NBA Mock Draft 2012: Breaking Down Ideal Selections for Every First-Round Team
As the NBA playoffs get deeper, the NBA draft gets closer, so fans of the teams that have been ousted from the postseason already are certainly getting anxious.
Like every major sports league draft, the NBA draft is extremely unpredictable, and you simply never know who may or may not pan out, but everyone has an opinion for what each team needs.
For some teams their prospective pick is quite obvious, but for others it takes some deeper digging. Every organization is going to have an opportunity to improve in one way or another, but not every team is going to make the right choice. There is no question that things look a lot easier from the outside, but sometimes the simply pick is the best one.
Along with a full, first-round mock draft, here are my predictions and analysis regarding the perfect fit for every first-round team.
1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, F (Kentucky)
The draft is obviously going to be contingent on the lottery, but if things go as they should, the Charlotte Bobcats will have the fortune of selecting Kentucky forward Anthony Davis.
The Bobcats were an absolute joke this past season and many believe that they have been the worst team ever assembled in the long and storied history of the NBA.
Charlotte needs a player to change the entire complexion of its franchise, and there only happens to be once such player in the draft. That player is unquestionably Davis as he has the all-around skill set to become an immediate star.
Davis was the go-to player on Kentucky's National Championship squad as a freshman, and he would be the same for the Bobcats as a rookie. Not only can he score on the interior and from mid-range, but he is also an excellent defender with big-time shot-blocking ability.
Aside from guard Kemba Walker, the Bobcats don't have much to be optimistic about. Davis very well may be one of the top prospects over the past decade, though, so if Charlotte gets the top selection, then it should take about a millisecond to make a choice.
2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, F (Kentucky)
The Wizards are another team that could use the top pick, but if they don't get it then they would be smart to take Davis' teammate in Kidd-Gilchrist as he can be a versatile Lamar Odom-type player.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, G (Florida)
Cleveland already got a cornerstone player last draft when it took Kyrie Irving, but Beal would be a fantastic complement in the backcourt as he can feed off Irving's creativity.
4. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, F (Kansas)
Chris Paul was a huge loss for the Hornets, but losing David West was nearly as damaging, so New Orleans will take a very similar power forward in Robinson.
5. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, C (Connecticut)
DeMarcus Cousins did a lot of good things this past season, but he needs a partner in the post, and Drummond has the type of wide body that can create space for his teammate.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey): Kendall Marshall, G (North Carolina)
Say what you will about No. 6 being too early to take North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall, but he is the best pure point guard in the draft by a long shot and would be a great fit for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Blazers thought that they had found their point guard when they acquired Raymond Felton last offseason, but he was extremely inconsistent and fell out of favor quickly.
Without a reliable player to run the offense, the Blazers essentially fell apart and missed the playoffs.
Portland has a lot of offensively-talented players such as LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews, but it needs a guy who can make sure that everything operates smoothly. That is precisely what Marshall promises to be at the next level.
Marshall had a number of elite teammates at UNC in Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, John Henson and others, but when he got injured in the NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels were suddenly an ordinary team.
Marshall was the straw that stirred the drink at North Carolina, and if he can do the same for the Blazers, then they'll bounce back quickly.
7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes, F (North Carolina)
Barnes has all the talent in the world, and while there may be some concern about his shot selection, he's the best wing player in the draft and would be a good fit for the up-tempo Warriors.
8. Toronto Raptors: Jeremy Lamb, G (Connecticut)
The Raptors are certainly in need of a shooter to complement the likes of Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan, and Lamb fits that description quite nicely.
9. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones III, F (Baylor)
He may not be as physical as you would like a player his size to be, but Jones III would form a nice duo with Greg Monroe in Detroit as his athleticism would mesh well with Monroe's tough play.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via MIN): Damian Lillard, G (Weber State)
No matter how hard they try the Hornets aren't going to find a true point guard worth taking here, but Lillard is a dynamite scorer who is capable of running the point at the same time.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Jared Sullinger, F/C (Ohio State)
The Blazers clearly need another interior player to go along with LaMarcus Aldridge, and Sullinger is the best choice here as his huge frame will allow him to do the dirty work down low.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: Meyers Leonard, C (Illinois)
After trading Andrew Bogut to the Warriors, the Bucks need to find a replacement at center, and while Leonard is raw, he has the size and potential to be a solid starter.
