2012 NBA Mock Draft: Second-Round Talents Who Will Be Drafted Too Early

There's no arguing that the 2012 NBA draft is stacked with talent near the top, but it's just as clear that the end of the first round is questionable at best.

That means second-round talent will assuredly be taken too early.

Sometimes it makes sense. Teams will take a player early because of need or a fresh hole at a certain position.

Sometimes it doesn't make so much sense. Teams will take a player because of a man crush or simply a lack of scouting.

No matter how it happens, it happens.

With that being said, here's a look at my first-round mock draft with a deeper evaluation as to what second-round talents will be drafted too early.

Note: Second-round talents are in italics. 

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

Davis is only 19 years old, but he has a scary combination of length, athleticism and basketball I.Q.

He'll immediately be one of the best interior defenders in the NBA, and his offensive game continues to improve.

No-brainer.

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

Kidd-Gilchrist is electrifying on the break and the Wizards will be able to utilize those talents to the fullest.

What's more, he can guard every position except center.

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

Beal is one of the best shooters in the draft, but he also has good defense, strength and a high basketball I.Q., all of which make him a top-three pick.

He's a little short, but Beal's athleticism and strength make up for that.

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

Thomas Robinson is extremely athletic and has a good motor. Some worry about his upside, but T-Rob is ready to contribute right away.

For the Hornets, who have struggled with consistent big-man play, that will be an important factor.

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

Andre Drummond has a rare combination of size and athleticism, but his down year at Connecticut has plenty wondering about his commitment or work ethic.

He's the classic boom-or-bust player.

However, the Kings have turned DeMarcus Cousins into a rising star, so they would probably be willing to do it again with Drummond. 

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

Marshall is easily the best pure point guard in this draft. He still needs work on his jump shot and defense, but he's going to make everyone around him better.

You don't find players as smart as Marshall every day. 

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

Barnes is perfectly sized to be an NBA small forward, and he can absolutely shoot the lights when coming off of screens. 

However, Barnes struggles to create his own shot and disappears from action too often, probably because he's one dimensional.

Nonetheless, he's a clear NBA player and the Warriors aren't ready to go forward with Dorell Wright in the future.

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

He's a definite project, but Jones' potential is through the roof.

There's the chance he'll slip a little bit, but he'll be too hard for Toronto to pass up. 

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

Lamb is yet another smooth shooter with terrific size and solid athleticism. Additionally, the Pistons need to find a way to part ways with Ben Gordon.

Replacing Gordon with Lamb would be a good step for the future.

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

Lillard is technically a point guard because of his size and that he handled the ball in college, but he's someone who can score in bunches.

He's quick to the hoop and has good range on his jumper. With Jarrett Jack currently manning the point, this would be a good pick for New Orleans. 

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

Zeller is a true center and would let LaMarcus Aldridge move to his more comfortable power forward position.

Also, this would put Zeller and Kendall Marshall, former teammates, back on the same team. 

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

Rivers doesn't really have a true position—is he a point guard or a shooting guard?—but there's no question he can score like few others.

His crossover is the best in the draft, he can finish with contact, and his range has no limit. Rivers would give Milwaukee instant offense off the bench.

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

Ross is a future candidate to win the Slam Dunk Contest, but he's also an electric scorer with good ball-handling skills and a silky jump shot.

Ross sometimes disappeared during his time at Washington, but his talent is undeniable. He won't slip very far, especially after he impresses during draft camps. 

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

Sullinger, who was a top-three pick at this time last year, is the prototypical post player.

He knows how to use his big frame effectively and he has an array of solid, old-school post moves. The former Buckeye is lacking in athleticism, but the Rockets will take him as a pure value pick here.

This is a pick that could easily be traded, especially since Sullinger has basically the same type of game as Luis Scola.  

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

If you've been watching the playoffs, you know how much Philadelphia struggles to score the ball.

The Sixers already have plenty of guard depth, but passing on Dion Waiters, who looked like one of the best scorers in the country at Syracuse, would be a mistake.

Putting him next to Lou Williams in that second unit would be unfairly effective. 

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

The Rockets won't have Marcus Camby or Samuel Dalembert around for any more than two years, and Leonard is the perfect pick for a future replacement.

He's a true seven-footer and has a soft touch around the rim to go along with a dangerous mid-range jumper. 

Leonard is young and full of potential, too, so his stock could rise even higher than this. 

