2012 NBA Mock Draft: Brilliant Moves for Every First Round GM

The right draft pick can make a world of difference for an NBA general manager.

After disappointing seasons, many GMs of lottery teams are on the hot seat. There will be plenty of pressure on these executives to make sure they choose correctly.

Here are solid options for each GM in the first round.

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

This is one of the few can't-miss picks in the draft. Davis is the best defensive prospect since Dwight Howard after leading the nation with 4.7 blocks per game.

He led Kentucky to a National Championship and was named the National Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and the NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Davis has freakish length with a 7'4" wingspan to go along with remarkable athleticism. His offensive game still needs some work, but he has shown the coordination and touch to turn into an effective scorer. 

The 6'10" forward is a unique prospect with limitless potential. He will make an impact immediately upon his arrival in the NBA, and the Bobcats desperately need his services after finishing with the worst winning percentage in NBA history.

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

This year's draft will lead off with two Wildcats, and after the season Kentucky had, there's no reason it shouldn't. 

Kidd-Gilchrist is a force on the wing. He is electric in the transition game and relentless on defense.

Pairing him up with former UK star John Wall would make the Wizards' fast break impossible to stop.

Washington would have an insane amount of speed and athleticism on the perimeter if it brings Kidd-Gilchrist on board.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (21-45): Andre Drummond, C (Connecticut)

Drummond may be only 18 years old, but he already has an NBA body.

At 6'11" and 275 pounds, he will be a rebounding force right away in the league.

With Drummond and Anderson Varejao crashing the boards, the glass in Cleveland will be squeaky clean every night.

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

Robinson, a junior last season, has one of the most refined skill sets of any player in the draft. 

He led Kansas to the NCAA tournament finals and showed that he could score from anywhere on the floor.

Robinson has the strength and athletic ability to be a force on the low block. He also has the perimeter skills to keep defenders guessing.

The Hornets don't have a lot going for them right now, but Robinson does a little bit of everything. The team would improve immediately by adding his skills and competitive spirit.

5. Sacramento Kings (22-44): Harrison Barnes, SF (North Carolina)

Bradley Beal is an option here, but the Kings don't need another scoring guard with Tyreke Evans and Jimmer Fredette on the roster.

Barnes is an excellent defender and has one of the best mid-range games in the draft, making him a great fit for Sacramento.

His single-biggest weakness is his lack of explosiveness, which leads to an inability to create his own shot. In Sacramento, though, Evans' ability to get into the lane will free up plenty of space for Barnes to be effective.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via 22-44 New Jersey Nets): Bradley Beal, SG (Florida)

Portland will be ecstatic to see Beal fall this far, as he will be a good replacement for Brandon Roy.

The 6'4" guard has unlimited range and is fearless when he drives to the basket. He may be undersized for the position, but Beal can score from anywhere on the court.

Beal is the type of player who can explode for 30-plus points when his shot is falling.

Portland needs more offense from its backcourt players, and Beal will provide that immediately.

7. Golden State Warriors (23-43): Jared Sullinger, PF (Ohio State)

Sullinger would have gone higher in the draft had he come out a year earlier, but a deeper class this year has caused him to slide.

Still, Sully is a load on the low block and can score with his back to the basket or while facing up. Golden State would love to have him on its frontcourt line.

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

Jones is an exceptional athlete with great size. He's 6'11", but can still slash from the perimeter and handle the ball.

Toronto has a lot of holes on its roster, and Jones can be effective at multiple positions, making him a very valuable addition.

9. Detroit Pistons (25-41): Austin Rivers, SG (Duke)

Rivers had a disappointing freshman year considering he was the No. 1 overall recruit in the nation, according to Rivals.com.

But Doc Rivers' son plays with an attitude and is fearless on the court. Those qualities are always appreciated in Detroit.

10. New Orleans Hornets (via 26-40 Minnesota Timberwolves): Kendall Marshall, PG (North Carolina)

New Orleans is rebuilding right now and would be smart to add a player like Marshall, who looks to make his teammates better.

He will have big shoes to fill with the Hornets after Chris Paul left the team in shambles, but Marshall's skill set will instantly improve the offensive game of the young players around him.

11. Portland Trail Blazers (28-38): Damian Lillard, PG (Weber State)

With their second pick of the draft, the Blazers will continue to beef up the backcourt.

Lillard is more of a scorer than a creator at this point, but he has a huge upside and can sit behind Raymond Felton while he learns the ins and out of playing point guard in the NBA.

12. Milwaukee Bucks (31-35): Tyler Zeller, C (North Carolina)

After trading away Andrew Bogut, the Bucks need help on the interior, and Zeller is their best bet.

He is a true seven-footer with finesse around the basket, but he also has a great motor and crashes hard on the glass.

13. Phoenix Suns (33-33): Jeremy Lamb, SG (Connecticut)

Lamb has an insane seven-foot wingspan and can shoot extremely well.

He is far too skinny and will need to bulk up, but he has the skills to boost the Phoenix backcourt, whether or not Steve Nash stays.

