2012 NBA Mock Draft: Talented Prospects Tarnished by Red Flags
College prospects with red flags often slide in the NBA draft for a variety of reasons, but some of those kids often wind up being serious steals to teams willing to take a chance.
With the draft lottery set for May 30, there is no question that the teams picking inside the top 14 are salivating over the depth of the draft class this year.
There is no "slam dunk" prospect outside of Anthony Davis in this season's draft, and almost every team is likely to have a different opinion on heavily-debated names.
1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
Davis has been added to Team USA's preliminary roster for the 2012 Olympics in London, which should be a clear indication of how high many are on him already.
He's drawn comparisons to Blake Griffin and Kevin Garnett before ever stepping onto a hardwood at the pro level, and his ability to change a game on the defensive end is very rare for a prospect of his age.
2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
John Wall needs help on the wing in the worst way. Kidd-Gilchrist would make for a very nice complement, as he runs up and down the floor.
He is relentless in attacking the rim, and Kidd-Gilchrist's fearless game would be a welcome addition to a Washington team that needs an answer at the small forward position.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
Beal would be a home run pick for the Cavs, and Cleveland would suddenly have a very dynamic backcourt of the future with Beal and Kyrie Irving.
He has a versatile game and knows how to find his own offense. That's exactly the type of player that Cleveland will need to continue moving in the right direction.
4. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
Robinson is a bit undersized, but he plays with unbelievably intensity night in and night out and isn't afraid to challenge the opposition.
He bangs around beneath the basket and can really help the Hornets on the glass, as the team needs an anchor on the frontline as part of the rebuilding process.
5. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, PF/C, UConn
Drummond comes with huge red flags because nobody knows exactly what he'll be at the next level.
He would be an ideal fit alongside DeMarcus Cousins, but his lack of production during his tenure at UConn was rather startling considering how much more physically gifted he was than many of the players he played against.
If he can tap into his full potential and harbor his skills, he could really emerge as the steal of the lottery and prove to everyone why he should've been selected earlier.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via Nets): Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
Portland needs to find a point guard of the future, and Lillard certainly fits that description.
He must improve on his ability to facilitate the flow of the offense, but he can already create his own offense. That's going to help open up things for Wes Matthews, Nicolas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge next year.
7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes, SF, UNC
Pro comparisons for Barnes are all over the map, but there is no doubting that this kid will make an impact at the next level.
Mark Jackson has stressed the need to find a small forward that he can rely upon moving forward. If the Warriors are able to draft Barnes here, it would really make things interesting for Golden State.
8. Toronto Raptors: Kendall Marshall, PG, UNC
Jose Calderon has just one season remaining on his contract, and the Raptors need to find a long-term answer at the position.
Marshall already has great floor vision and could learn a ton from Calderon. It's going to be hard for the Raptors to pass on Marshall's talent at this juncture of the first round.
9. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, PF, UNC
There is no question that the Pistons are searching for a big man to pair alongside Greg Monroe, and Henson deserves a lot more hype than he's received to date.
He is very athletic, a capable shot-blocker and has an incredibly high ceiling. A Monroe-Henson frontcourt pairing could be devastating for the opposition as the two players develop a chemistry together.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via Timberwolves): Perry Jones III, F, Baylor
On talent alone, Jones is a no-brainer top-five pick. However, it's not just about talent when we're talking about this kid.
He has incredible potential, but Jones was often absent in games. He doesn't play with the passion that scouts and front-office decision-makers want to see, and there's no doubting that that impacts his draft stock.
Jones is the perfect example of a player who could make a general manager look brilliant or foolish depending on how he pans out at the next level.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Tyler Zeller, C, UNC
Zeller is another guy who comes with a red flag, but it's not because of his effort.
He's got size and runs the floor well, but there are questions as to whether or not he'll ever fill out his rather lanky frame.
The UNC product is also unlikely to ever blossom into an impact player, and it'll be interesting to see if the Blazers reach a bit to fill a very obvious need.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
I've heard a lot of Bucks fans calling Sullinger Drew Gooden 2.0, but I don't think that's necessarily going to be the case.
There are issues with his lack of athleticism and rather apathetic effort on the defensive end at times. But Sullinger's rebounding abilities could very well appeal to the team following the trade of Andrew Bogut.
With Ersan Ilyasova also set to hit free agency, the Bucks will need to address the frontline in a hurry.
13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
Rivers didn't show us what many expected to see during his time at Duke, but that's partially because he was forced to play off the ball.
As a player who operates better with the rock in his hands, Rivers could very well give the Suns a legitimate shooting guard of the future.
14. Houston Rockets: Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky
Jones would probably go a little higher than this had he had the opportunity to show out more in college, but he was playing on a loaded Kentucky squad.
