2012 NBA Mock Draft: Lottery Players to Avoid at All Costs

There are no guarantees in the NBA draft, but it's a known fact that picking in the lottery gives a team a better chance of selecting a potential star. Sometimes stars are found at other points in the draft and sometimes lottery picks simply bust, but that doesn't change the fact that every team covets high draft choices.

Those picks are useless unless they are utilized effectively, though, and all too often teams squander their chances by whiffing on early selections. Unfortunately, several teams do exactly that every season, and this year's draft will be no different. There are tons of landmines waiting out there to explode in the faces of the teams that take them, so general managers must tread very carefully.

Along with a full first-round mock draft, here are a few lottery selections that teams will regret making in the long run.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, F, Kentucky

Davis is unquestionably the surest thing this draft has to offer and the Bobcats will certainly rebuild around him if they're blessed with the top selection.

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

There are differing opinions on whom the No. 2 pick should be, but Kidd-Gilchrist's versatility will make him a valuable asset to the Wizards.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, G, Florida

He's not LeBron James, but the Cavaliers will be thrilled to get a big-time scoring guard to pair with surefire Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving.

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

Robinson has all the tools to become an elite interior scorer, and the Hornets won't hesitate to take him in order to replace David West.

5. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

The Kings have an exciting backcourt featuring Tyreke Evans and will have one of the best young interiors in the game as well if they pair Drummond with DeMarcus Cousins.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via NJ): Kendall Marshall, G, North Carolina

This may seem a little early for Marshall to be taken in the eyes of some, but he is undoubtedly the best point guard in the draft and is a perfect fit for the Blazers.

7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes, F, North Carolina

There is no doubt that North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes has a ton of ability and his 6'8", 215-lb. frame makes him a walking matchup problem, but there is plenty of reason to be cautious. Barnes can score the basketball with the best of them, as he averaged more than 17 points per game this past season, but I can't help but question is decision-making ability at times.

That was a real issue in the NCAA tournament as he looked lost without injured point guard Kendall Marshall on the floor. A player with his size and skill should be able to create his own shots at times, but he settled for contested jumpers far too often. He combined to go 2-of-14 from beyond the arc in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, and that simply shouldn't happen.

Barnes is at his best when he's getting to the bucket and making things happen, but he deviates from that game plan too often. On a team with as much offensive explosion as the Golden State Warriors I can easily see Barnes freelancing rather than playing within the system, and that is the type of thing that will make him a failure at the next level.

8. Toronto Raptors: Jeremy Lamb, G, Connecticut

The Raptors seem close to becoming a playoff contender, and adding a fantastic pure shooter such as Lamb should complement the current roster quite nicely.

 9. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones III, F, Baylor

Had he entered the draft last season Baylor forward Perry Jones III may very well have been a top-five pick. Jones didn't show significant improvement in his sophomore season, however, as his scoring dropped to 13.5 points per game and his shooting percentage dropped nearly 50 points to 50 percent. The biggest issue for the 6'11", 235-lb. big man, though, is that he didn't utilize his size enough. 

Jones was virtually non-existent over the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament against inferior competition and that should throw up some red flags. Athletically, Jones is usually the best player on the floor, and while that may be the case sometimes in the NBA, the level of competition is going to be far greater than anything he experienced at Baylor.

When push comes to shove, I'm not sure Jones has the mentality it takes to bang around in the paint and fight his way to success. A team in need of a post presence like the Detroit Pistons will certainly take a chance on his great skill set, but I can't help but think that he'll be a bust like Anthony Randolph or Brandan Wright in the NBA.

10. New Orleans Hornets (via MIN): Damian Lillard, G, Weber State

The Hornets had a tough transition this season without Chris Paul running the point, but Lillard will give them the dynamic force in the backcourt that they sorely missed.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Jared Sullinger, F/C, Ohio State

Portland whiffed on an Ohio State center before in Greg Oden, but Sullinger isn't nearly as injury prone and has a more developed offensive game as well.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

The Bucks will be on the lookout for a true center after dealing Andrew Bogut, and Leonard may very well be the best true center in the draft thanks to his towering, seven-foot frame.

