2012 NBA Mock Draft: No-Brainer Selections to Avoid First Round Mistakes
A good way for an NBA GM to lose his job is to bomb an early first-round pick.
Fortunately for the GMs drafting in the lottery this year, there are plenty of high-floor players who look like anything but busts. While landing a high-potential prospect with a huge ceiling is intriguing, it would be smart for some teams to simply avoid the risk.
Here's a gander at my first-round mock draft with a closer look at the no-brainer picks that will help GMs avoid first-round mistakes.
Note: No-brainer picks are in italics
1. Charlotte Bobcats (7-59): Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
No matter who gets the No. 1 pick, they can't afford to pass on Anthony Davis. There are few things wrong with this kid.
He's only 19, and he still has plenty of room to improve, but Davis already looks like one of the best inside-out defenders in the league.
He's 6'10" and incredibly long, but he had a late growth spurt, so he still plays more like a guard. This means Davis could potentially be a dominating 3 or 4 in the NBA.
In addition to resembling Marcus Camby on defense, Davis has an improving offensive game. He can knock down the mid-range jump shot and even take some defenders off the dribble.
I'll just say it again for effect. No team can afford to pass on Davis.
2. Washington Wizards (20-46): Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut
Drummond's lack of production at UConn is a little scary, but his combination of size and athleticism is truly unique.
He'll still be able to play in Washington's fast-paced offense because of his quickness, and at the same time, he'll instantly make the Wizards a better defensive team.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (21-45): Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
I love Cleveland's core. They have a scoring point guard in Kyrie Irving and two defensive stalwarts down low in Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao.
The next no-brainer step for Cleveland is Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who will improve the defense of this team.
Kidd-Gilchrist is a long, athletic player who has the capability of guarding any position besides center.
His shooting and offensive skills need some work, but his motor, ability to effectively score on the break and basketball-IQ make him a smart pick here.
The Cavs have another first-round pick, and it will be much easier to find offense later in the draft than it will be to find an all-around player like Kidd-Gilchrist.
Pairing Irving with Kidd-Gilchrist would be a dream come true for Cleveland.
4. New Orleans Hornets (21-45): Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
The Hornets will think long and hard about Brad Beal here, especially considering Eric Gordon is a restricted free agent.
Nonetheless, New Orleans needs some consistency down low, and Robinson is ready to contribute right away.
5. Sacramento Kings (22-44): Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
Sacramento needs a shooter, and that's exactly what Harrison Barnes is.
He's the best pure shooter in this draft, and while he struggles attacking the rim, he looks like a prototypical NBA small forward.
This would allow the Kings to trade Tyreke Evans or move him back to shooting guard and get rid of Marcus Thornton.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via 22-44 New Jersey Nets): Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
Marshall's lack of athleticism and defense makes him a bit of a risk here, but there's no question he's the best pure point guard in this draft class, and that's just what Portland needs.
Marshall will make everyone around him better.
7. Golden State Warriors (23-43): Brad Beal, SG, Florida Gators
If the Warriors are truly ready to move forward with Klay Thompson as their shooting guard, this isn't really a necessary pick.
Nonetheless, Beal is extremely talented and a potential Top 3 pick, so if he drops this far, he'll provide tons of value.
If the Warriors are smart, they will pick him up should he start to fall. He may be a little undersized as far as height is concerned, but Beal is very strong and a solid shooter.
He's also a good defender and would give Mark Jackson a very solid third guard behind Steph Curry and Thompson.
8. Toronto Raptors (23-43): Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
Putting an instant-offense type scorer like Rivers next to a pure, passing point guard like Jose Calderon should be an enticing idea for the Raps.
They could potentially use a big man, but this pick would let Toronto move DeMar DeRozan to small forward.
9. Detroit Pistons (25-41): Perry Jones, PF, Baylor
Brandon Knight and Rodney Stuckey have looked solid next to each other, so grabbing an athletic, scoring big-man to put next to Greg Monroe makes a lot of sense.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via 26-40 Minnesota Timberwolves): Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
This will depend on what the Hornets do with their first pick, but Lillard is an electric scorer and can eventually replace Jarrett Jack.
He's a solid pick here.
11. Portland Trail Blazers (28-38): Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
Zeller is a true center with polished offensive skills. His addition would move LaMarcus Aldridge to a more comfortable power forward position and would round out Portland's starting lineup.
