NBA Draft 2012: One Prospect to Address Each Team's Most Pressing Need

Even though the NBA Playoffs are still in full swing, we cannot forget about the 2012 NBA Draft. Each team has at least one pressing need and you can rest assured that the general managers are losing sleep at night trying to figure out who they should draft. 

This article should help ease their sleepless nights because it details exactly who each team should be looking at to fill that most pressing need. 

Read on to find out who your favorite team should take. 

Atlanta Hawks

As the Atlanta Hawks showed the world during the playoffs, they desperately need a new small forward. Marvin Williams simply is not going to cut it anymore at this point. 

Yes, this is a bigger priority than center because Al Horford can more than capably hold down the fort at the five-spot even if it it not his natural position. Plus, the quality true centers in this draft class are few and far between at best. 

The Hawks would be overjoyed if Moe Harkless manages to fall to them at No. 23. The freshman from St. John's is an incredibly athletic young player with quick hands on defense and could make an immediate impact in the rotation. 

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics have an aging roster highlighted by a great young point guard, but their biggest need is in the paint. 

Whether it is a power forward or a center, the C's need to find a big man. In this draft class, which happens to be ruled by power forwards, that is probably the safest position to go with. 

Boston generally likes to build its team through trading and free agency, so they may decide to go high-upside and draft Royce White if he is still on the board. 

Charlotte Bobcats

This one is quite simple. 

The Charlotte Bobcats need help at every single position. Point guard and center could be exceptions thanks to the potential of Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo, but no position is set. 

Anthony Davis is just the clear No. 1 pick and no one else is even close. 

Chicago Bulls

The only weak spot left on the Chicago Bulls roster is found at shooting guard. 

With the penultimate pick of the first round, Gar Forman should look to fill that spot unless something strange happens and every quality shooting guard is already off the board. 

The Bulls generally prefer two-way players, which knocks John Jenkins out of the equation, even though I think he is going to be a great pro. That leaves Doron Lamb as the prospect best suited to fill the Bulls' biggest need. 

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers could use help at either shooting guard or small forward, but the decision will be made for them by the Washington Wizards. 

If the Wizards decide to take Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, as many expect (myself included), then Bradley Beal is the pick here. If not, MKG should go. 

Beal might be undersized, but he plays big for his 6'3" frame and should form a potent backcourt duo with Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving. 

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks need help at guard and they are picking at No. 17 thanks to the fact that the pick they were supposed to trade away was protected in the top 20. 

Really, help at either guard spot would be beneficial so it is all about securing the best available backcourt player for Mark Cuban and the Mavs. 

If Austin Rivers falls this far, he needs to be the pick. If not, look for Marquis Teague to be taken off the board. 

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets have talent at each and every position, but they still lack a go-to scoring stud. Danilo Gallinari likes to think he is filling that role, but he is not there yet. 

Austin Rivers is a risky pick, but he has the offensive upside to become a great volume scorer at the next level. 

He may still be available when the Nuggets make their selection at No. 20. 

Detroit Pistons

With Brandon Knight hoping to make good on his potential and Greg Monroe looking to firmly establish himself as one of the NBA's best big men, the Detroit Pistons' biggest needs are at the two forward positions. 

Unless they move up far enough in the lottery to have a shot at Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Harrison Barnes though, power forward needs to be the position of choice this time. 

Detroit is not going to compete anytime soon, so I'd go with the high-upside project player and take Perry Jones III out of Baylor. 

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors may actually have a competitive roster next season. The starting lineup should be more than solid with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, David Lee and Andrew Bogut filling out four of the spots. 

However, the Dubs need a small forward. 

They need to cross their fingers and toes and hope that they can draft Harrison Barnes or else they will need to trade out of their lottery pick. There is not another small forward that should be taken before the mid-teens. 

Houston Rockets

The pick of choice here is either small forward or center. Nothing else is a major priority for Daryl Morey's team. 

Fortunately, the Houston Rockets have two picks in quick succession (No. 14 and No. 16 currently) so they may be able to address both needs. 

Expect to see true seven-footer Meyers Leonard taken with one of the two picks. 

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers roster is incredibly well-balanced and devoid of any true holes. 

That puts the team in the fun position of getting to draft the best player available in the first round. Or, they could take a power forward and groom the replacement for David West, who will be an unrestricted free agent in 2013. 

Arnett Moultrie should be the player focused on here. He has the talent to go in the lottery, but some off-the-court red flags could push his stock down into the 20s. 

Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers need help at shooting guard, but they do not have a first-round pick so I'm just going to move on. 

Predicting whether or not teams will draft for need in the second-round is a crapshoot at best. 

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers need help at small forward, but they do not have a first-round pick so I'm just going to move on. 

Predicting whether or not teams will draft for need in the second-round is a crapshoot at best. 

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies could use an offensively-talented shooting guard to fill a sort of platoon role with defensive specialist Tony Allen. 

However, they are picking at No. 25 and that may be too soon to reach for Doron Lamb or John Jenkins. 

Even though it may not be the sexiest or most popular pick, going overseas and selecting Evan Fournier may be the best option. 

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat could use depth at virtually every position, but center has to be the ultimate priority. 

I've been putting Fab Melo in the Heat's spot in each and every one of my recent mock drafts because the Syracuse big man is the perfect fit. He is not a great offensive player but is a defensive stalwart who is perfectly content in that role. 

