2012 NBA Mock Draft: Seniors Who Will Contribute Right Away

Sometimes in the NBA, experience is king. 

Sure, it's nice to draft an Andre Drummond or a Harrison Barnes, or anyone who is oozing with upside, but some teams need players to contribute right away.

Luckily for those teams, these types of players often get overlooked whether it be because of their age, lack of a high ceiling, or general un-sexiness, and they fall to later parts of the first round.

In 2011, take Kenneth Faried for example. He didn't have the highest upside, but the senior out of Morehead State was mature and ready to contribute. Now, he's already an integral part of the Denver Nuggets' playoff run. 

Here's a look at my first-round mock draft with an emphasis on seniors (note they are in italics) who will contribute for their team right away. 

While free agency has some intriguing names this year, the NBA draft is the perfect time for desperate teams to add some much-needed offensive firepower. 

Luckily for offensively-challenged teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, this draft is full of young studs who can score in a hurry and will continue to do so immediately at the next level.

Here's a look at my first-round mock draft, with an emphasis on those players who will light it up on the offensive end (they are in italics). 

1. Charlotte Bobcats (7-59): Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Davis is the type of player who has tremendous upside and is ready to contribute right away. He's a freakishly good athlete with a freakishly scary unibrow.

There's no team that will pass on Davis—who has a unique ability to defend, run the court and even score a little bit—regardless of how the lottery shakes out. 

2. Washington Wizards (20-46): Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

Unless the Wizards realistically see 6'11" Jan Vasely playing small forward, then small forward is their worst position.

And if they do see him playing there, it's still their worst position. MKG is good in transition, he can rebound and he can defend multiple positions.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (21-45): Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Beal can shoot, albeit inconsistently, he can get to the hoop with ease and he's a very good rebounder for his position.

He's the perfect slasher next to Kyrie Irving in that backcourt. 

4. New Orleans Hornets (21-45): Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

T-Rob, who is projected to go No. 2 by some people, is a good value pick here and finally gives New Orleans some consistency on the inside. 

5. Sacramento Kings (22-44): Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

Imagine Andre Drummond playing next to DeMarcus Cousins. It's both scary-immature and potentially dominating at the same time.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via 22-44 New Jersey Nets): Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Raymond Felton isn't the point guard of the future and Kendall Marshall is the perfect point guard to make young scorers like Wesley Matthews and Nic Batum even better.

As long as he's healthy, Marshall's premiere passing and vision warrant a pick here. 

7. Golden State Warriors (23-43): Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

This is more of what I think the Warriors will do rather than what I think they should do. I'm not convinced Barnes is ready for the next level, but his silky smooth jumper is something the Warriors will like out of the small forward position.

8. Toronto Raptors (23-43): Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor

Jones is another project-type player, but he could give the Raptors the power forward they desperately need. 

He's had his problems, but you can't teach 6'11", 235 pounds and being athletic.

9. Detroit Pistons (25-41): Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut

Lamb is silky smooth and he can finally let the Pistons move on from Rodney Stuckey or Ben Gordon. 

10. New Orleans Hornets (via 26-40 Minnesota Timberwolves): Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Jarrett Jack isn't an ideal point guard and Eric Gordon, a restricted free agent, could very well be on his way out of New Orleans.

Lillard can play the 1 or 2, so he makes perfect sense here.

11. Portland Trail Blazers (28-38): Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

Most people won't be this high on Zeller, but don't disregard the fact this would mean Portland teams him up with former UNC teammate Kendall Marshall.

What's more, Zeller is seven-feet tall with sneaky athleticism, and you won't find that in many NBA players.

He needs to rebound better for his size, but his moves in the post—especially his jump hook—make him ready to contribute, as does his mid-range jump shot. Throw in his shot-blocking ability and you have a very solid role player.

Zeller might not start right away, but he's someone you could give 15 to 20 minutes to and not have him embarrass himself. 

12. Milwaukee Bucks (31-35): Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

The Bucks could go a number of directions, but Rivers is an elite talent who can play either guard position and can score consistently as a part of the second unit. 

13. Phoenix Suns (33-33): Terrence Ross, SG/SF, Washington

Ross is the best athlete in this class and he can score in a number of different ways. He often shied away from action, but he's too good to pass.

The Suns have half their team hitting free agency, and as a result the 1, 2 and 3 positions are all positions of need.

14. Houston Rockets (34-32): Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

The Rockets have Luis Scola, but Sullinger, who was seen as a potential No. 1 overall pick last year, is a good value pick. 