As a wing player with great size, athleticism and a very versatile game, he should really appeal to a Houston team that traditionally loves to draft players who contribute in a multitude of ways.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
The Sixers continue to experiment with Evan Turner at shooting guard, but Jodie Meeks isn't great off the bench and Philadelphia could certainly use help at the position.
Ross is a solid shooter who would be able to stretch the floor in the second unit, and the Sixers need to be prepared in the event that Louis Williams opts out of his contract after the season.
16. Houston Rockets (via Knicks): Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
Getting Moultrie this late is an absolute steal for Houston, a team that will certainly look to move Luis Scola via trade in the offseason once again.
A solid contributor beneath the basket, Moultrie should be able to contribute right away and should be one of the best value picks of the draft.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Dion Waiters, G, Syracuse
The Mavericks aren't likely to bring back Vince Carter or Delonte West as the team looks to revamp the backcourt, and adding Waiters would really be a nice start.
He's caught a bit in between guard positions, but Waiters is an offensive talent who would definitely help Dallas at a cost-controlled price.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Jazz): Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn
How long are the Timberwolves going to ignore an obvious need at the shooting guard position?
Although Minnesota is likely to bring in a veteran to help as well, Lamb could be groomed as a valuable piece in the second unit and allow Rick Adelman to use a more traditional rotation.
19. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Another big man, another prospect who comes with a red flag.
Leonard is a talent who found success in college, but it's going to be interesting to see how he fares against tougher, larger competition in the NBA.
He's not exactly a polished player at either end of the floor, but he does have legitimate size, and that alone will get him drafted inside the top 20.
20. Denver Nuggets: Tony Wroten, G, Washington
Wroten would have been an easy selection inside the top 10 in the 2013 draft class, but he decided to come out this season.
He needs to develop a consistent jumper, but Wroten isn't afraid to create his own offense. If he fixes his perimeter game, he's going to be an absolute steal after a couple of years of development.
21. Boston Celtics: Royce White, SF, Iowa State
White's red flag is that he's dealt with an anxiety disorder. But if we're talking about pure basketball talent, this is a serious, serious value for Boston.
The Celtics need to get younger on the wing if the team is going to be built around Rajon Rondo, and White would really help in that regard.
22. Boston Celtics (via Clippers): Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
It would behoove Danny Ainge to add some size in the draft, and Nicholson is a player who improved every season he was in school.
Boston has to get younger beneath the cup, and adding Nicholson as a banger in the second unit would really benefit this Celtics team as it looks to retool for the future.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's
I didn't like it when the Hawks chose to draft Marvin Williams, and I really didn't like it when the team handed him a lucrative extension.
Harkless has some upside and is incredibly young, and Atlanta is a team that has to improve its youth in the second unit, where the Hawks currently employ Tracy McGrady, Jerry Stackhouse and Erick Dampier.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Lakers): Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor
The Omri Casspi trade didn't exactly work out as the Cavs had expected. It would not surprise me to see the team target help at small forward in the draft.
Although Cleveland will look to re-sign restricted free agent Alonzo Gee, adding Miller would help the second unit and reduce the need to utilize Luke Walton in any capacity.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
It's about time for the Grizzlies to find a legitimate backup center to Marc Gasol, and Melo could be a major steal at this point in the first round.
He's incredibly raw, and there are some concerns about the commitment he has to the game, but joining a team like the Grizzlies could really help him develop.
Memphis has great team chemistry, and Melo could learn a lot about what it takes to succeed at the next level if he lands in the right situation.
26. Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky
Teague is someone who certainly would have gone higher had he stayed in school for another season, but he'll still get drafted in the first round this summer.
Darren Collison is not the long-term answer here, George Hill is a restricted free agent and Teague could really find himself in a favorable spot if he lands with the Pacers.
He needs to improve his game in the half-court set, and the biggest thing holding him back from being a higher pick is that he was inconsistent at Kentucky.
27. Miami Heat: Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
Taylor is a highly athletic prospect, but that doesn't always translate to him becoming a successful player in the NBA.
Miami could get younger on the wing, and Erik Spoelstra likes to utilize unorthodox lineups with a ton of wing players to create mismatches for the opposition.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Evan Fournier, SG, France
The only international player likely to be selected in the first round, Fournier could fit a nice need for the Thunder at shooting guard.
Oklahoma City is an incredibly deep team that doesn't need much, but Fournier is a solid prospect who could really develop favorably and be a solid contributor in the future.
29. Chicago Bulls: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
Lamb should have stayed in school for another season to improve his draft stock, but he should still be able to carve out a niche for the Bulls.
Chicago needs to add someone young behind Rip Hamilton after all of the veteran's injuries this season, and Lamb looks like a solid pick this late in the first round.
30. Golden State Warriors (via Spurs): Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State
The construction of the Warriors roster leaves a lot to be desired. But Green is a nice prospect who can be had this late.
He doesn't do anything in spectacular fashion, but he'll work hard and play with a strong effort level that Mark Jackson seemingly demands from his players.
