2012 NBA Mock Draft: High-Reward Prospects for Every 1st-Round Team

The 2012 draft class stands to be one of the best and deepest of the past 10 years.

Loaded at almost every position, players like Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Harrison Barnes, Thomas Robinson and Bradley Beal seem destined to be future All-Stars just bursting with potential.

Where will these high-reward players land?  Here's an updated preview of what the 2012 NBA draft could look like.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 14.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.7 blocks

School: Kentucky

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'10", 220 pounds

Like Andrew Luck to the Indianapolis Colts, this is a sure-fire pick.

Davis's best qualities are his length and feel for the game.  Not many elite big men grew up as guards before hitting a growth spurt like Davis did, and it's only helped his handle on the game.

Right now, he might get pushed around a little bit if he plays the center position, but at power forward he could immediately enter as one of the best defensive players in the game.

2. Washington Wizards: Thomas Robinson, PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 17.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists

School: Kansas

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 6'10", 237 pounds

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is tempting, but after drafting two small forwards in Chris Singleton and Jan Vesely in the first round last year and the emergence of Jordan Crawford at shooting guard, the Wizards should go for a power-forward stud in Robinson.

The inside-outside combination of John Wall and Robinson coupled with the young wings and Nene at center could easily make the Wizards a playoff team in the Eastern Conference next year.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SG/SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 11.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists

School: Kentucky

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'7", 232 pounds

Despite playing mostly small forward at Kentucky, Kidd-Gilchrist was often asked to guard the opponent's best wing player, even if it meant their point guard.

This extreme versatility on defense coupled with an awesome work ethic and attitude should only mean continued success at the next level.

Paired with former high school teammate Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers could have an All-Star backcourt for years to come.

4. New Orleans Hornets: Andre Drummond, C

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks

School: UConn

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'10", 270 pounds

A huge risk, yes, but centers of his size and athletic ability only come around about once every five to 10 years.

New Orleans could build a great inside-outside combination with Drummond and Eric Gordon and could also move Emeka Okafor back to power forward which should help extend his career.

The next Greg Oden or the next Dwight Howard?  Only time will tell.

5. Sacramento Kings: Jared Sullinger, PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 17.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists 

School: Ohio State

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'9", 265 pounds

Sullinger plays a game very reminiscent to Kevin Love, as he is an excellent rebounder and scorer around the bucket who can also step out and hit the outside shot.

With Sullinger and DeMarcus Cousins roaming the paint, even the best post defenders would have their hands full on a nightly basis.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey Nets): Bradley Beal, SG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists 

School: Florida

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'3", 207 pounds

ESPN's Chad Ford has Beal ranked third on his 2012 big board and for good reason. 

His game has been compared to that of Eric Gordon with a touch of Ray Allen, which any NBA team would love as its fifth overall pick.

Wesley Matthews disappointed last year and was bumped from the starting lineup at times.  Beal would help them solidify their shooting guard position for years to come.

7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes, SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists

School: North Carolina

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'8", 215 pounds

The Warriors have a potential fix at every position except for small forward.  It only makes sense they select possibly the best small forward in the entire draft.

Barnes is an excellent spot-up shooter who could help spread the floor for Golden State, and with a healthy Andrew Bogut, the Warriors could possibly contend for a playoff spot on 2012-2013.

8. Toronto Raptors: Damian Lillard, PG/SG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 24.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists

School: Weber State

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'3", 195 pounds

Lillard is a dynamic do-it-all guard who could inject some scoring into the Raptors' offensive attack. 

Pairing him with incoming lottery pick from last year Jonas Valanciunas, and Toronto could quickly be on the rise in the Eastern Conference.

9. Detroit Pistons: Tyler Zeller, C

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 16.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks 

School: North Carolina

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 7'0", 250 pounds

Detroit gets a true seven-footer with great post moves coming from one of the premier programs in college basketball.

