NBA Draft 2012: 7 Best Players to Gamble on with a Lottery Pick

The legend of the NBA Draft will never grow old. From Clifton McNeely going first overall in the first ever draft to Michael Jordan being passed on by the Portland Trail Blazers to Kobe Bryant falling to 13th overall, only to be traded away, the night that changes everything will continue to alter futures.

And we're just hours away from the first step in that process.

As the draft lottery shapes up, Big Boards will be called into relevance and the value of individual players will fluctuate. From those who go too soon to those who drop lower than expected, the re-arrangement of draft choices will have a major effect on who goes where.

Just don't assume that the gambles are unworthy. Some will be worth the risk, some will not. Just pay attention to the following slides, as these players will be worth the gamble.

7. Meyers Leonard, Illinois Fighting Illini

Position: Center

Age: 20

Height, Weight and Wingspan: 7'0", 240 pounds, 7'3" wingspan

Meyers Leonard is an outstanding athlete, hard-working defender and a solid rebounder. He's also a true "project player," in the sense that it will take a few years of development before he finds his own in terms of fundamentals.

Regardless of Leonard's lack of fundamentals, he is a player worth taking a chance on. His upside is higher than most centers in this draft class and his defensive ability is already higher than the average NBA center.

If nothing else, Leonard year one will see him contribute in ways similar to that of Greg Stiemsma in Boston.

Season Averages: 30.39 PER, 17.5 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 1.1 BPG

6. Tony Wroten Jr., Washington Huskies

Position: Point Guard

Age: 19

Height and Weight: 6'5" and 205 pounds

With next year's draft class carrying very few, if any, elite point guard prospects, teams must capitalize on the players available in 2012. With Damian Lillard and Kendall Marshall likely to come off of the board early, that leaves Tony Wroten Jr. as the next best option at the point guard position.

Wroten Jr. was once referred to as the "next Gary Payton." While some may be hesitant to refer to him with such high praise at this point, he is an unbelievable playmaker with a powerful dribble. He finishes around the rim as well as any and makes passes that most players couldn't dream of pulling off. He also has better size than any other player in this class.

The best comparison for Wroten at this point is Jamal Crawford. Wroten can get his jump shot going at times, but for the most part, is very inconsistent. He can also play out of control with his dribble. With that being said, he's a true game-changer and with the proper development could become one of the league's best point guards.

Season Averages: 20.86 PER, 16.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 45.7 FG%

5. Perry Jones III, Baylor Bears

Position: Power Forward

Age: 20

Height, Weight and Wingspan: 6'11", 235 pounds, 7'2" wingspan

Do I believe Perry Jones III will be a bust? Yes. Can I deny how much upside this kid has? Absolutely not.

Although this pick could take a turn for the worst, PJ3 has far too much potential to pass up on. If he can ever put his game together, he'd be one of the best players in the NBA. If he can't, he's still a versatile enough player to have an efficient season in a similar manner to that of Brandan Wright in Dallas.

Is drafting PJ3 a major risk? Yes. Is drafting PJ3 worth the risk? Absolutely.

Season Averages: 21.95 PER, 13.5 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 50.0 FG%

4 Terrence Ross, Washington Huskies

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 21

Height and Weight: 6'6" and 195 pounds

Terrence Ross' college career was summed up brilliantly by an anonymous general manager.

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"That Washington team was pretty dysfunctional this year and I think it hid, at times, what Ross is capable of," said one GM. "He's got the size, athletic ability and he can really, really shoot the ball. I think when he gets into workouts with [Jeremy] Lamb, [Dion] Waiters and [Austin] Rivers, he's going to surprise a lot of people. I'm not sure he's not the best 2 guard on the board. Take him away from Washington and I think he's going to be an elite prospect."

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There's good reason behind that claim, as Ross is an excellent shooter with great size. He's solid off of the dribble, displays an equal effort on both ends of the floor and has the length to shut down any passing lanes. He's also an explosive athlete.

The biggest flaw in Ross' game is that he's overly-deferent. Unlike Perry Jones III, however, Ross does know when he needs to score. A solid system will benefit Ross and he could potentially emerge as the best 2 of this draft class.

Season Averages: 20.86 PER, 16.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 45.7 FG%

3. Terrence Jones, Kentucky Wildcats

Position: Forward

Age: 20

Height, Weight and Wingspan: 6'8", 244 pounds, 7'3" wingspan

Masked by the hype surrounding Kentucky's big-name freshman was how pivotal every move Terrence Jones made was to the Wildcats' success. From taking over as the primary ball-handler to playing the role of the team's most consistent scorer in the NCAA Tournament, Jones was magnificent at every turn.

He just so happened to do so with no recognition.

While some will note a statistical decline as evidence of Jones' declining draft stock, it's important to note how the Kentucky forward acclimated to a new situation. Rather than running the show with Brandon Knight and Darius Miller, Jones became part of a full system. He adjusted by playing much more efficient basketball and focusing more on the defensive end of things than anywhere else.

This is the type of player you want on your team. Terrence Jones will be a star.

Season Averages: 24.83 PER, 12.3 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.8 BPG, 1.3 SPG

2. Dion Waiters, Syracuse Orange

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 20

Height, Weight and Wingspan: 6'4" and 215 pounds

According to Chad Ford of ESPN.com, an anonymous general manager had high-praise for Dion Waiters of the Syracuse Orange.

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"There are really only two potential superstars in this draft. One is a sure thing -- freshman Anthony Davis. The other one is Waiters. He can be an electric scorer in the NBA. There's some Dwyane Wade in him."

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While Waiters lacks the shooting ability of Dwyane Wade, his ability to penetrate off the dribble bares a strong resemblance to that of the former Marquette star. As is Waiters' confidence, posture, athletic ability and the uncanny ability to finish around the rim.

Waiters' biggest flaw is his jump shot, which has drastically improved since his freshman season. Should Waiters continue to put in the necessary work to improve in that area, the anonymous GM will be dead-on: Waiters is a potential star.

Season Averages: 26.29 PER, 12.6 PPG, 2.5 APG, 2.3 RPG, 

1. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State Buckeyes

Position: Power Forward

Age: 20

Height, Weight and Wingspan: 6'9", 280 pounds, 7'2" wingspan

For one reason or another, Jared Sullinger has seen a serious plummet in terms of draft stock. This makes the 6'9" power forward a widely-considered gamble.

For those concerned with Sullinger's height and inability to play above the rim, end your concerns right now. Sullinger is built like a bull, but is far from reliant upon his brute force to score the basketball. Instead, Sullinger is as fundamentally sound as they come at the 4 and thrives in the low-post.

What's most impressive about Sullinger is his will to control the boards, as he's constantly fighting for second-chance scoring opportunities. He is as great as any at fighting for position, thus utilizing his massive lower body to box out any opponent.

For those concerned with his 6'9" height, simply gaze at his 7'2" wingspan and your negative thoughts will cease. As will your concerns about his ability to score at the next level, as Sullinger finishes as well as any from the low-post with his beautiful baby-hook. He can also score through contact due to his unbreakable focus and precision.

Season Averages: 30.39 PER, 17.5 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 1.1 BPG