2012 NBA Mock Draft: Defensive Stars Who Will Shine in the Pros

If defense wins championships, it stands to reason that teams looking to improve via June's NBA draft should look for prospects who can make an impact on both ends of the floor.

The Charlotte Bobcats will do exactly that, should they indeed land the first overall pick in this month's draft lottery. Guys like Kentucky's Anthony Davis can obviously prevent baskets via their individual contributions, but they can also change a team's defensive culture.

For young or rebuilding clubs, that kind of shift can turn the worst franchises around seemingly overnight, and they can transform borderline playoff teams into legitimate contenders.

Here's a complete look at how this summer's draft could play out, along with the prospects sure to make a name with their D.

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

The Bobcats can't get any worse at this point, and it's hard to imagine anything making them much better—even the first pick in the draft. If anyone could make a difference, though, it's Anthony Davis.

He's a world-class shot-blocker to be sure, but he's also a fundamentally sound post-defender with the kind of toughness you expect from the big guys patrolling the paint. His length and quickness allow him to intimidate the shots he doesn't manage to swat outright, and his non-stop hustle could give Charlotte an instant edge on the glass.

Like Marcus Camby or Serge Ibaka, Davis will make a name for himself regardless of how many points he scores. The offense will show itself in time, but that's certainly not what makes this year's first overall selection so special.

2. Washington Wizards: Thomas Robinson, PF (Kansas)

Robinson isn't anything close to the shot-blocker Davis is, but he does have the strength and quickness to defend power forwards at the pro level. His real selling points, however, include his ability to score inside and out, along with a tenacious approach to rebounding the ball. Washington needs all of those things, but it needs Robinson's mental and physical toughness even more.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, G (Florida)

Beal is a versatile scorer first and foremost, and that should suit the Cavaliers just fine. Cleveland relied almost exclusively on Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving to generate offense as both a shooter and a facilitator. Beal would alleviate some of that pressure. Though a bit undersized to play the two, he could follow in the footsteps of guys like Eric Gordon and Dwyane Wade who've used their strength and quickness to get the job done.

4. New Orleans Hornets: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF (Kentucky)

If Robinson and Beal weren't such attractive picks, it would be almost inconceivable to imagine Kidd-Gilchrist slipping to the fourth pick. When all is said and done, he may be long gone before the Hornets ever have a chance to draft him.

Head coach Monty Williams is the defense-first type, and he'd be ecstatic to land the like-minded Kidd-Gilchrist. The 6'7" small forward has all the makings of a Gerald Wallace or Andre Iguodala—only with the potential to be a much better scorer. For the time being, he could join Trevor Ariza in giving New Orleans one of the league's best pairs of lock-down stoppers on the wing.

The 18-year-old has the kind of heart and motor you might expect from gritty veterans, themselves something of an endangered species. He'll do the dirty work that helps teams win.

5. Sacramento Kings: Harrison Barnes, SF (North Carolina)

Barnes might not be an elite defender, but he projects to be a very good one. Primarily a jump-shooter at this stage of his career, Barnes gets most of his attention from averaging over 17 points as a sophomore on a very good UNC team. Nevertheless, he's got the length and quickness to defend on the perimeter, and the Kings desperately need a guy with those all-around skills on the wing.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via Brooklyn Nets): Andre Drummond, C (UConn)

Drummond certainly has the size and athletic ability to intimidate little guys making their way into the paint, but there's still no telling how dominant he'll become. Thanks to his inconsistent focus and undeveloped skills in the post, Drummond could be the next Dwight Howard—or the next Kwame Brown. However, Portland needs a center and should be willing to incur the risk.

7. Golden State Warriors: Perry Jones III, PF (Baylor)

There's nothing wrong with David Lee, but he doesn't have nearly the game-changing potential that Jones III displayed with the Bears. Like Drummond, the 6'11" athletic specimen still has a lot to prove about his ability to contribute night in and night out.

8. Toronto Raptors: Jeremy Lamb, SG (UConn)

Lamb isn't especially tall for a shooting guard, but his 7'0" wingspan certainly makes it easier to bother shooters and disrupt passing lanes. That said, it's his ability to score from all over the floor that will make him a lottery pick.

9. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, PF (North Carolina)

Though Detroit's offense needs help, they absolutely need a power forward for the future. Henson's post-defense is solid, but it's his penchant for flying in from the weak side to block shots that will most immediately benefit the Piston's hit-or-miss front line.

Greg Monroe is one the league's most improved centers, but he doesn't play above the rim. Charlie Villanueva and Jason Maxiell, meanwhile, have more than a few problems of their own. Henson should quickly earn a starting job alongside Monroe, thanks to his difference-making athleticism.

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

Lillard is one heck of a scorer. If his long-range shot and penetration play out even half as well in the NBA as they did at Weber State, he'll have himself a fine career. With Jarrett Jack little more than a short-term solution at New Orleans' point, Lillard could take over down the road.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Kendall Marshall, PG (North Carolina)

Portland's quasi-rebuilding phase won't get far without a pass-first point guard to do the kind of things Andre Miller did before getting shipped out to Denver. Once the Trail Blazers address their needs at center, they'll need a floor general—that could mean selecting someone like Marshall, but it could also mean moving one of their two lottery picks for a more experienced solution.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller, C (North Carolina)

Zeller is a skilled center who makes up for his middle-of-the-road athleticism with a nice shooting touch, sound fundamentals and the willingness to do little things like pass and hustle for rebounds. He's almost certainly the best available replacement for Andrew Bogut.

