2012 NBA Draft Order: Players Who Will Provide Most Value Late in 1st Round

Even though most of the focus during the NBA draft buildup will be on the lottery picks, this class has enough depth for some teams picking later in the round to get some terrific value. Finding those steals is why some contenders remain on top for so long.

Let's take a look at three players who are projected to go outside of the lottery who should still develop into key contributors. For a complete look at the draft order to see which teams might land these talented prospects, click here.

Festus Ezeli

Ezeli has ideal size and has shown potential at both ends of the floor. In today's NBA, where reliable post players are almost like an endangered species, that's enough to make him an intriguing prospect after steady progress at Vanderbilt.

He averaged 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks in his final season with the Commodores. All of those numbers were slightly down from his junior season, but a lot of that had to do with the team becoming more talented throughout, taking some of the focus off Ezeli.

The perfect situation for him would be coming off the bench, where he can provide some solid minutes with low expectations, before sliding into the starting lineup. The Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers are two possible good fits.

Fab Melo

Ever since Melo declared for the draft, he has seemed like a perfect player to join the Miami Heat. He still has a lot of raw, untapped potential, but joining a team where he'd only be a supporting cast member is the ideal scenario.

The Heat have been looking for a defensive stalwart in the paint to help the big three. Limited cap space has been a problem, though. Drafting the Syracuse product, who averaged three blocks per game, would finally fill that void.

He also has the size, athleticism and rebounding ability to step right into a key role. While his offensive game still needs work, with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh around, he won't need to score much anyway.

Doron Lamb

For teams looking to land an underrated guard, Lamb will be the best option. He was often overshadowed by his plethora of elite teammates at Kentucky, but the team's national title wouldn't have been possible without his consistency on the perimeter.

He's capable of knocking down outside shots or creating his own offense off the dribble. He poured in 14 points per game in his final season at Kentucky while shooting 47 percent from beyond the arc. That type of efficiency will make him a valuable commodity.

The only reason he won't be drafted higher is concern over his defensive ability, but that's not enough for non-lottery teams to look past his immense offensive skill. Two teams that could use him are the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics.