NBA Mock Draft 2012: Stars Who Will Score Efficiently Right Away

Scoring. That's what the NBA is all about, right?

You may enjoy the phrase, "Defense wins championships," but more often than not, the best way for a team to immediately improve through the draft is to select a scorer.

And for the sake of this argument, I'm not talking about Austin Rivers, Harrison Barnes, Dion Waiters or any of those guys. They can certainly score in bunches, and they are exciting when they do, but at least for the first year or two, they will take a lot of shots to do it.

I'm talking about the James Harden types. The players who will score efficiently. The players who will be near the top of the league in true shooting percentage, points per play and effective field goal percentage.

In my latest NBA mock draft, I'll take a closer look at such players.

Note: These players are in italics

Also note: All following stats come from draftexpress.com

This mock draft was published before the lottery. You can find the updated order here

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

And you thought Anthony Davis was all about defense.

Well, yes, the 6'10" freak of nature is going to be an absolute menace on the defensive end both defending the rim and on the perimeter, but people underestimate his offensive skills. 

He grew seven inches in between his junior and senior year of high school, and voila, he's a big man who can step out and shoot the jumper. Should he land on a team that likes to run the pick-and-roll a lot, Davis will hit 18-foot jumpers all year long.

His post moves are still very raw, but Davis still finds ways to get easy hoops around the basket. During his only year at Kentucky, Davis had an effective field goal percentage of 63 percent, which is the best of any prospect in the draft.

2. Washington Wizards (20-46): Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

Drummond is the type of guy that has potential to get a GM fired, whether because someone passed on him or because someone took him too high.

He has that type of boom-or-bust potential.

But according to ESPN's Chad Ford, Drummond has slimmed down. He's large, he's quick, and he's the type of player the Wizards can't afford to pass up.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (21-45): Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

Kidd-Gilchrist is a defender, he can rebound, he's a winner, he has an endless motor, and even though he isn't a great shooter, he's a great fit for the Cavs.

The former Kentucky star would immediately step in as Cleveland's small forward, and don't dismiss the value of him being Kyrie Irving's teammate in high school. 

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

Robinson is ready to contribute right away in the NBA. 

He's proven how ferocious he can be on the glass. But what really makes him special is his athleticism and three-point range for a power forward.

The Hornets need some consistency down low, and he'll bring just that.

5. Sacramento Kings (22-44): Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

If the Kings are going to move forward in a positive direction, I don't think they'll do it with both Marcus Thornton and Tyreke Evans.

Drafting Beal, a terrific scorer and shooter, would let them ship one of those guys away.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via 22-44 New Jersey Nets): Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Lillard isn't going to be the ideal player to run an NBA offense or set others up, but he has good size for a point guard and can absolutely score in a hurry.

He averaged 27.7 points per adjusted 40 minutes last season, easily the best in this class. He reminds me of Ramon Sessions, and I think the Blazers will be happy with that.

7. Golden State Warriors (23-43): Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

Barnes is yet another terrific scorer. He struggles to create his own shot going north and south, but he's a smart player.

He knows how to use an array of screens, up-fakes, and other moves to get his pretty jump shot off. He's a terrific shooter and he has prototypical NBA small forward size.

The Warriors should consider themselves lucky if they get Barnes at No. 7. 

8. Toronto Raptors (23-43): Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

No one is really sure whether Rivers is a point guard or shooting guard, but one thing is positive. The kid can score.

Putting him next to pass-first Jose Calderon would help the Raptors get the most out of Rivers.

9. Detroit Pistons (25-41): Perry Jones, PF, Baylor

People worry about Jones's motor and his willingness to give 100 percent, but there is no doubt his ridiculous size, length, and athleticism will get him drafted in the top 10.

He's boom or bust, but he has the potential to turn into a very dangerous small forward. 

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

The Hornets have Jarrett Jack and Greivis Vasquez, but neither of them scream "point guard of the future."

Instead, New Orleans will snag Marshall. His athleticism and shooting are far from ideal, but he makes everyone around him better. 

11. Portland Trail Blazers (28-38): Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

The Blazers must get a true center and Tyler Zeller is the perfect fit.

He has polished moves around the basket and can even run the floor if need be. He's as talented of a seven-footer as you'll find in this draft. 

12. Milwaukee Bucks (31-35): Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut

Lamb is incredibly smooth on the offensive end. He'll be a real threat at the next level coming off screens and getting his quick shot off. 

What's more, his ridiculous 7'0" wingspan will make him a legitimate NBA defender in the NBA. 

13. Phoenix Suns (33-33): Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

Ross is the best dunker in this draft.

Not only can jump out of the gym, but he can knock down shots from anywhere on the court in any situation.

He has NBA size and his easy-flowing style looks like it will translate to the next level.

14. Houston Rockets (34-32): Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

The Rockets know Samuel Dalembert and Marcus Camby aren't their future centers, so they need to find a way to get one. Meyers Leonard can be that guy.

He needs some refinement around the basket on both sides of the court, but he's a seven-footer who is athletic and can hit down shots away from the basket. 

15. Philadelphia 76ers (35-31): Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

At this time last year, Sullinger was looked at as a top-five pick. His lack of athleticism or quickness, however, is a little worrisome.