15. Philadelphia 76ers (35-31): Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

You won't find another player that compares to Dwyane Wade as much as Waiters does. The Sixers have good guard depth, but adding a scorer in any way possible should be a priority. 

16. Houston Rockets (via 36-20 New York Knicks): Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

Marcus Camby is likely gone to free agency and Samuel Dalembert won't hold up for a full season of full minutes.

Enter Meyers Leonard, who has a nice offensive game for a seven-footer.

17. Dallas Mavericks (36-30): John Henson, PF, North Carolina

Henson serves as Dirk Nowitzki insurance while providing defense and athleticism for the second unit. So essentially, he gives them another Brandan Wright.

Nonetheless, Henson has a unique skill set and he'll provide too much value to pass up here. 

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via 36-30 Utah Jazz): Royce White, SF, Iowa State

Royce White has a frame (6'8", 270 pounds) that will be tough to push around, but he also has tremendous ball-handling skills, athleticism and passing skills.

He's a point-forward in the truest sense.

19. Orlando Magic (37-29): Tony Wroten, PG, Washington

Chris Duhon is horrendous and Jameer Nelson isn't getting any better or younger. Wroten can continue to develop his jump shot for a year while playing behind Nelson.

If the young point guard can develop a shot, his athleticism and vision will make him the steal of this draft.

20. Denver Nuggets (38-28): Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Moultrie is another one of those young, big, athletic power forwards that the NBA loves.

He could easily go higher than this. 

21. Boston Celtics (39-27): Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky

Jones had a bit of a down-year at Kentucky, at least in terms of expectations, but he would be a solid piece in Boston's second unit. 

A Lamar Odom-type sixth or seventh man, if you will. 

22. Boston Celtics (via 40-26 Los Angeles Clippers): John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt

Ray Allen could be gone due to free agency, but Jenkins would immediately step in as the team's best shooter. He's that impressive from the outside. 

23. Atlanta Hawks (40-26): Moe Harkless, SF, St. Johns

At 6'8" with scary length and athleticism, Harkless will remind a lot of people of Josh Smith. Where better for him to go than next to Josh Smith?

At small forward, he could step right into the Hawks' starting lineup. 

24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via 41-25 Los Angeles Lakers): Jeff Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

Taylor isn't the most exciting player in the draft, but his experience will allow him to step into Cleveland's lineup and make an instant contribution.

Taylor often struggled with his outside jump shot, but he has good enough range and shooting motion nonetheless. He can also get to the rim with relative ease and looks like someone who will score 12-14 points per game at the next level

The 22-year-old's athleticism and length make him an excellent perimeter defender.

Taylor won't blow anyone away, but he's ready to help an NBA team. 

25. Memphis Grizzlies (41-25): Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

Nicholson has a high basketball IQ and can score with relative ease from both inside and out. He's the perfect type of player for Memphis

26. Indiana Pacers (42-24): Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

Indiana has a ton of depth and isn't losing many pieces to free agency, with the exception of Leandro Barbosa.

It's tough to argue against the success John Calipari's point guards have had, however, and Teague would give the Pacers good value at No. 26. 

27. Miami Heat (46-20): Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Melo is strictly defense, rebounding and bone-headedness.

If the Heat feel like they can keep his ego in check, though, they'll get the perfect center for their system.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder (47-19): Evan Fournier, SF, France

The Thunder don't have any glaring needs and won't lose anyone to free agency. Therefore, they can continue to build towards the future.

Fournier, 19, is a terrific scorer, but likely won't be ready for a year or two. 

29. Chicago Bulls (50-16): Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

Richard Hamilton likely won't be around for much longer, but Doron Lamb is a solid shooter who can be groomed to eventually replace the veteran. 

30. Golden State Warriors (via 50-16 San Antonio Spurs): Drew Gordon, PF, New Mexico

Remember how Faried's experience helped him quickly become an important part for Denver? Drew Gordon could be this year's Faried. 

He certainly rebounds like it.

Gordon averaged double-figure rebounds during his last two years at New Mexico, and that includes 11.1 per game as a senior.

At 6'9", 245 pounds, he doesn't have ideal height, but he can bang on the inside, he is always in the right position on the glass, and can finish in traffic.

Essentially, he's a the prototypical hard-working, blue-collar type player. He's exactly the type of energy player the Warriors need, and he'll be a hit right away in Golden State.

Follow @t_keen