2012 NBA Mock Draft: Raw Projects Who Are More Trouble Than They're Worth

With the 2012 NBA postseason in full swing, the talk for the teams sitting on the sidelines watching from afar has already shifted to the NBA draft.

Mock drafts are already flying around, but it’s time to find the raw projects that will not be worth the time and investment. There are a few major clunkers this season.

NBA Mock Draft Standings are fluid—from lottery teams to playoffs, things will change. Order based on mix of current standings and projected finish.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis

While the draft lottery will ultimately determine who gets the No. 1 pick, it’s clear that the Charlotte Bobcats need all the help they can get.

2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Point guard John Wall is obviously the future of the Wizards, but a complementary star like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could make Washington a real contender over the next few seasons.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Thomas Robinson

With the expected departure of Antawn Jamison, the need for a power forward and the availability of a star like Thomas Robinson at No. 3 this season shows how deep the draft truly is. This will be the best fit of the first round.

4. New Orleans Hornets: Jared Sullinger

The Hornets need a face for their franchise, and Jared Sullinger comes in with the mainstream marketability and the swagger to make New Orleans a real threat over the next 10 years.

5. Sacramento Kings: Bradley Beal

The selection of Bradley Beal will confirm the suspicion that Tyreke Evans would be dealt in the offseason. If you have to lose Evans, Beal is a stellar replacement.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via Brooklyn Nets): Andre Drummond

While Andre Drummond was high on many boards throughout this season and remains high, I have Drummond as the most overrated prospect in the whole draft.

As much as centers with the size of Drummond don’t come around very often, his time at UConn in the regular season and in the postseason tournaments was far from impressive.

Drummond may have all the upside in the world, but if he can translate that into solid defense without fouling out and any kind of offense, he will be a role player at best.

7. Golden State Warriors: Austin Rivers

With Monta Ellis gone, the Golden State Warriors need to fill their poor-shot quota. That’s where Austin Rivers comes in.

8. Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes

With the Toronto Raptors needing help in all facets of the game, the Swiss-Army knife of the 2012 draft is Harrison Barnes. While he won’t dominate in any one aspect of the game, he will add the offense, defense, rebounding and basketball I.Q. to make the whole team better.

9. Detroit Pistons: Tyler Zeller

The need for a big man in Detroit has been there since Ben Wallace left. Tyler Zeller adds the grit down low the Pistons need.

10. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Kendall Marshall

Another versatile Tar Heel being taken in the top 10, Kendall Marshall will be the ball-handler in New Orleans that doesn’t need to score to put his name on the lips of the fans.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard

With a need for a ball mover in Portland that can make his own space, the Trail Blazers will snag star guard Damian Lillard wherever they pick. Excluding top five.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: John Henson

John Henson is a character player that will be the kind of hard worker that can lead by example. With inconsistent effort from the biggest names on the Bucks, Henson could be the spark plug they need.

13. Phoenix Suns: Jeremy Lamb

With the possible departure of Steve Nash, the Phoenix Suns need to find a scorer that can bring the heat with little help. That’s where UConn’s Jeremy lamb is supposed to come in.

Lamb is a solid player, but he is a very lanky player that must add mass to be effective in the NBA. The UConn star is a bit of a tweener, but the hop from the Suns is that he will retain enough of his offensive prowess to be dangerous in the NBA.

As good as Lamb was at times in college, his inconsistency and poor performances in the biggest of games will have the long-term project amounting to nothing more than a role player.

14. Houston Rockets: Tony Wroten

The Houston Rockets are just stockpiling as they try to rebuild, and Tony Wroten is the kind of long-term project they could benefit from.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Jones

As much as the Philadelphia 76ers love their tweener forwards, they should be looking to add more size at No. 15. With that said, they love forwards that are 6’8”ish.

16. Houston Rockets (via New York Knicks): Meyers Leonard

Another pick that would add depth and talent to a roster desperate for any and all it can get, Meyers Leonard is the kind of center who can help fill the low-post void in Houston.

17. Dallas Mavericks: Terrell Stoglin

While Stoglin may be too much of a project in the eyes of most Dallas Mavericks fans, he is the kind of shooter that could stand up from the bench and hit the big shot. No NBA team can have too much of that.

18.  Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah Jazz): Terrence Ross

The star Washington guard has the talent to be a shooter or really anything a team needs from him. While he is raw, Ross has the potential to be a star.

19. Orlando Magic: Arnett Moultrie

With the possible departure of Dwight Howard, the Magic need to start fortifying the low post with as much depth as possible. That’s where the raw, big body of Arnett Moultrie comes into play.

20. Denver Nuggets: Perry Jones III

If you were judging prospects on just size and look, Perry Jones III would be a top-five selection this season. Too bad prospects have to play basketball; that’s where Jones tends to struggle most.

Jones had a solid year at Baylor, but his inconsistent effort at both ends of the courts left a bad taste in most teams' mouths about the kid. At 6’11”, Jones should’ve average more than seven rebounds per game.

If the Nuggets can find the right teaching method for the star, there is a chance he could be a star in the long haul. Probably not, though.

21. Boston Celtics: Quincy Miller

If the Boston Celtics are looking to draft the protégé for Kevin Garnett, there is no better student for KG to mentor than Quincy Miller.

22. Boston Celtics (via L.A. Clippers): Fab Melo

The need for center has been there since the ill-advised trade of Kendrick Perkins. Fab Melo will step into the NBA and be a starter. Talk about trial by fire.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Dion Waiters

With the need for a guard that can make his own shots or dish off to an open man, the Hawks need to look no further than Dion Waters from Syracuse. That makes two Orange in a row.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via L.A. Lakers): Royce White

With the addition of Thomas Robinson earlier in the first round and Kyrie Irving at the point guard spot, the arrival of Royce White will be low-profile. That’s exactly how the star likes it.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Moe Harkless

Memphis loves to add pieces that can be effective in all facets of the game, but Moe Harkless is more of a shooting specialist. If he can settle into that role, he could have a long NBA career.

26. Indiana Pacers: Jeff Taylor

While the Pacers already have a few versatile swingmen, there isn’t any on the roster with the natural gifts or the upside as Jeff Taylor. Indiana could have a real star on their hands.

27. Miami Heat: Draymond Green

Draymond Green won’t do any one thing great, but he will do everything that the teams ask him to do from playing defense to scoring points and everything in between. The added great attitude is a major plus.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tyshawn Taylor

With a group as strong as the one they have in Oklahoma City, if Tyshawn Taylor is going to be an NBA star, it will be with the help of the Thunder.

29. Chicago Bulls: Marquis Teague

With a continual need for depth at guard and a flat-out need for any consistency from the shooting guard position, Marquis Teague may be the perfect fit for the squad.

30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio Spurs): Andrew Nicholson

It has become blatantly obvious that David Lee isn’t the power forward of the future for the Warriors. Drafting Andrew Nicholson will drive that point home.

Check back for more on the National Basketball Association as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NBA Page to get your fill of all things basketball.

Follow @Donald_Wood