2012 NBA Draft: Landing Spots for College Basketball's Top Studs

The 2012 NBA draft class is regarded as one of the best and deepest in recent memory.

There is a ton of NBA-ready talent making the leap from college to the pros.

Predicting where those future stars will end up is a challenge. Will front offices pick based on their team’s needs or on pure talent? Do you make the pick or package that lottery spot into a trade offer?

These are just some of the many questions general managers have to weigh during the run-up to the draft.

Note: For these landing spots, I am assuming there will be no surprises during the May 30 lottery. That means Charlotte picks first, Washington second, etc.

Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

Landing Spot: Minnesota Timberwolves (18th pick)

Doron Lamb is one of the best shooters in the 2012 draft. He will give Minnesota a spot-up threat to complement the dynamic duo of Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love.

A pure shooting guard will allow Minnesota to quit playing two point guards on the floor together. This pick pays instant dividends for the Wolves.

Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky

Landing Spot: Denver Nuggets (20th pick)

Terrence Jones will team with Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee to create an electric frontcourt trio.

Jones will bring even more physicality to the Nuggets lineup. He will likely spend his rookie year coming off the bench. He will be a part of the second team at either the small forward or power forward position.

Perry Jones, SF/PF, Baylor

Landing Spot: Boston Celtics (21st pick)

Boston enters a period of rebuilding this offseason.

With Avery Bradley, Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce as the only rotation players under contract for 2012-13, there are a lot of spots to fill.

If Boston chooses not to re-sign Kevin Garnett, Perry Jones is a guy with a similar body type to try replacing KG.

Unfortunately for Celtics fans, Jones has a lot of developing to do before he is anywhere near Garnett’s level. If he feels pressure to live up to those expectations, his development could be stunted even more.

Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

Landing Spot: Dallas Mavericks (17th pick)

Dirk Nowitzki still has a few seasons worth of fallaways in his legs. That means Dallas needs to use this draft to start transitioning toward the post-Dirk era.

Meyers Leonard is one of the few pure centers to emerge from the NCAA in recent years.

He has potential to become a capable scorer and a shot-stopper in the middle. He won’t be a Tyson Chandler, but he will give Dallas the interior defense the Mavs have missed since Chandler went to the Big Apple.

Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

Landing Spot: Houston Rockets (16th pick)

With their second pick of the first round, the Houston Rockets will add Moe Harkless to a backcourt already featuring Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin.

Harkless can finish in the lane and knock down mid-range jumpers.

Defensively, he has active hands and long arms.

He could be a bit of a project, so Rockets fans shouldn’t expect him to make a splash immediately. But two or three seasons down the road he could easily be an impact player in Houston.

Tyler Zeller, PF/C, North Carolina

Landing Spot: Houston Rockets (14th pick)

Center is the biggest question mark for the Rockets going into the offseason. Nabbing Tyler Zeller addresses that need.

Zeller can move up and down the floor with ease and step out to knock down short jumpers.

His ability to make jumpers enables the pick-and-pop game with Houston’s guards, Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin.

John Henson, PF, North Carolina

Landing Spot: Milwaukee Bucks (12th pick)

After trading Andrew Bogut for Monta Ellis, Milwaukee needs to address its frontcourt.

John Henson gives the Bucks a big man who fits in with the exciting backcourt of Ellis and Brandon Jennings.

Henson’s 7’4” wingspan makes him a shot-blocking presence. It will also help him snag offensive rebounds from the gunners Jennings and Ellis.

Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

Landing Spot: Philadelphia 76ers (15th pick)

The Philadelphia 76ers have no glaring weaknesses to speak of. They could add a center, but that isn’t crucial.

Philadelphia will use its first-round pick to add depth to an already deep team.

Adding Terrence Ross gives the Sixers another scoring option.

Ross will have plenty of time to adjust to the NBA in Philadelphia. He won’t be called on to shoulder much of the load, but will give the 76ers an eighth or even ninth legitimate scoring option.

Jared Sullinger, PF/C, Ohio State

Landing Spot: Portland Trail Blazers (11th pick)

The Portland Trail Blazers desperately need to address the point guard and center positions. Luckily for the Blazers, they will more than likely have two lottery picks in the draft.