With the Pistons, Zeller's main job would be to rebound and block shots. He would only occasionally be asked to score, which would fit his game well.

Detroit could also move Greg Monroe to power forward full time which should benefit his game as well.

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

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 7.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 9.7 assists

School: North Carolina

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'4", 195 pounds

Marshall along with Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond would present a bright future for the Hornets/Spirit/Voodoo/whatever their name may be in 2012-2013.

The passer in the draft, Marshall could sit behind Jarret Jack for a month or two before being penciled in as the full-time starter somewhere around the new year.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Terrence Jones, SF/PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 12.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists 

School: Kentucky

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'9", 252 pounds

An athletic combo forward, Jones could contribute off the bench in Portland playing either forward position.

With the right coaching and development, Jones could become a Lamar Odom-like talent with his versatility, scoring and rebounding.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Meyers Leonard, C

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists 

School: Illinois

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 7'1", 245 pounds

The Bucks are fairly deep at every position but center if they can re-sign Ersan Ilyasova.  Drafting Leonard might be a bit of a reach, but his size and length could make for a very balanced Bucks lineup.

Leonard may take a few years, but could develop into an above-average center in the league.  He already has the size to contribute immediately on the defensive end.

13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, SG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists 

School: Duke

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'4", 200 pounds

Rivers is too talented to fall much further than this.  A pure scorer who never met a shot he didn't like, Rivers would provide instant offense for the Suns.

Likely losing Steve Nash, the Suns will need a new face of the franchise, and Rivers has the potential to be just that.

14. Houston Rockets: Jeremy Lamb, SG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists

School: UConn

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'5", 180 pounds

Getting a player like Lamb in the mid first round is a great value, as he would have likely been a top five pick in last year's draft class.

Kevin Martin is entering the last year of his contract and could be an attractive trade piece. Adding Lamb would allow Houston to deal him if they so choose.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: John Henson, PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 13.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.9 blocks

School: North Carolina

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 6'11", 220 pounds

An athletic, lanky shot-blocker and rebounder, Henson would be the perfect complement to Elton Brand in the Philly frontcourt.

Given a year of coming off the bench to protect the rim and develop a better offensive game, Henson should take over Brand's starting spot in 2013 and hold on to it for years to come.

16. Houston Rockets (via New York Knicks): Arnett Moultrie, PF/C

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 15.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists 

School: Mississippi State

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 6'11", 230 pounds

A great athlete who some project to go in the Top 10 picks of the draft, Moultrie would be a great fit in Houston with his size and rebounding skills.

Backing up Luis Scola or being groomed into a starting center position, Moultrie could contribute right away in some manner, as his upside is too great to leave on the bench for long.

17. Dallas Mavericks: Perry Jones, PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 14.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists 

School: Baylor

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'11", 235 pounds

Turned off by a lack of motor and reminded how Anthony Randolph's career is turning out, teams pass on Jones enough for him to fall towards the middle of the first round.

Jones would no doubt have been a top five pick in last year's draft if he had declared, but due to a deeper class and no significant improvement in statistics from his freshman to sophomore year, he finds himself in a mini free fall.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah Jazz): Tony Wroten, PG/SG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 16.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists 

School: Washington

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'5", 205 pounds

The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, Wroten is a great athlete who can do everything well except shoot from deep.

Going in the mid-to-late first round could be a real steal for whichever team gets him. Minnesota could definitely use an impact shooting guard and should draft Wroten if he's still available.

19. Orlando Magic: Quincy Miller, SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 10.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists

School: Baylor

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'9", 210 pounds

Miller is making an extremely questionable decision leaving Baylor after only one season, as he could have been the go-to guy for the Bears next year and improved his minutes from the 24.4 a game he received this season.

Be that as it may, Miller still has star potential if a team develops him the right way.  Orlando is very much a team that could use a star in the upcoming years.