13. Phoenix Suns: Terrence Jones, SF (Kentucky)

Jones' 7'3" wingspan and first-rate athleticism have already made him one of this draft's most capable defenders. He blocked nearly two shots a game in each of his two seasons at Kentucky, but he's also quick enough to play on the perimeter. While he's not the next LeBron James, he shares the MVP's ability to defend multiple positions (and do so effectively).

The Suns' offseason plans are entirely up in the air at this point, hinging in large part on what happens to Steve Nash. The franchise could also become a major player in free agency. Regardless of how those plans shake out, Jones could turn into Phoenix's next star.

14. Houston Rockets: Austin Rivers, G (Duke)

Rivers isn't a terrible defender by any means. His claim to fame is filling it up from long range and attacking the rim. With a dad like Doc, it's hard to imagine Rivers becoming anything short of a world-class stopper. Until that evolution, he'll be a shoot-first guard cut out for sixth-man duty on a bench in need of a spark.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: Jared Sullinger, PF (Ohio State) 

Sullinger is a bruiser, pure and simple. He's doesn't have ideal size, but he might have the skills to compensate. Philly needs a long-term replacement for Elton Brand, and who better than a guy whose frame and talents are reminiscent of Brand.

16. Houston Rockets (via New York Knicks): Arnett Moultrie, PF (Mississippi St.)

If the Rockets are in the market for an athletic big who can rebound and run the floor, Moultrie is their man. He wouldn't take Luis Scola's minutes right away, but he would provide some depth and a change of pace.

17. Dallas Mavericks: Meyers Leonard, C (Illinois)

Dallas' roster will be starting from square one this summer and needs to get younger across the board. Nowhere is this more true than at the center position, where Brendan Haywood has become a horrendously expensive disappointment. With some added weight and post polish, Leonard could be the Mavericks' big man of the future.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah Jazz): Terrence Ross, SG (Washington)

The Timberwolves have been looking for solutions to their shooting guard woes for some time now, and Ross would be one heck of a find. There's a good chance he's taken somewhere earlier in the lottery, but if he starts to slip, Minnesota could grab one of this draft's most well-rounded athletes.

19. Orlando Magic: Jeff Taylor, SF (Vanderbilt)

Like Ross, Taylor could very well go a bit sooner. He's a great athlete with a still-improving offensive game, replete with new-found range and the ability to penetrate.

Still, it's his defense that will earn him the most attention. He may be the best on-ball defender in the draft and may wind up being the most impactful small forward after Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. He has the physical tools to harass scorers, along with even more invaluable drive to do so without taking plays off.

20. Denver Nuggets: Tony Wroten Jr., PG (Washington)

Wroten Jr. has a lot to learn before he can assume heavy playing time at the NBA level. His decision-making and shooting ability are rough around the edges, to say the least, and he doesn't have the most refined court vision. With Ty Lawson running the show for the foreseeable future, though, the Nuggets could afford to patiently groom the rookie as an eventual sixth man.

21. Boston Celtics: Quincy Miller, SF (Baylor)

While Boston's made a strong postseason run, it's become abundantly clear that this team doesn't have much of a bench. That's especially true on the wing, where Paul Pierce has been forced into playing heavy minutes. Miller may take a while to round out his skills, but the 6'9" forward is quite the athlete and well worth the gamble.

22. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Fab Melo, C (Syracuse)

As much as the Celtics need depth at virtually every position, they might need a legitimate center even more. It wouldn't be surprising to see Boston leverage at least one of its picks in an attempt to surround Rajon Rondo with some proven talent. If this pick stays with Boston, Melo may be the best big man left. He's explosive, runs the floor and has tons of room for improvement.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Dion Waiters, G (Syracuse)

The Hawks need some energy to spark the second unit, and Waiters would do just the trick. While he's not yet a phenomenal shooter, he's an excellent slasher who can finish around the rim. Atlanta doesn't have much back-court depth outside of free agent Kirk Hinrich, so Waiters (or a similarly disposed guard) could see regular playing time early on.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Moe Harkless, SF (St. John's)

Harkless has the raw potential to draw interest from a lot of teams, but he's yet to show consistent effort or shooting ability—two significant concerns for pro teams. Nevertheless, Cleveland needs help on the wing, and Harkless could eventually blossom into solid rotation piece.

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

Outside of Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies have some questions in the paint. Darrell Arthur missed the entire season with injury, and it's unclear if Marreese Speights will be around for long. Nicholson is a good enough scorer to make up for his deficiencies, so he wouldn't be a bad asset for Memphis.

26. Indiana Pacers: Draymond Green, F (Michigan St.)

Indiana already has a wealth of resources at every position, but they don't have much behind Danny Granger at small forward. Green won't wow anyone with athleticism or elite scoring potential, but he does a little bit of everything and has better passing skills than most guys his size.

27. Miami Heat: Marquis Teague, PG (Kentucky)

While Mario Chalmers has improved this season, Miami's point guard situation is still a glaring weakness. Norris Cole had a solid rookie campaign, but Marquis Teague could give the Heat some options. He's super quick and one of the more well-rounded young floor generals available this summer.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Festus Ezeli, C (Vanderbilt)

It may seem like the Thunder can't get much better, but OKC has precious little to back up Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka. Ezeli would contribute the kind of defensive presence that Nick Collison just doesn't have.

29. Chicago Bulls: Evan Fournier, SG (France)

Fournier is a nice shooter who could benefit Chicago in the future, but there's a good chance the Bulls move this pick in an effort to somehow compensate for the loss of Derrick Rose for most, if not all, of next season.

30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio Spurs): William Buford, SG (Ohio State)

With Monta Ellis now in a Bucks uniform, the Warriors could use some depth behind Klay Thompson at the two. Buford is an explosive scorer who would fit nicely on Golden State's young bench.