With the second of those picks, Portland will call on another Ohio State big man. Rip City faithful will hope Jared Sullinger doesn’t suffer the same fate as the last Buckeye to become a Blazer.

Sullinger’s size and skill set will thrust him into the starting lineup immediately in Portland.

Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Landing Spot: Phoenix Suns (13th pick)

Whether Phoenix signs Steve Nash this offseason or lets him walk, the Suns have to start thinking about a point guard of the future.

Phoenix has the rights to restricted free agent Aaron Brooks, but Damian Lillard may be a better long-term solution.

Lillard will push the tempo and he can score.

Once he takes the reins from Nash, Phoenix fans will fall in love with his up-tempo style.

Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Landing Spot: Detroit Pistons (9th pick)

Arnett Moultrie can play the 3, 4 or even the 5. He has the skills of a small forward and the size of a small center.

Detroit could cause matchup problems by pairing Moultrie with Charlie Villanueva in the frontcourt.

Those two matched with Ben Gordon and Rodney Stuckey present a challenging lineup for other teams to defend.

Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Landing Spot: Portland Trail Blazers (6th pick)

Because of a desperate need for a point guard, Portland will stretch and take Kendall Marshall earlier than he probably should be picked.

But for the most pure point guard prospect in the draft, the stretch can’t be seen as too big.

Marshall is a phenomenal passer who knows how to make the players around him better. Putting him into an already potent Portland lineup will allow him to seamlessly transition from college to the pros.

Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Landing Spot: New Orleans Hornets (10th pick)

The New Orleans Hornets need to upgrade their entire roster. With both of their first-round picks, they will take the best player available.

Austin Rivers will be the best choice with the 10th pick.

He can come into New Orleans and create offense right away as a rookie.

Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn

Landing Spot: Toronto Raptors (8th pick)

Toronto is another team, like New Orleans, that cannot afford to draft for a specific position.

The Raptors don’t have good enough players anywhere on their roster to try and upgrade one spot more than another. Therefore they will take the best player on the board. That will be Jeremy Lamb.

Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

Landing Spot: Sacramento Kings (5th pick)

The Sacramento Kings are quietly putting together a great group of young talent.

With Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins already on the roster, Harrison Barnes comes in and creates a terrific trio of youngsters.

Barnes’ smooth all-around game makes him a good fit anywhere in the NBA. With the Kings, Barnes will be able to show off his polished game right away.

Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Landing Spot: Golden State Warriors (7th pick)

Bradley Beal will slip a little farther than he might think, because the Kings and Trail Blazers will draft to suit their needs.

The Warriors will bring in Bradley Beal as a replacement to Monta Ellis. Beal will instantly pair with Steph Curry in a high-octane backcourt.

With Andrew Bogut and David Lee up front, the Warriors could make a run at the playoffs in Beal’s rookie year.

Andre Drummond, PF/C, UConn

Landing Spot: New Orleans Hornets (4th pick)

New Orleans is able to upgrade two positions in this draft by adding Andre Drummond and Austin Rivers.

Drummond has potential to be the biggest star in this draft.

With his outrageous size and athleticism, Drummond could turn into a Dwight Howard-like post presence.

With Chris Kaman a free agent and Emeka Okafor’s health a question mark each year, Drummond could be the center of the future for the Hornets.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

Landing Spot: Cleveland Cavaliers (3rd pick)

2012 Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving gets an added offensive weapon with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist coming to town.

Kidd-Gilchrist’s speed and ability to power through defenders makes him a scoring threat any time he’s in the open court. Irving’s ability to find the open man could lead to a lot of easy baskets for MKG.

Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

Landing Spot: Washington Wizards (2nd pick)

Like Cleveland, point guard is the only position on Washington’s roster that offers hope for the future.

Drafting Thomas Robinson gives John Wall a big man he can rely on to score the rock.

In addition, Robinson’s strength will improve Washington’s rebounding right away.

Expect Robinson to play a lot of minutes as a rookie on a depleted Wizards roster.

Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Landing Spot: Charlotte Bobcats (1st pick)

This pick comes as no surprise.

Anthony Davis’ long arms, point guard background and willingness to contribute without his number called make him a can’t-miss prospect.

Davis will be a more athletic Marcus Camby. He has the potential to be a better offensive player as well, although fans rarely got to see his offense on display at Kentucky.