2012 NBA Mock Draft: 1st-Round Projections on Eve of the Lottery

As the lottery date approaches excitement continues to grow in the run up to the 2012 NBA Draft.

If the ping pong balls fall like they’re supposed to, this is the order teams will select.

Here’s the latest look at which players those teams are targeting.

Note: All heights and weights are reported as seen on espn.com.

1. Charlotte Bobcats Select Anthony Davis

Breakdown: Freshman C Kentucky

Height: 6’10”

Weight: 220 pounds

2011-12 stats: 14.2 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 4.7 BPG

Yawn. This pick has been decided for a long time.

Anthony Davis’ long arms, point guard background and ability to affect a game without having his number called make him a can’t-miss prospect.

2. Washington Wizards Select Thomas Robinson

Breakdown: Junior PF Kansas

Height: 6’10”

Weight: 237 pounds

2011-12 stats: 17.7 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 1.1 SPG

Thomas Robinson gives John Wall a big man he can rely on to score the rock.

In addition, Robinson’s strength will improve Washington’s rebounding right away.

Expect Robinson to play a lot of minutes as a rookie on a depleted Wizards roster.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers Select Michael Kidd-Gilchirst

Breakdown: Freshman SF Kentucky

Height: 6’7”

Weight: 232 pounds

2011-12 stats: 11.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.9 APG

2012 Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving gets another offensive weapon with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Kidd-Gilchrist’s speed and ability to overpower defenders makes him a scoring threat.

Irving’s ability to find the open man could lead to a lot of easy baskets for MKG.

4. New Orleans Hornets Select Andre Drummond

Breakdown: Freshman PF/C UConn

Height: 6’10”

Weight: 270 pounds

2011-12 stats: 10.0 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.7 BPG

Andre Drummond has potential to be the biggest star in this draft.

With his outrageous size and athleticism, Drummond could turn into a Dwight Howard-like post presence.

With Chris Kaman a free agent and Emeka Okafor’s health in question each year, Drummond could be the center of the future for the Hornets.

5. Sacramento Kings Select Harrison Barnes

Breakdown: Sophomore SF North Carolina

Height: 6’8”

Weight: 215 pounds

2011-12 stats: 17.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.1 APG

With Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins already on the roster, Harrison Barnes creates a terrific trio of youngsters.

Barnes’ smooth all-around game makes him a good fit anywhere in the NBA. With the Kings, Barnes will be able to show off his polished game right away.

6. Portland Trail Blazers Select Jared Sullinger

Breakdown: Sophomore PF Ohio State

Height: 6’9”

Weight: 265 pounds

2011-12 stats: 17.6 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.1 BPG

Jared Sullinger’s size and skill set will thrust him into the starting lineup immediately in Portland.

Portland needs a big man and Sullinger’s length compare favorably with an Elton Brand-type player.

He will work nicely with LaMarcus Aldridge in Portland’s front court.

7. Golden State Warriors Select Bradley Beal

Breakdown: Freshman PG Florida

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 207 pounds

2011-12 stats: 14.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.2 APG

Bradley Beal will slip a little farther than he might think as other teams draft to address specific needs.

The Warriors will add Beal to a terrific backcourt. He will serve as a replacement to Monta Ellis and bump Klay Thompson either to small forward or a sixth-man role.

Beal and Steph Curry instantly create a high-octane backcourt.

With Andrew Bogut and David Lee up front, the Warriors could make a run at the playoffs in Beal’s rookie year.

8. Toronto Raptors Select Terrence Jones

Breakdown: Sophomore SF/PF Kentucky

Height: 6’9”

Weight: 252 pounds

2011-12 stats: 12.3 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.8 BPG

Toronto is a team that cannot afford to draft for a specific position.

The Raptors don’t have good enough players anywhere on their roster to try and upgrade one spot more than another. Therefore they will take the best player on the board. That will be Terrence Jones.

9. Detroit Pistons Select Arnett Moultrie

Breakdown: Junior PF/C Mississippi State

Height: 6’11”

Weight: 230 pounds

2011-12 stats: 16.4 PPG, 10.5 RPG, .549 FG percentage

Arnett Moultrie can play the 3, 4 or even the 5. He has the skills of a small forward and the size of a small center.

Detroit could cause matchup problems by pairing Moultrie with Charlie Villanueva in the frontcourt.

Those two matched with Ben Gordon and Rodney Stuckey present a challenging lineup for other teams to defend.

10. New Orleans Hornets select Jeremy Lamb

Breakdown: Sophomore SG UConn

Height: 6’5”

Weight: 180 pounds

2011-12 stats: 17.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.2 SPG

The New Orleans Hornets need to upgrade their entire roster. With both of their first-round picks, they will take the best player available.