14. Houston Rockets (34-32): John Henson, PF (North Carolina)

Houston will look to add athleticism to its front with this selection, and Henson is the perfect pick.

He is all arms and legs with explosive leaping ability, and his shot-blocking and rebounding skills will be put to good use with the Rockets.

15. Philadelphia 76ers (35-31): Terrence Jones, PF (Kentucky)

Philadelphia seems to be stockpiling players, like Jones, who are athletic and play multiple positions.

Jones' length and ball-handling abilities will make him fit right in with Andre Iguodala, Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young.

16. Houston Rockets (via 36-20 New York Knicks): Terrence Ross, SG (Washington)

Ross is an athletic scorer on the perimeter, with range and the ability to beat his man off the dribble.

He will be a great addition to Houston's collection of wing players who can light up the scoreboard.

17. Dallas Mavericks (36-30): Meyers Leonard, C (Illinois)

The Mavericks missed Tyson Chandler's defensive presence last season, and they will be lucky to get such a good shot-blocking prospect this late in the draft.

Leonard may not be able to do much offensively, but he's seven feet tall, with long arms and plenty of athletic ability.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via 36-30 Utah Jazz): Dion Waiters, SG (Syracuse)

Waiters is a fearless guard who is most comfortable when attacking the basket. He has great ball-handling skills and can play the point if he needs to.

He is undersized for a 2-guard, but Waiters' ability to penetrate will translate well to the NBA.

19. Orlando Magic (37-29): Arnett Moultrie, PF (Mississippi State)

Life without Dwight Howard is a very real possibility for the Magic, and they need to start adding big men.

Like Howard, Moultrie is an excellent athlete for a 6'11" player. Unlike Howard, he is not much of a force on defense. However, his offensive game is much more versatile than the Magic superstar.

20. Denver Nuggets (38-28): Royce White, SF (Iowa State)

The Nuggets have plenty of attack-minded perimeter players. White will give them a player who can score but also can create for others.

White has good size at 6'8", but he does have off-the-court issues. George Karl has dealt with some questionable characters in the past, so this should not pose much of a problem for Denver.

21. Boston Celtics (39-27): Fab Melo, C (Syracuse)

Melo is very raw offensively, but he is an excellent shot-blocker and a force on the glass.He has great size and is a true seven-footer.

This would allow Kevin Garnett to slide over for a few minutes a game, giving Boston an imposing frontcourt.

22. Boston Celtics (via 40-26 Los Angeles Clippers): Jeff Taylor, SF (Vanderbilt)

With Jeff Green's future in doubt, the Celtics will look to add versatile players like Taylor. He improved a lot during his time at Vandy, and he will continue to soak up everything and learn from Doc Rivers.

23. Atlanta Hawks (40-26): Draymond Green, SF (Michigan State)

Green is a gamer who reads defenses very well. However, he lacks the quickness and athleticism to be an effective defender.

Still, he can score and pass, and he can be a solid option off the bench for Atlanta.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via 41-25 Los Angeles Lakers): Tony Wroten Jr., PG (Washington)

Wroten Jr. is a 6'5" combo guard who possesses a lot of the same skills Kyrie Irving has.

A team can never have enough players who can penetrate, pass and finish at the rim. Cleveland will happily grab him this late in the round.

25. Memphis Grizzlies (41-25): Evan Fournier (France)

The Grizzlies have never been sold on O.J. Mayo and could use another shooting guard who can score.

Fournier may not have the same range as Mayo, but he has a nice mid-range game and gets into the lane with ease.

26. Indiana Pacers (42-24): Andrew Nicholson, PF (St. Bonaventure)

David West has been great for Indiana, but he's 31 and not getting any younger. Tyler Hansborough is a good backup, but he's very limited offensively.

Enter Nicholson.

He's vicious when going up for shots in the post and has great range for a big man. He'll just need to improve as a rebounder, and he could be a very productive player.

27. Miami Heat (46-20): Marquis Teague, PG (Kentucky)

The last time Miami took a championship-winning point guard, he turned out to be very solid.

If Teague starts on a similar path to Mario Chalmers and is drafted by the Heat, he will be a useful option off the bench who has the ability to one day develop into something more.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder (47-19): Moe Harkless, SF (St. John's)

Harkless is one of the most explosive athletes in the draft, and he will be an exciting addition to the Thunder's second unit.

James Harden is an underrated passer, and his ability to find Harkless on cuts to the basket would undoubtedly result in some buckets.

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

Lamb is an excellent shooter with the ability to score from anywhere on the perimeter.

Derrick Rose would definitely appreciate another solid offensive player at guard, and Lamb would like to go to a team where he can keep winning. This is a good fit for both sides.

30. Golden State Warriors (via 50-16 San Antonio Spurs): Quincy Miller, SF (Baylor)

Miller is a work-in-progress, but at 6'9", he's skilled and athletic.

He'll bring good value to the Warriors with the last pick in the first round and could turn out to be a solid option if Golden State matches him with the right players.