13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, G (Duke)
There are plenty of differing opinions when it comes to Duke guard Austin Rivers' NBA prospects, but there is no denying that he has an intriguing skill set that some team will take a chance on fairly early in the first round.
Rivers is a combo guard whose primary strength is ball-handling, so while he played more shooting guard than point guard at Duke, he is more than capable of bringing the ball up the floor.
The Phoenix Suns seem unlikely to retain long-time point guard Steve Nash, so they'll be in the market for a new one this offseason. This draft is very thin when it comes to pure point guards, though, so the Suns are unlikely to find one at this juncture.
Their best bet may be taking a guy like Rivers, though, and allowing him to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Rivers obviously doesn't have the passing or shooting ability that Nash does, but he could still be very effective in Phoenix's offense. Rivers is an explosive player with plenty of offensive upside, and if he can improve some of the fundamental areas of his game, then he will be a really nice fit for the Suns.
14. Houston Rockets: Tyler Zeller, F/C (North Carolina)
The Rockets need a solid presence in the middle, and while they may prefer a more defensively capable center, Zeller will bring a new dimension to the team with his offense.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: John Henson, F (North Carolina)
The Sixers need to address the interior with Elton Brand quickly deteriorating, and a lanky forward like Henson would be perfect since he can both score the basketball and alter shots.
16. Houston Rockets (via New York): Terrence Jones, F (Kentucky)
After taking Zeller at No. 14, in an effort to further beef up their front line, the Rockets ought to go with Jones at No. 16 as he can pitch in at both power forward and small forward.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Arnett Moultrie, F (Mississippi State)
The Mavericks need a guy who can complement Dirk Nowitzki's finesse with some toughness and rebounding down low, and that sounds like the perfect job for Moultrie.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah): Terrence Ross, G (Washington)
With Kevin Love holding down the fort in the paint the T'Wolves need a bona fide scorer from the outside, making Ross' all-around game a great addition.
19. Orlando Magic: Doron Lamb, G (Kentucky)
In an effort to appease Dwight Howard the Magic need to find someone who can provide an offensive presence from the outside, and Lamb will definitely do just that.
20. Denver Nuggets: Dion Waiters, G (Syracuse)
The Nuggets are absolutely stacked with depth at every position, but Waiters will be a fantastic fit as he can fill in for both Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo in a pinch.
21. Boston Celtics: Moe Harkless, F (St. John’s)
Boston needs to start building for the future as the Big Three may be no more come next season, and Harkless is a player who can be groomed behind Paul Pierce.
22. Boston Celtics (via L.A. Clippers): Fab Melo, C (Syracuse)
There is no denying that the Celtics' overall play has suffered ever since Kendrick Perkins was traded to Oklahoma City, but Melo may have the defensive acumen to replace him.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Royce White, F (Iowa State)
The Hawks already have a big, athletic swing man in Josh Smith, but with him entering the final year of his contract, Atlanta should nab some insurance in the form of White.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via L.A. Lakers): Andrew Nicholson, F (St. Bonaventure)
If the Cavs take Beal at No. 3 they will have a dynamite backcourt, but that will need to be supplemented with a frontcourt stud like Nicholson who can score in a number of different ways.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten, G (Washington)
The Grizzlies could really use some more explosion at the guard position to complement their great interior game, and Wroten would undoubtedly provide that.
26. Indiana Pacers: Festus Ezeli, C (Vanderbilt)
Indiana is on the verge of becoming a true title contender, and adding some center depth behind Roy Hibbert in the form of Ezeli would be an important step.
27. Miami Heat: Draymond Green, F (Michigan State)
When the team is fully healthy there isn't much the Heat need, but it never hurts to add a rare, versatile player and proven winner in the form of Green.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Jones, F (West Virginia)
While Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden do most of the heavy lifting for the Thunder offensively, they would benefit from some interior scoring by a player like Jones.
29. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins, G (Vanderbilt)
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the status of Derrick Rose, but when he works his way back into action he would obviously appreciate a sharp-shooting guard like Jenkins playing next to him.
30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio): Marquis Teague, G (Kentucky)
Stephen Curry is the Warriors' de facto point guard, but it wouldn't hurt to take some of the ball-handling burden off of him, and that makes Teague a good value pick here.
Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter
