2012 NBA Mock Draft: Teams Sure to Screw Up Their First-Round Pick

The Phoenix Suns have botched the NBA draft for years now, one way or another making sure to avoid the best young talent available.

They made sure to draft Luol Deng No. 7 overall in 2004 before immediately trading him to the Chicago Bulls. Two summers later the Suns drafted point guard Rajon Rondo at No. 21 and then sent him to Boston for cash considerations. 

Phoenix isn't the only NBA franchise to screw up their first-round pick though. Here are a few teams who are set to do it in 2012. 

*2012 NBA draft order courtesy of NBA.com.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

The Charlotte Bobcats messed up a lot in 2011-12, but it will be hard to mess up the No. 1 pick in June. 

2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky

The way Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist attacks the rim and plays on a consistent basis makes him the second-best player available this summer. 

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, Florida 

Although the Cavaliers should look to build their frontcourt and provide Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving with a finishing partner, Florida's Bradley Beal will be the best player on the board and someone who can form a dynamic duo with Irving for years to come. 

4. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, Kansas

Much like Beal, Kansas' Thomas Robinson is a top-five talent and will be in demand early on in the selection process. 

5. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, Connecticut

The Sacramento Kings are a prime example of an inept franchise sure to screw up its first-round pick this June. UConn's Andre Drummond brings a boatload of potential as a starting center in the NBA one day, but the Kings already have a dominant player at that position in DeMarcus Cousins.

Cousins averaged 18.1 PPG and 11 RPG during the regular season last year, and is still young himself. Not a whole lot has gone right for Sacramento as of late, and their move at No. 5 could only add to the team's laundry list of troubles. 

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via Brooklyn Nets): Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

Since Greg Oden doesn't seem to be panning out for the Trail Blazers, maybe an athletic seven-footer in Tyler Zeller can help. 

7. Golden State Warriors: Perry Jones III, Baylor

This is a pick the Golden State Warriors could easily screw up in 2012, especially considering the lack of consistency from Baylor's Perry Jones. The tall, long power forward can go unnoticed at times, and if he struggles to maintain a motor in college, who knows what will become of him at the next level.

With David Lee, Andrew Bogut and Andris Biedrins already on the roster, the Warriors would be better suited taking someone with more obvious heart at No. 7.

8. Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Harrison Barnes has all the talent NBA scouts and experts look for in a big-time player, everything except the "it" factor. Barnes is like a rabbit in a magician's hat sometimes, disappearing and reappearing. 

Barnes came up far too small for the Tar Heels in the NCAA Tournament this past March, and perhaps that is a sign of things to come in the NBA. The Toronto Raptors may wind up kicking themselves for screwing up their first-round pick in 2012 if Barnes turns out to be a flop.

9. Detroit Pistons: Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State

Mississippi State's Arnett Moultrie could provide Greg Monroe with a boost inside next season. 

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

New Orleans is still trying to adapt to life without Chris Paul. UNC's Kendall Marshall is one of the best passers in the nation, and will surely get others involved in the Big Easy. 

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, Weber State

Raymond Felton hasn't quite worked out in Portland. Meanwhile, Weber State point guard Damian Lillard is a lottery-type talent with phenomenal PG skills.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

Ohio State's Jared Sullinger makes plenty of sense for the Milwaukee Bucks, who lack a low-post presence. 

13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, Duke

The Phoenix Suns are known for either stashing away their first-round draft picks on the bench, or trading them away for cash and watching them lead another team to a championship (Rajon Rondo, No. 21 in 2006). 

In 2012, they will likely make a move for a point guard. Unfortunately, Weber State PG Damian Lillard will most likely be off the board, leaving the Suns to take Duke's Austin Rivers. Rivers can play, that's for sure, but his somewhat selfish style of play would send a superstar-less Phoenix team into a dark rebuilding process rather than help dig them out.

14. Houston Rockets: Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut

Houston can D-up with the lengthy Jeremy Lamb on the perimeter. The UConn star could pay off against the likes of Kobe Bryant in the Western Conference. 

15. Philadelphia 76ers: John Henson, North Carolina

UNC's John Henson has an offensive game that needs some polishing, but his incredible wingspan and length make him a can't-miss prospect in the mid-first round. 

16. Houston Rockets (via New York Knicks): Terrence Jones, Kentucky

The Rockets can use Kentucky's Terrence Jones as a trade chip in a potential move to get Pau Gasol from LA or just to develop into an NBA star. 

17. Dallas Mavericks: Terrence Ross, Washington

The Mavs have to get younger and quicker faster. Washington's Terrence Ross could be a great fit with Dallas next season and for years to come. 

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah Jazz): Quincy Miller, Baylor

The 6'9" forward from Baylor is extremely versatile and that should make him even more appealing to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

19. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard, Illinois

With Dwight Howard potentially headed elsewhere this offseason the Magic should target a center in the first round. Illinois' Meyers Leonard is a top-20 pick without question this June. 

20. Denver Nuggets: Dion Waiters, Syracuse

Although some predictors have Syracuse sixth man Dion Waiters going in the lottery, his lack of playing time with the Orange may come back to bite him on draft night, as he experiences a significant fall.

21. Boston Celtics: Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure

Andrew Nicholson can provide the Boston Celtics with a solid frontcourt asset long after Kevin Garnett is retired. 

22. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Royce White, Iowa State

The Boston Celtics could easily end up screwing up their No. 22 pick in this year's first round. Iowa State's Royce White looked amazing at times with the Cyclones, but his fear of flying and lapses in determination may wind up being a little more than a veteran coach like Doc Rivers can handle. 

Sure, if there's anyone who can turn White into a star its Rivers, but the potential to want to have this pick back is definitely there. 

23. Atlanta Hawks: Doron Lamb, Kentucky

Maybe Joe Johnson and Josh Smith can stop shooting poor-percentage three-pointers if the Atlanta Hawks draft Kentucky's sharpshooting Doron Lamb. 

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

Somewhat of an unknown in this year's draft, St. John's forward Moe Harkless will bring athleticism and explosion to the next level. 

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten Jr., Washington

There aren't too many pieces available at No. 25 that the Grizzlies can hope to land, so Washington's Tony Wroten Jr. isn't a bad choice. 

26. Indiana Pacers: Orlando Johnson, UC Santa Barbara

The Pacers need some scoring and UC Santa Barbara's Orlando Johnson can do just that. Johnson is one of the unknown scorers in this year's draft class. 

27. Miami Heat: Fab Melo, Syracuse

The Heat need a shot-changer at the rim, and someone who can finish up LeBron James' and Dwyane Wade's misses in the paint. 

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Draymond Green, Michigan State

Draymond Green doesn't do one thing phenomenally, but does everything well and is more than deserving of the first round this summer. 

29. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins, Vanderbilt

John Jenkins is the prototypical sharpshooter to surround Derrick Rose with. 

30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio Spurs): Scott Machado, Iona

Mark Jackson could teach Iona's promising point guard Scott Machado a lot about the position and how to play winning basketball. 

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