2012 NBA Mock Draft: Prospects Whose Potential Will Fool Teams in Round 1

It's all about potential.

Sure, certain guys prove certain things on the court. A few players every year seem like absolute locks to be studs. Other guys have low ceilings but come into the league as known, predictable commodities.

And then there are the unknown players, the "high-ceiling" prospects, the guys who have shown weaknesses or incomplete games but have so many raw abilities, so many untapped physical gifts, teams simply can't stay away.

Let's focus on a few of those enigmas, alongside this full first-round mock.

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

His potential isn't in question. Davis will change the face of this franchise from day one.

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

He's a complete prospect, and if he improves his shooting he'll be an elite player in the NBA. The gifts are there, and his unselfish mentality will make him an excellent teammate.

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

Beal is this year's best prospect at guard, and if he develops up to his level of potential, he will pair with Kyrie Irving to give the Cavs one of the NBA's best backcourts in a few years.

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

I think Robinson will end up being the second-best player in this draft. His combination of athletic ability and sheer determination makes him the sort of prospect that simply won't fail at the next level.

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

Drummond has all of the athletic ability you could ever ask for in a center prospect. He's long, explosive and athletic enough to play away from the rim.

But he has also proven to be inconsistent, disappearing at times and showing a lack of desire to dominate consistently.

And he's a bit raw, so he could end up being a project that doesn't show immediate dividends. His potential ensures that he'll go high in this draft, but his bust potential is very real.

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

I'm a big fan of Rivers, and if the Blazers maintain the Nets' pick, Rivers could be the guy on a team in need of backcourt help. Don't be surprised if he's Rookie of the Year next season.

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

The Warriors could seriously use an upgrade at the small forward position, and Barnes is the best available option in this draft. It won't take long before he's making people forget about the scoring ability of Monta Ellis.

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

Jones truly is the biggest enigma of this year's draft.

His potential is unmistakable, and I've watched games where he absolutely dominated for Baylor. When he gets it going, look out.

But he doesn't do so consistently. A 25-point effort could be followed by a five-point dud—such is the way of Mr. Jones. He's another guy who can't be passed up for too long given his abilities, but he could end up breaking a lot of hearts in the front office that selects him.

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

His offensive game is limited, but he'll be a hard-worker who rebounds well and blocks some shots. There won't be anything sexy about Sullinger, but he'll be an effective, consistent contributor.

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

The Hornets will land two solid, immediate starters in Robinson and Marshall, this year's best pure point guard in the draft. He won't score a ton in the NBA, but he'll more than make up for that with a lot of assists.

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

With Greg Oden basically a lost cause at this point, adding a center like Zeller makes a lot of sense. This all-ACC draft of Rivers and Zeller will dramatically improve the Blazers almost immediately.

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

This is a reach at No. 12, but I have a feeling the Bucks will be looking to replace Andrew Bogut with this pick. If Zeller dropped to them here, he would be the pick.

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

I'm not sure if his fleece is as white as snow, but I am concerned that Lamb is as soft as his last name suggests.

He simply seems to lack the aggressive, killer instinct that often separates players at the next level. I don't think he lived up to expectations this year, and he could end up dropping lower than this come draft day.

Still, his many tools are hard to argue. If he becomes a more assertive player in the NBA, he could be a steal late in the lottery.

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

Moultrie averaged 15.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game last season for the Bulldogs, and his upside has caused him to climb up some boards of late. Don't be surprised if he cracks the top 10 at the draft.

15.  Philadelphia 76ers: John Henson, PF (North Carolina)

The Sixers need some help on the block, especially with Elton Brand's future in Philadelphia dwindling to a close. Henson is the sort of defensive-minded presence in the post that Doug Collins would love.

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

Jones could be a steal here at No. 16, or he could be an on-again, off-again talent that is worthy of this selection but never consistently performs at the next level. I think the most likely scenario is somewhere in between.

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

Can you imagine if Deron Williams signs with Dallas next season and the Mavs roll out a backcourt of Williams, Waiters and Jason Terry? With Waiters on board, they'd add the sort of defensive presence in the backcourt they could have sorely used to match up with James Harden against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

18.  Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah): Terrence Ross, SG (Washington)  

Shooting guard is the team's biggest need, and Ross proved at Washington he is capable of filling it up. This is the best of both worlds at this draft slot for Minnesota—they fill a need and get solid value here.

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

There is not guarantee Dwight Howard will stick around after this season. Adding a player like Fab Melo in case he departs to play center is the smart move.

20. Denver Nuggets: Quincy Miller, SF (Baylor)   

Not needing to reach for any one position in general, the Nuggets can afford to bring in the best player on the board here. Miller is a bit raw, but he has the sort of upside they can wait on and develop.

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

I like Lamb's prospects at the next level, and with the departure of Ray Allen seeming imminent, he'll get a chance to see quality minutes next season.

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

White is a boom-or-bust pick here. In a retooling mode, the Celtics can afford to take the risk and hope for the best.

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

The Hawks need an upgrade at point guard, and Wroten could prove to be one of this draft's greatest steals in the future. He'll get to the basket at the next level and could become a dominant defensive point guard as well.

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

With Irving and Beal in place, the Cavs can turn their attention toward finding quality big men.

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

I don't know whom Memphis will dub to be the best prospect, but I do know that whomever that player is will be the choice here, as the Grizzlies don't need to fill any major needs. On my board, that player is Harkless.

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

Another option at the point would be nice in Indiana, and I like Teague. He evolved from a score-first player to a more complete point guard this season, and he still has a lot of room to grow into the role. I tend to think all five of the Kentucky studs in this draft will be solid NBA players.

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

He's a bit of a tweener, and it's hard to see exactly where he'll fit on an NBA roster. But in Miami, his ability to be a jack-of-all-trades—and the fact that he's a winner—will make him a solid fit.

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

A big man with an offensive game would be great, but that isn't an option here. And since you can never have too many sharpshooters, Jenkins makes sense with this selection.

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

Taylor would be an absolute steal this late in my opinion, especially for Chicago. His combination of size, defensive ability and shooting range from outside would make him a defensive upgrade—and mild downgrade as a three-point shooter—to Kyle Korver.

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

Hey, somebody will need to take some of Monta Ellis' minutes. Barton is capable of playing the 2 or the 3 and could be a sneaky-good player in Golden State next year.

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