13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, G, Duke

Few players in the nation were the recipient of more hype than Duke guard Austin Rivers this season, and while he lived up to expectations in some respects, he is still very much a project. Rivers led the Blue Devils in scoring with 15.5 points per game, but his shooting stroke leaves a lot to be desired. Also, he couldn't get the job done as Duke's go-to guy as the Blue Devils were shocked in the Round of 64 in the NCAA tournament by Lehigh.

With that in mind, Rivers enters the NBA with his stock on the decline and plenty of question marks surrounding him. At 6'4" and 200 lbs. he is a bit of a tweener as he is on the small side for a shooting guard and a bit big to run the point. His ball-handling ability isn't the greatest to begin with, either, so he is more of a combo guard than anything.

He certainly has some offensive ability and could perhaps develop into a solid scorer off the bench, but teams are looking for more than that out of a lottery pick. With point guard Steve Nash likely to leave in free agency, the Phoenix Suns might roll the dice with Rivers, but I don't love his chances of becoming a star at the next level.

14. Houston Rockets: Tyler Zeller, F/C, North Carolina

The Rockets continue to look for a potential long-term replacement for Yao Ming at center, and while Zeller is far from the same dominant force, he has a good offensive skill set.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: John Henson, F, North Carolina

Philadelphia has some really nice pieces in the backcourt, but with Elton Brand aging at power forward, Henson would be an excellent fit.

16. Houston Rockets (via NY): Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky

After taking Zeller the Rockets have pretty good depth everywhere, so they would be wise to take a versatile forward like Jones, who can handle three different positions.

17. Dallas Mavericks: Arnett Moultrie, F, Mississippi State

The Mavericks may not have much of a need at power forward with Dirk Nowitzki leading the way, but they need a youth infusion and Moultrie is great value here.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via UTAH): Terrence Ross, G, Washington

Minnesota is absolutely stacked with young talent at forward, so the Timberwolves won't hesitate to grab a solid scoring guard like Ross.

19. Orlando Magic: Doron Lamb, G, Kentucky

If Dwight Howard is traded the Magic will have a ton of needs, but right now the most pressing is a scoring guard in Lamb since guys like Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu are aging.

20. Denver Nuggets: Dion Waiters, G, Syracuse

The Nuggets are one of the NBA's deepest teams, and while they lack star power, they'll be happy to add another good utility guard such as Waiters.

 21. Boston Celtics: Moe Harkless, F, St. John’s

The Celtics are aging on the wing big time as Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are in the twilight of their respective careers, but the athletic Harkless should reinvigorate that position.

22. Boston Celtics (via LAC): Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Many disagree about how well Melo can translate to the NBA, but the Celtics have lacked a defensive presence inside since trading Kendrick Perkins, and Melo should be able to provide that.

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

It will be tough for the Hawks to replace Josh Smith when he inevitably leaves following the season, but White is a big forward who can be groomed to take over for him.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via LAL): Andrew Nicholson, F, St. Bonaventure

With Antawn Jamison likely on his last legs, the Cavaliers could use a versatile forward like Nicholson to complement the backcourt of Irving and Beal.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten, G, Washington

Memphis is a pretty complete team, but if it can use O.J. Mayo as more of a sixth man with Wroten starting, the entire rotation will be strengthened lately.

26. Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, G, Kentucky

Teague may be more of a luxury pick than anything for the Pacers, but he is a great contingency plan should anything happen to Darren Collison.

27. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins, G, Vanderbilt

The Bulls continue to search for somebody to pair with point guard Derrick Rose, and although Rose may miss the early part of next season due to injury, he'd love to see a sharpshooter like Jenkins in place when he returns.

 28. Golden State Warriors (via SA): William Buford, G, Ohio State

Golden State's frontcourt is pretty much set with Andrew Bogut and David Lee, so the Warriors would be wise to get a do-everything guard like Buford to play next to Stephen Curry.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt

Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka make for an excellent tandem in the paint, but there isn't a ton of depth behind them so Ezeli would be a great selection.

30. Miami Heat: Draymond Green, F, Michigan State

The Heat don't necessarily have many pressing needs, but Green is the type of leader, winner and all-around honest player who would fit in quite nicely.