20. Denver Nuggets: Fab Melo, C

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.9 blocks 

School: Syracuse

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 7'0", 255 pounds

The Nuggets offense has been great this season, leading the NBA in points per game at 103.7.  Unfortunately, they're also next to last in defense, allowing 101.2 points a game.

With JaVale McGee's status uncertain as he becomes a restricted free agent, the Nuggets should opt for the younger, cheaper version in the former Syracuse center.

Another Melo in Denver might take some getting used to, but at least this one plays defense.

21. Boston Celtics: Terrence Ross, SG/SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists 

School: Washington

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'6", 195 pounds

Ray Allen is a free agent and Paul Pierce will be 35 next season which means Boston could use some insurance on the wing.

An excellent shooter coming off screens, Ross has great range and is a good rebounder as well.

22. Boston Celtics: Royce White, SF/PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 13.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists 

School: Iowa State

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'8", 270 pounds

White will most likely end up being an undersized power forward in the NBA, even though some of his skills resemble those of a small forward.

He had some of his best games of the season when matched up with the NCAA's best big men, something that should definitely help his draft stock moving forward.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Moe Harkless, SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 15.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists

School: St. John's

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'8", 208 pounds

A talented wing who plays a smooth all-around game, Harkless could be a steal at the end of the first round.

Just a freshman, Harkless exhibited a nice mid-range game and put up great rebounding numbers in his only season at St. John's.

Only 18, he shows a feel for the game far beyond his age.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Festus Ezeli, C

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks

School: Vanderbilt

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'11", 255 pounds

Cleveland took its wing in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with its first pick; now it addresses the need at center with Ezeli.

A power dunker and shot-blocker, Ezeli doesn't have the highest of ceilings, but he should be a good, late first-round pick.

His contribution on defense could be immediate, and the Cavs need a true center for insurance for Anderson Varejao.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Dion Waiters, SG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 12.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists 

School: Syracuse

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'4", 215 pounds

Memphis will likely lose O.J. Mayo in free agency this summer and will be looking for someone to fill his role as a sixth-man scoring option.

Just such a player is available for them, as Waiters played that same role for the Orange last season as a scorer/slasher off the bench.

Learning NBA defense from Tony Allen wouldn't hurt either.

26. Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, PG

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 9.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists 

School: Kentucky

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'2", 189 pounds

A score-first point guard with a quick first step, Teague is the latest Kentucky point guard looking to make some noise in the NBA.

A decent defender, Teague must improve on his low field goal (41 percent) and free throw (71 percent) percentages to excel at the next level.

27. Miami Heat: Evan Fournier, SG/SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 13.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists (France) 

School: Poitiers, International

Age: 19

Height/Weight: 6'6", 200 pounds

Dwyane Wade is now in his 30s and is starting to show wear and tear, evidenced by his frequent absences from the Heat's lineup this season.

With the first international prospect of the draft, the Heat select Fournier, who is a crafty finisher around the rim and provides them a nice scoring option behind Wade. 

The 19-year-old is leading his French team in scoring in just his second pro season.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Draymond Green, SF/PF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 16.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists 

School: Michigan State

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'7", 230 pounds

OKC doesn't need much at this point, but a smart, well-coached senior standout from a top college program certainly wouldn't hurt.

Green could play either forward position and bring it every day in practice. He would certainly work for and earn his minutes on the court.

29. Chicago Bulls: Darius Miller, SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists 

School: Kentucky

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'8", 225 pounds

Miller is a versatile defender who can match up against three different positions with his size and athleticism.

Consistently overshadowed at Kentucky, Miller did whatever was asked of him and can contribute to the team in a number of ways, including an above-average three-point shot.

30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio Spurs): Jeffery Taylor, SF

2011-12 Stats Per Game: 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists 

School: Vanderbilt

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'7", 225 pounds

A good scorer thanks to his tremendous athleticism, Taylor brings four years of SEC experience and should help improve Golden State's bench immediately.