12. Milwaukee Bucks (31-35): Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut
The Bucks have Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis, but their guard depth after that is fairly thin. Lamb, who is widely seen as a potential Top 10 pick, provides good value at No. 12 overall.
13. Phoenix Suns (33-33): Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
The Suns need athleticism and they need wing players. Terrence Ross, who can jump out of the gym and score in a hurry, is both of those things.
14. Houston Rockets (34-32): Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Marcus Camby and Samuel Dalembert are not long-term options at center. Leonard is a bit raw, but he serves a solid replacement.
15. Philadelphia 76ers (35-31): Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
Spencer Hawes is hitting free agency, and Elton Brand is not the long-term answer. The 76ers need offense and big-man depth. Sullinger helps both of those areas.
Sully isn't athletic and he's slightly undersized, but he's a very polished post player.
16. Houston Rockets (via 36-20 New York Knicks): Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
Waiters is an electric scorer off the bench.
With Goran Dragic likely gone in free agency, Waiters, who has the potential to step in as a point guard, could back up both Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin.
17. Dallas Mavericks (36-30): John Henson, PF, North Carolina
Henson's length and athleticism make him one of the best defensive players in this draft. The Mavs will like him as a potential replacement for Dirk Nowitzki.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via 36-30 Utah Jazz): Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's
The T-Wolves need a small forward, and Harkless is a good one. His length and athleticism are reminiscent of a poor man's Kevin Durant.
If Harkless improves his jump shot, he'll be a no-brainer here.
19. Orlando Magic (37-29): Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor
Another lengthy prospect, Miller has the size, jump-shot and ball-handling to fill the perfect NBA small forward role.
The Magic desperately need a young scorer to put on the wing.
20. Denver Nuggets (38-28): Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky
Don't be surprised if the Nuggets go with the best available here. Jones is rated much higher on a lot of boards, and he would give Denver some good value.
21. Boston Celtics (39-27): Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
This would be a steal for the Celtics.
They need a big man to eventually replace Kevin Garnett, and Moultrie is incredibly talented and athletic for his size.
22. Boston Celtics (via 40-26 Los Angeles Clippers): John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
Just like Garnett, Ray Allen's future in Boston is up in the air. John Jenkins is a terrific shooter and would help replace Ray-Ray in a big way.
23. Atlanta Hawks (40-26): Royce White, SF, Iowa State
White is the prototypical point forward.
He's big (6'8", 249 pounds) and often did most of the ball-handling for the Cyclones. He's a very intriguing prospect, and the Hawks need a small forward.
Win-win.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via 41-25 Los Angeles Lakers): Tony Wroten, PG/SG, Washington
After taking Michael Kidd-Gilchrist earlier, look for the Cavs to grab a scorer, whether it be a shooting guard or a big man.
Wroten must work on his shooting, but he's electric going to the hoop and has terrific vision. He's a bit of an enigma, but his potential is through the roof.
25. Memphis Grizzlies (41-25): Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky
Mike Conley needs some help. The Grizzlies were unwilling to trust Gilbert Arenas for very long in the playoffs, and they could use a backup point guard.
We all know how good John Calipari's point guards have been, so this could end up being a steal, as well as a need-filler.
26. Indiana Pacers (42-24): Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
The Pacers may lose Leandro Barbosa in free agency, so replacing him with another backup shooting guard would make sense.
Lamb is one of the best shooters in the draft, but lack of size means he'll only ever be a role player. Luckily for Indy, that's all they need here.
27. Miami Heat (46-20): Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
The Heat badly need another big man that can actually score the ball, and Nicholson is easily the best available prospect capable of doing that.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder (47-19): Evan Fournier, SF, France
Don't be surprised if the Thunder, who are pretty solid at every position, take a project.
Fournier is a crafty scorer, but he's only 19 and may need another year overseas.
29. Chicago Bulls (50-16): Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State
There's no other role-player type guy who can do everything on the court who is more perfect for the Bulls than Draymond Green.
30. Golden State Warriors (via 50-16 San Antonio Spurs): Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
Look for Mark Jackson to continue to work on his defense.
Melo is a bit of a headcase, and he'll provide next to nothing on offense right away, but he's a legitimate defensive threat from Day 1.