It is not like the Heat actually need more offensive production though since they have been doing fairly decent without offense from the center spot already. 

Milwaukee Bucks

Small forward is the biggest need for the Milwaukee Bucks, which could be problematic if they do not move up in the lottery. 

Assuming he is still available at No. 12, Terrence Jones would be my pick of choice if I was in John Hammond's shoes during the 2012 NBA Draft. 

Primarily a power forward, Jones is athletic and quick enough to play small forward and do it well. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

It would be really nice if the Minnesota Timberwolves would actually draft a shooting guard so they could stop trotting out point guards and calling them shooting guards. 

With the 18th pick of the draft, the T'Wolves would be in perfect position to call out Tony Wroten's name. 

Wroten may not have a jump shot, but he is brimming over with athleticism and potential. Ricky Rubio's passing would also have a positive effect on that lacking area of his game. 

New Jersey Nets

The New Jersey Nets need help everywhere, but they do not have a first-round pick so I'm just going to move on. 

Predicting whether or not teams will draft for need in the second-round is a crapshoot at best. 

New Orleans Hornets

The New Orleans Hornets have a solid point guard in Jarret Jack and a franchise shooting guard in Eric Gordon if he does not leave as a restricted free agent. 

It is the frontcourt that needs to be renovated quickly. 

New Orleans has two picks in the lottery thanks to the Minnesota Timberwolves and needs to use both of them on big men. 

Andre Drummond has enough potential, as raw as he is, that he should be the pick at No. 4 (unless the Hornets get lucky in the lottery). 

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks need help at shooting guard, but they do not have a first-round pick so I'm just going to move on. 

Predicting whether or not teams will draft for need in the second-round is a crapshoot at best. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Sam Presti has done a ridiculously good job of building a terrific roster in Oklahoma City. He has three stars and a defensive player of the year candidate and the backups are more than adequate. 

While there could be more depth on the Thunder squad, that may not be true if Eric Maynor had stayed healthy. 

The Thunder need to draft an experienced player with a winning mentality. Basically, they need someone just like Draymond Green. 

Orlando Magic

Jameer Nelson has a player option and will most likely be returning to the Orlando Magic for the 2012-2013 season, but point guard is still the biggest need for the team, unless Dwight Howard is traded and shakes up the roster. 

With the 19th pick of the draft, the Magic should look to Kentucky and draft Marquis Teague. Not only would he be a high-upside player at the position, but he would also create an intra-division sibling rivalry with Jeff Teague, the floor general for the Atlanta Hawks. 

Philadelphia 76ers

With Spencer Hawes potentially leaving in unrestricted free agency, it is the frontcourt that has the most holes for the Philadelphia 76ers. 

This is still a well-balanced roster with tons of good young players though, so it is not like the holes are gaping. That opens the door up for drafting a guard or small forward, a good thing since this part of the draft is filled with those kind of players.

Terrence Ross is the ideal fit here because of his athleticism and all-around game. He could develop into the star that the Sixers are lacking.  

Phoenix Suns

Steve Nash is not going to be a Phoenix Sun next season, unless something changes quickly, which means that point guard is going to be an area of emphasis during the offseason. 

Damian Lillard and Kendall Marshall are head and shoulders above the rest of the floor generals in the 2012 draft class, so it is just a question of which fits better for Lance Blanks. 

Because of the lack of scoring options in Phoenix right now, Lillard's gunner mentality would work a bit better than Marshall's unselfishness. 

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers could use either a point guard or a center in the 2012 NBA Draft, but nothing in between. 

They will have a chance to address both needs since they currently own the No. 6 and No. 11 picks, but the first one is too soon to draft either Damian Lillard of Kendall Marshall. Therefore, they will have to wait until No. 11 to take one of the two. 

At No. 6, the Blazers should hope that Andre Drummond falls. However, a more realistic plan is to take John Henson and let his defensive skills take over in the paint. 

Sacramento Kings

I truly hope that Geoff Petrie has the opportunity to draft Thomas Robinson at No. 5 and does so. 

The double-double machine would form quite the potent frontcourt duo alongside DeMarcus Cousins. Those two together would just be amazing to watch. 

Sacramento's roster is overflowing with guards and Cousins is locked in at center, so it has to be a forward at No. 5. 

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs need help at power forward, but they do not have a first-round pick so I'm just going to move on. 

Predicting whether or not teams will draft for need in the second-round is a crapshoot at best. 

Toronto Raptors

Bryan Colangelo is probably going to draft Evan Fournier way too early (joking), but a much better pick here would be Harrison Barnes. 

Barnes fills the hole at small forward and also brings a much-needed offensive presence to the team at the position. The North Carolina Tar Heel has his fair share of red flags, but his jump shot is still incredibly pure. 

The other option here is to hope and pray that the Raptors somehow move up and are in a position to draft Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. 

Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz need help at guard, but they do not have a first-round pick so I'm just going to move on. 

Predicting whether or not teams will draft for need in the second-round is a crapshoot at best. 

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards should be looking at either Bradley Beal or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the No. 2 pick of the 2012 NBA Draft. 

MKG would be a much better fit with this team as he and John Wall would form one of the NBA's best transition duos. The small forward made 71 percent of his shots in transition as a freshman at Kentucky and shoot only improve as his jumper works its way up to par.