the best player in the NCAA last year by a long shot.

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

He's not at the overhyped point quite yet—he is clearly an excellent athlete and a good defender—but his inconsistent scoring touch makes you wonder whether his game is really going to translate to the NBA.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

By all indications, Bradley is the Cavs' guy. He's the best guard available , and he has the ability to run the floor and put up points equally effectively.

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

Robinson might be an even better prospect than Gilchrist, given his build and athleticism, but he doesn't have the hype of a national championship surrounding him.

5. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, C, UConn

The Kings really need size, and without Robinson on the board, they must turn to Drummond—a decision that could come back to bite them.

The problem with Drummond is that given his size and stature, he should've been more dominant than he appeared to be while at UConn. At 6'11", he didn't consistently overpower the competition at the college level, though he did it intermittently.

And if he couldn't do in the NCAA, how is he going to do it against players who exceed his size, skill and athleticism?

Of course, there's a strong possibility that with more development, Drummond could become a top-tier NBA center, but it's a big gamble to take with a lottery selection.

He has upside, but he might not be worth the risk.

6. Portland Trail Blazers: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

Barnes is the prototype for an NBA small forward at 6'8", and while he's an excellent shooter, he shows difficulty creating his own easy shots.

7. Golden State Warriors: Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor

It's difficult to say that Jones is a risky pick given his heart-wrenching history, but he is.

He's the epitome of a character guy who overcame a rough childhood in which he battled homelessness to earn a scholarship to a D-1 program. And last year, he knew himself well enough to decide to return to Baylor for his sophomore year, because he thought he needed more maturity to succeed in the NBA.

But "PG3," as he's called, struggles to tune out the constant chatter that he hasn't fulfilled his potential, that he's soft, that he's overrated, according to ESPN.com.

That kind of talk isn't going to stop once he gets to the next level and is being paid thousands to play this game, so the sooner he learns to tune out the doubters, the better.

No one questions Jones' work ethic, but some do doubt his ability to produce.

At 6'11", he's a shot-blocking threat and is athletic for his size, but he's constantly dogged as being a player who doesn't go for blocks and shies away from contact.

The world is rooting for him, but until he proves the doubters wrong, he's a risk.

8. Toronto Raptors: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

The Raptors would've loved to snag Beal with a top-five pick, but as a second choice, they'll take Lillard, who was the best available point guard because of his incredible scoring prowess, until Beal declared.

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

Sullinger is another player who floats in and out of the top 10 because of concerns about his size and athleticism.

He made a name for himself as an excellent rebounder and a very physical player, but at 6'9", he's undersized for a traditional NBA 4.

He has the drive and the intelligence, but he might not be athletic enough—or big enough—to put it to good use at the next level. His natural position is center, but there's no way he can play there in the NBA. 

He has a thick frame that allows him to be dominant in the paint, but there are concerns that he struggles with conditioning. 

Despite the fact that he's ranked lower than some of the other hyped power forwards in the draft, the concerns with Sullinger aren't necessarily about his abilities or his toughness—rather, there are concerns about how his current game will translate.

He's less risky than some of the other big men but still far from a sure bet.

10. New Orleans Hornets: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

The Hornets do need more help up front, but with Marshall still on the board, they can't pass him up. He's terrific when it comes to running the floor and has been heralded as the only true point guard in the draft.

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

There are concerns that his size hasn't necessarily translated into dominance or superstardom, but he is still mobile enough and competent enough as a shooter to be a lottery pick.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky

Though he's one of the least heralded former Wildcats in this year's draft, he has just as much upside as his former teammates because of his versatility and his scoring ability from all over the floor.

13. Phoenix Suns: Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn

The Suns will likely be debating between Austin Rivers and Lamb as they struggle to keep Steve Nash in town.

Lamb, however, is far less risky than Rivers and is hard to pass up because of his seven-foot wingspan and his shooting range.

14. Houston Rockets: John Henson, PF, North Carolina

Henson is a wiry 6'10", 210-pounder, but if he puts on some muscle that will allow him to truly compete at the position, he'll be a serious threat for the Rockets up front.

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

Leonard is another true seven-footer, and though he lacks an elite scoring touch, he's a big presence and can put up points when he gets around the hoop.

16. Houston Rockets: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

He's one of the better shooters available, but what he lacks is solid shot selection. If he improves in that regard, he'll be lethal from all over the floor.

17. Dallas Mavericks:  Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Dallas could be looking to draft a versatile guard if Jason Kidd leaves town and Deron Williams is unavailable.

Rivers is the best one left on the board, and though there are concerns about his selfishness, he has the talent to be a star.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Talent-wise, he's the best option left. At 6'11" and 225 pounds, he can effectively play either the 3 or the 4, and he's proven to be a solid defensive presence who runs the floor well.

19. Orlando Magic: Tony Wroten, Jr., PG, Washington

Wroten is the most skilled guard remaining, and the area in which he truly excels is in seeing the floor and making his teammates better—but he hasn't proven that he can be a great passer consistently.

20. Denver Nuggets: Dion Waiters, PG/SG, Syracuse

He may not be a pure shooter, but Waiters is aggressive and is the kind of player who can provide instant offense.

21. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Ever since trading away Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics have struggled to develop a truly dominant center. Kevin Garnett might not be around to fill in next year, but even if he is, Boston would be well-served to draft a player with Melo's youth, talent and upside.

22. Boston Celtics: Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

Taylor is a great defender who can give Boston an immediate boost, and he's grown leaps and bounds in terms of his shooting ability in four years at Vanderbilt.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Royce White, SF, Iowa State

If the Celtics opt not to take White, the Hawks will bite on him. He has a ton of upside, but his anxiety disorder presents a conundrum for coaches.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

After putting up 15.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, Harkless established himself as one of the best prospects to come out of a stacked Big East. His upside alone makes him a good selection at this stage.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

He still has some learning to do when it comes to sacrificing a good shot for himself in order to create a better one for his teammates, but he showed incredible growth in one year at Kentucky, and he saw where that got him—and his team.

26. Indiana Pacers: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

Lamb was one of the best three-point shooters in the NCAA last season, shooting 52 percent from beyond the arc. Improving defensively will turn him into a complete player.

27. Miami Heat: Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State

He's a player who could slide into the second round because of his basketball IQ and his shooting ability, despite lackluster athleticism.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

Nicholson has the talent to go higher, and given his upside and his long arms, he has the potential to give the Thunder a nice boost off the bench.

29. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt

He was one of the best shooters in the NCAA last season, tallying 19.9 points per game as a junior. Though he's undersized at 6'4" and 215 pounds, his offense will push him into the first round.

30. Golden State Warriors: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt

He gives the Warriors some more size up front and is still athletic, despite being 6'11" and 255 pounds.