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

Henson is extremely long and will provide all kinds of defense. He has a similar skill set to Anthony Davis, but he's less valuable since he's three years older.

Nonetheless, Dirk isn't getting any younger, and this would be a nice pick for Dallas for the future. 

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

Royce White is a unique player.

He's big and strong, but he also did a lot of the ball-handling at Iowa State because of his rare quickness and athleticism. 

White is a point forward and those don't come around too often. On top of that, he's a good fit for Minnesota. 

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

In terms of what he'll do in the NBA right away, Tony Wroten is a second-round talent.

His potential talent is a top-five pick, but he should have stayed at Washington for another year or two to develop his jump shot. 

What makes Wroten so special is that he has the size of a normal shooting guard, but his quickness, ball-handling and absolutely insane vision all make him a point guard. He can get to the hoop at will and was one of the best rebounding guards I saw in the country this year.

Nonetheless, his jump shot is worse than Rajon Rondo's. As long as NBA teams back off of Wroten, and assuming he hasn't improved by a million-fold over the spring, he's going to struggle at the next level, at least for a year or two.

Wroten is quite possibly the most exciting player in this draft; I'm not questioning that. He's just not ready for the next level.

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

The NBA power forward position is starting to change and Moultrie fits the mold. He needs to add strength, but he's long, athletic and can run the floor.

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

Terrence Jones has seen his stock drop after a less-than-stellar year at Kentucky, but he still has great size for a small forward.

If he ends up going somewhere like Boston, he will be a great bench player. In fact, he bears a lot of similarities to a productive Lamar Odom.

Should Jones produce that well, and he has the potential to do so, this would be a steal.

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

Ray Allen's health and skills are diminishing, so there is a good chance this is his last year with the Boston Celtics.

No fear, though, because John Jenkins is a deadly shooter with an NBA-style release. He is a solid replacement for Allen.

23. Atlanta Hawks (40-26): Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

Harkless is a terrific athlete who was the clear leader at St. John's in his only season there. The young small forward is a little reminiscent of Josh Smith, which makes this an intriguing pick for the Hawks.

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

If the Cavs take Brad Beal in the first round, they will want to add someone who contributes more than just offense.

With Jeff Taylor, they get just that.

Taylor is experienced and makes for the perfect role player. He can shoot, get to the hoop and most importantly, he has the athleticism to be a force on the defensive end.

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

Nicholson is a versatile athlete who has a solid basketball I.Q. He could add some strength and needs to become a better rebounder, but he is a great scorer and has loads of potential.

The Grizzlies don't have a ton of glaring needs, so this would serve as a nice future pick. 

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

The Pacers aren't losing a ton to free agency, but one player set to leave town is Leandro Barbosa. 

It's hard to argue with how good John Calipari's point guards have been in the NBA, so this would be a solid depth pick for the Pacers, who are already solid all around.

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

Fab Melo is not a first-round talent.

During his freshman season with the Orange, he averaged just 9.9 minutes, 2.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.

He upped those totals dramatically during his sophomore year, but Melo is a headcase and his potential isn't worth the risk.

He has terrific size at 7'0" and 255 pounds, and his shot-blocking skills (2.9 per game in 2011-12) will get him drafted in the first round, but he just doesn't contribute much else.

His offensive game, however, is just too raw. He has a decent jump shot and OK footwork for a man his size, but he won't be able to contribute at all on that end in the NBA. 

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

The 19-year-old Frenchman isn't ready to contribute right away, but the Thunder don't need someone to.

Fournier is a crafty offensive player, which is vital considering his lack of athleticism. He's also a very solid shooter.

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

Lamb will easily crack the first round, but his one-dimensional game means he should actually be going early in the second round.

Lamb is one of the best shooters in this draft, as evidenced by his near-50 percent three-point shooting for his college career. He can shoot off the dribble and he can shoot coming off of screens.

This is why he will be a good eventual replacement for Richard Hamilton.

Nonetheless, Lamb is undersized for a shooting guard and will be a liability on the defensive end. He often handled the ball at Kentucky, but it's unlikely he will be able to run an offense in the NBA.

Essentially, he's a 'tweener.

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

Gordon is a little undersized, but he makes up for it with a ridiculous motor and fantastic athleticism. 

Much like Kenneth Faried from last year's draft, Gordon crashes the boards with relentless activity and will outwork everyone. 

I love him here for the Warriors. 

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