Jeremy Lamb will be the best choice with the 10th pick.

His shooting ability will help him come into New Orleans and create offense right away as a rookie.

11. Portland Trail Blazers Select Kendall Marshall

Breakdown: Sophomore PG North Carolina

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 195 pounds

2011-12 stats: 8.1 PPG, 9.8 APG, 1.2 SPG

Kendall Marshall is the most pure point guard prospect in the draft.

Marshall is a phenomenal passer who knows how to make the players around him better.

Putting him into an already potent Portland lineup will allow him to seamlessly transition from college to the pros.

12. Milwaukee Bucks Select John Henson

Breakdown: Junior PF North Carolina

Height: 6’11”

Weight: 220 pounds

2011-12 stats:13.7 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.9 BPG

After trading Andrew Bogut for Monta Ellis, Milwaukee needs to address its frontcourt.

John Henson gives the Bucks a big man who fits in with the exciting backcourt of Ellis and Brandon Jennings.

Henson’s 7’4” wingspan makes him a shot-blocking presence. It will also help him snag offensive rebounds from the gunners Jennings and Ellis.

13. Phoenix Suns Select Damian Lillard

Breakdown: Junior PG Weber State

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 195 pounds

2011-12 stats: 24.5 PPG, 4.0 APG, 1.5 SPG

The Phoenix Suns have to start thinking about a future point guard.

Damian Lillard could fill that role.

Lillard will push the tempo and he can score. That combination will remind Suns’ fans of another small-college point guard who played in the desert.

14. Houston Rockets Select Perry Jones

Breakdown: Sophomore SF/PF Baylor

Height: 6’11”

Weight: 235 pounds

2011-12 stats: 13.5 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.3 APG

Center is the biggest question mark for the Rockets going into the offseason. Nabbing Perry Jones addresses that need.

The problem with Jones is he may not be able to contribute immediately. But he is a promising big man for the future.

15. Philadelphia 76ers Select Terrence Ross

Breakdown: Sophomore SG/SF Washington

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 195 pounds

2011-12 stats: 16.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG

Philadelphia will use its first-round pick to add depth to an already deep team.

Adding Terrence Ross gives the Sixers another scoring option.

Ross will have plenty of time to adjust to the NBA in Philadelphia. He won’t be called on to shoulder much of the load, but will give the 76ers an eighth or even ninth legitimate scoring option.

16. Houston Rockets Select Moe Harkless

Breakdown: Freshman SG/SF St. John’s

Height: 6’8”

Weight: 208 pounds

2011-12 stats: 15.3 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.4 BPG

With their second pick of the first round, the Houston Rockets will add Moe Harkless to a backcourt already featuring Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin.

Harkless can finish in the lane and knock down mid-range jumpers.

Defensively, he has active hands and long arms.

17. Dallas Mavericks Select Meyers Leonard

Breakdown: Sophomore C Illinois

Height: 7’1”

Weight: 245 pounds

2011-12 stats: 13.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.9 BPG

Meyers Leonard is one of the few pure centers to emerge from the NCAA in recent years.

He has potential to become a capable scorer and a shot-stopper in the middle. He won’t be a Tyson Chandler, but he will give Dallas the interior defense the Mavs have missed since Chandler went to the Big Apple.

Dallas will delight when it sees Leonard still available this late in the first round.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves Select Austin Rivers

Breakdown: Freshman PG/SG Duke

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 200 pounds

2011-12 stats: 15.5 PPG, 2.1 APG, .365 3P percentage

Austin Rivers has the ability to pull up and knock down shots. He will give Minnesota a spot-up threat to complement the dynamic duo of Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love.

He has also shown the willingness to take—and make—big shots. That will help ease the load away from Love come crunch time.

19. Orlando Magic Select Doron Lamb

Breakdown: Sophomore SG Kentucky

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 210 pounds

2011-12 stats: 13.7 PPG, .466 3P percentage, .826 FT percentage

Doron Lamb is one of the best shooters in the 2012 draft. He will fit right in with Orlando’s three-point gunning mentality.

The Magic will continue its assault on the three-point line with Lamb joining the likes of J.J. Redick on the perimeter.

20. Denver Nuggets Select Tyler Zeller

Breakdown: Senior PF/C North Carolina

Height: 7’0”

Weight: 250 pounds

2011-12 stats: 16.3 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.5 BPG

Tyler Zeller will team with Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee to create a potent defensive frontcourt trio.

Zeller can move up and down the floor with ease and step out to knock down short jumpers.

His ability to make jumpers will help the pick-and-pop game with Ty Lawson.

21. Boston Celtics Select Dion Waiters

Breakdown: Sophomore PG/SG Syracuse

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 215 pounds

2011-12 stats: 12.6 PPG, 2.5 APG, 1.8 SPG

Dion Waiters will be a younger version of Keyon Dooling for the Boston Celtics.

He has the ability to play as Rajon Rondo’s backup or at the 2 alongside Rondo.

With Waiters’ transition game, putting him and Rondo on the floor together will make Boston an even more exciting team to watch.

22. Boston Celtics Select Fab Melo

Breakdown: Sophomore C Syracuse

Height: 7’0”

Weight: 255 pounds

2011-12 stats: 7.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.9 BPG

If Kevin Garnett leaves in free agency, Boston will be stuck without much of a presence at center.

Fab Melo cannot be counted on to fill KG’s void, but he will serve as a more than capable backup big man.

At a legit seven feet, Melo can clog the lane and provide putback points on offense.

23. Atlanta Hawks Select Tony Wroten

Breakdown: Freshman PG/SG Washington

Height: 6’5”

Weight: 205 pounds

2011-12 stats: 16.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.7 APG

The Atlanta Hawks will try to upgrade at the shooting guard position. At this point in the draft, combo guard Tony Wroten will be the best bet for that move.

Wroten was a prolific scorer in his one season at the University of Washington.

His game will remind Atlanta fans of fellow Seattle native Jamal Crawford.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers Select Andrew Nicholson

Breakdown: Senior PF St. Bonaventure

Height: 6’9”

Weight: 240 pounds

2011-12 stats: 18.5 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.0 BPG

While unproven against premier competition while playing at small St. Bonaventure, Andrew Nicholson has an intriguing package of skills.

He can score the ball inside and out. He will make a great pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop partner with Kyrie Irving.

He could put up big numbers as a starter for the Cavs.

25. Memphis Grizzlies Select Draymond Green

Breakdown: Senior PF Michigan State

Height: 6’7”

Weight: 230 pounds

2011-12 stats: 16.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 3.8 APG

Draymond Green is on the short side for NBA power forwards, but he is one of the most intelligent players in the draft.

He will find a way to succeed in the NBA despite his size.

On a team with as much talent as the Memphis Grizzlies, he will have plenty of time to discover his role without being depended on to provide big minutes.

26. Indiana Pacers Select Drew Gordon

Breakdown: Senior PF New Mexico

Height: 6’9”

Weight: 245 pounds

2011-12 stats: 13.7 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 1.0 BPG

Drew Gordon possesses the grit and determination that the Indiana Pacers are built on.

He has a good low-post game. He knows how to handle himself on the block.

The Pacers’ front court becomes even deeper by adding Gordon to the lineup.

27. Miami Heat Select Royce White

Breakdown: Sophomore SF Iowa State

Height: 6’8”

Weight: 270 pounds

2011-12 stats: 13.4 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 5.0 APG

The Miami Heat will look to bulk up by adding Royce White to the roster.

While he is technically a small forward, he could see minutes at power forward as well, especially considering Miami’s roster often plays without a real strict guideline for traditional position roles.

White is surprisingly agile for his large size and possesses a well-rounded game.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder Select Marquis Teague

Breakdown: Freshman PG Kentucky

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 189 pounds

2011-12 stats: 10.0 PPG, 4.8 APG, 2.5 RPG

The Oklahoma City Thunder are able to steal a backup for Russell Westbrook by taking Marquis Teague so late in the first round.

Teague demonstrated his leadership abilities while guiding the Kentucky Wildcats to a national championship.

He will provide a young backup for the Thunder to replace Derek Fisher.

29. Chicago Bulls Select Quincy Miller

Breakdown: Freshman SF Baylor

Height: 6’9”

Weight: 210 pounds

2011-12 stats: 10.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.4 APG

Quincy Miller’s 7’3” wingspan and high skill level give the Chicago Bulls a great backup for Luol Deng with a similar repertoire.

Miller’s minutes will be limited early as he adjusts and improves his game. With such a talented Bulls’ team, he will develop nicely practicing against top-notch competition.

30. Golden State Warriors Select Festus Ezeli

Breakdown: Senior C Vanderbilt

Height: 6’11”

Weight: 255 pounds

2011-12 stats: 10.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.0 BPG

Stats don’t tell the whole story for Festus Ezeli. Instead, his Stretch Armstrong wingspan does.

Ezeli’s reach measures at 7’4”. That provides additional frontline depth for the Golden State Warriors, who are drafting for depth at this point.

Ezeli could be a shot-blocking and rebounding menace for Golden State with proper coaching.