Sully is terrific in the post on the offensive end, and that's exactly what Philadelphia needs. 

16. Houston Rockets (via 36-20 New York Knicks): Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Waiters has drawn comparisons to Dwyane Wade, and while he's far from that level, it's easy to see why he gets those comparisons.

He's electric getting to the hoop and can hit an array of difficult mid-range shots. Waiters can play point guard in a pinch, but most importantly, he'll be instant offense off the bench. 

17. Dallas Mavericks (36-30): John Henson, PF, North Carolina

Mavericks fans will like to see Henson here, but don't expect his stock to be this low for much longer.

The former Tar Heel is athletic, springy, and has an incredibly long wingspan. At the very worst, he'll be someone who can protect the hoop.

At the best, however, he'll continue to develop his mid-range shot and will have a Serge Ibaka or Anthony Davis-like type of impact. 

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via 36-30 Utah Jazz): Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

People worry about Harkless's shooting (20 percent from long range in college), but that's his only glaring weakness and I think he'll improve with repetition.

What Harkless does bring is athleticism, length, defense and the ability to score from the inside. Once he starts producing in the NBA, he'll remind people a lot of Josh Smith.

19. Orlando Magic (37-29): Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor

Miller is still a little raw, but he has a good combination of size and athleticism, and will be someone who can find his way into the lane to score. 

The Magic could use an injection of youth on the wing.  

20. Denver Nuggets (38-28): Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky

Jones isn't elite at any one thing, but he doesn't have any glaring weaknesses either. 

At 6'8", 244 pounds, he looks more like a short power forward, but he has the ball-handling skills and quickness to be a stronger small forward.

The Nuggets will be fine grabbing yet another role player.

21. Boston Celtics (39-27): Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Moultrie's stock won't be this low for much longer. He's very athletic and can score the ball extremely well from the outside for his position.

As it stands, the Celtics would get a terrific replacement for Kevin Garnett. 

22. Boston Celtics (via 40-26 Los Angeles Clippers): John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt

Jenkins is, without a doubt, the best shooter in this draft.

He was often the No. 1 option at Vanderbilt and attracted the most attention, but he still managed to knock down 44 percent of his three-pointers en route to 23.6 points per 40 adjusted minutes (fourth in this draft class).

On top of that, Jenkins had an effective field goal percentage of 62 percent and a true-shooting percentage of 66 percent, both of which are pretty ridiculous numbers.

He's an elite shooter, especially off the catch, but the worry is that he doesn't do anything else that well. 

Nonetheless, he'll get more open looks in the NBA than he did in college, and as a result, he'll be deadly efficient.

Sounds like a pretty good replacement for Ray Allen, no?

23. Atlanta Hawks (40-26): Royce White, SF, Iowa State

Royce White carries some nasty baggage with him, but he is also incredibly talented. 

The former Cyclone has a big, prototypical NBA body, but he also has ideal ball-handling skills and a budding perimeter game. 

He led Iowa State in every major stat and can do everything on the court. He is the definition of point-forward.

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

If Wroten learns how to shoot, he'll be the steal of the draft because the rest of his attributes are top-five worthy.

He's a great ball-handler, has amazing vision, can get to the hoop with ease, and has ridiculous point-guard size at 6'5".

Besides his shooting and occasional lack of effort, there's not much not to like. 

25. Memphis Grizzlies (41-25): Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

Unless the Grizzlies want to go forward with Gilbert Arenas as their backup point guard, they should plan on grabbing one in this draft.

John Calipari's point guards are about as safe as you can get these days, so this is a smart pick for Memphis.

26. Indiana Pacers (42-24): Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

Just behind John Jenkins as the best shooter in this draft is Doron Lamb.

Lamb is a little small for an NBA shooting guard and will struggle on defense, but as a role player off the bench, all he needs to do is shoot.

And that's what he'll do with the Pacers.

27. Miami Heat (46-20): Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

The Heat need a big man who can score, and they are going to get one in Andrew Nicholson, who will look like a steal by this time next year.

Nicholson was incredibly efficient with St. Bonaventure, and the lack of respect the Bonnies get is unfair. They were a good team in a very good A-10 Conference.

Anyways, the talented power forward can score from anywhere on the court. He shot 59 percent from two-point range and 43 percent from deep.

Not only does he have the skills to step out and hit the long-range shot, he has arguably the best footwork in the post of any prospect in this draft.

His size isn't ideal for a power forward, but Nicholson is incredibly smart (60 percent effective field goal percentage in college) and he will contribute in a variety of ways at the next level. 

28. Oklahoma City Thunder (47-19): Evan Fournier, SF, France

The Thunder can afford to take on a project.

Fournier is a crafty scorer who has a variety of moves, but he's only 19 and is still likely a year away from playing in the NBA.

29. Chicago Bulls (50-16): Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State

Much like Royce White, Green is a prototypical point-forward who can do absolutely everything on the court.

The Bulls will enjoy bringing in an underrated role player of Green's stature. 

30. Golden State Warriors (via 50-16 San Antonio Spurs): Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Melo is somewhat of a bonehead and he lacks an offensive game, but his defensive presence and combination of size and athleticism will keep him in the first round.

The Warriors could use another strong presence on the inside, especially with Andrew Bogut's health always up in the air. 

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