2012 NBA Mock Draft: Grading the Impact of Each 1st-Round Selection

Now that the NBA draft lottery has come and gone, we can stop guessing what the order of the first 14 picks will be and start speculating as to what the teams will do with these picks.

The NBA lottery never fails to change the landscape of the league.

If the Miami Heat won the lottery back in 2008, they would have Derrick Rose. But instead, they drew the No. 2 pick and eventually wound up ushering Michael Beasley out the door to the Minnesota Timberwolves to make cap space for LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

With the order determined, here is a mock draft that grades the impact of each first-round selection.

No. 1 New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Anthony Davis is the can't-miss prospect of this draft class, and everybody in the Hornets organization has to be beaming from ear to ear about this one.

Davis is long (7'4" wingspan), mobile and a force in the paint. He's great at timing his blocks and rebounds and has the ability to cover virtually any type of NBA center, which will give the Hornets an easier time competing with the other teams in the Western Conference.

He'll be able to get out to the perimeter to shut down Dirk Nowitzki, cover Zach Randolph in the post and is quick enough to guard Tim Duncan anywhere on the court.

Davis will be able to hang with Andrew Bynum when the Hornets play the Los Angeles Lakers and maybe even keep pace with Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The tides turning in their favor is absolutely huge for the Hornets.

They were good defensively last season, finishing eighth in points allowed. Davis will also help them improve on their 24th-place finish with respect to rebounding.

Davis is going to come into the season and be a force in the paint, his relentless motor will make sure of that.

Grade for 2012 Impact: A+

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

This is not the outcome that Michael Jordan and the Bobcats envisioned when they finished with the worst record in the NBA at 7-59. 

It's not all that terrible, as the Bobcats find themselves with a great No. 2 overall talent in Kidd-Gilchrist. I'm sure Jordan is sitting in his mansion, praying that this is a repeat of the Greg Oden-Kevin Durant draft.

Kidd-Gilchrist is going to mesh well with Kemba Walker, and the two will have great chemistry in the transition game thanks to MKG's strength and Walker's speed. It's amazing how much better the addition of one player can make a team's starting five look.

Kidd-Gilchrist is also a lockdown perimeter defender and will be able to play good face-up defense on small forwards who can't match his 6'7", 230-pound frame. 

Walker, Gerald Henderson, MKG, Bismack Biyombo and Byron Mullens could make something of themselves this season, being that they all have individual talent, and it will be exciting to watch the young Charlotte core develop.

Grade for 2012 Impact: A

3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Beal—or B-squared, as I like to call him—is primed to make an impact with the Wizards this season, as he would be paired with John Wall to form one of the youngest, most exciting backcourts in the league.

He's a lights-out shooter and will only get better with time. Not only can he shoot, but he's an impressive ball-handler who has no problem driving the lane and finishing at the rim.

Wall should be confident in passing him the ball next season, and following a full offseason of practices and workouts, they could make some noise in the Eastern Conference in 2012-2013.

Beal already has an NBA body, is an excellent athlete and can do just about everything on the floor. He can handle the ball, get to the basket, shoot the 3 with NBA range, and he can even play point guard in a pinch.

Beal is a good defender and rebounder, too.

The Wizards need help in basically every aspect of basketball, and Beal and his high basketball IQ should help Washington start to turn it around.
 

Grade for 2012 Impact: A

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

The Cavaliers didn't score points, and they didn't play defense last season. That's a recipe for disaster, no matter which way you look at it.

Robinson is a high-flying, explosive power forward who will be a great option for Kyrie Irving to go to, both in transition and in the half-court game. He's ridiculously strong and plays hard defense every time down the floor and will be an upgrade over Antawn Jamison.

He's great in the post, but he developed an impressive jump shot in his final season under Bill Self, giving him the versatility that the lowly Cavaliers need.

Robinson is listed at 6'9", but reports are that he's a bit shorter than that, so his size could be a problem. 

However, his motor and work ethic should help him prove the doubters wrong. We could be looking at one of the most exciting guard-forward combos in the league in Cleveland in the near future.

Grade for 2012 Impact: A-

5. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

Drummond has the potential to turn into a dominant NBA player if he can polish his offensive game. In an age where we're seeing less back-to-the-basket big men, Drummond should be able to dominate smaller big men in the game.

He's a great rebounder thanks to his length, but it's not only that. He's an extremely intelligent rebounder, and he knows how to get himself in the right spot for a rebound.

DeMarcus Cousins may or may not be happy about this pick, but the Kings would have one of the best frontcourts in the league if Drummond pans out and Cousins stays.

Drummond doesn't have much of a jump shot or a go-to low-post move, but he's a tough defender. Maybe he'll go to Sacramento and convince Cousins to play some defense. If he does, the Kings will have a dominant pair of big men in the paint.

He's raw, though, and is going to take some time to develop.

Grade for 2012 Impact: B

6. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Lillard can do everything you would want a point guard to do. He's super careful with the ball and hardly turns the ball over. He's a creative passer but can score when you need him to from all over the court.

He can drive to the hoop and finish through contact, has NBA range and deeper, and he has a really high basketball IQ.

Lillard is everything you would want in a court general, and other than his mediocre court vision, which should improve with time, he's ready to be a star in the league.

The Blazers need help all across the board, and they'll have a good foundation with Wesley Matthews at the 2 and Lillard bringing the ball up.

Grade for 2012 Impact: A-

7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes, SF, UNC

Barnes is a lights-out shooter who isn't afraid to put the ball up from anywhere past the half-court line. He has the quintessential frame for his position, and his strength and length will propel him to be one of the best small forwards in the NBA in the next few years.

He has problems creating for himself, but that issue will be hidden by Stephen Curry's ability to create for his teammates. If Curry can constantly feed him the ball, the Warriors are going to make waves, as Barnes is a deadly spot-up shooter just like Curry.

The lineup of Curry, Klay Thompson, Barnes, David Lee and Andrew Bogut—if he can stay healthy—would bring the Warriors at least back to mediocrity.

Grade for 2012 Impact: A-

8. Toronto Raptors: Perry Jones, PF, Baylor

Jones is a supreme athlete. His height of 6'11" should help him dominate the smaller players at the position if he can become tougher over the years and learn to assert himself down low.

He's way too fast for somebody his size, and he can score from reasonable distance on the perimeter. This would give the Raptors two seven-footers who can shoot from a distance, something that you seldom see in the NBA.

His physical gifts suggest he should be much further along at this stage of his career, but that's nothing an offseason of practice can't straighten out.

Jose Calderon, DeMar DeRozan, Andrea Bargnani and Jones should be able to help the Raptors climb out of the doldrums of the NBA.

Grade for 2012 Impact: B

9. Detroit Pistons: Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Waiters would be a significant upgrade over Rodney Stuckey, the current shooting guard who isn't going to be the future of the franchise.

Waiters can score for days, and that should draw the Pistons to him, because they only averaged around 90 points per game last season.

He attacks the rim with crazy power, which should take some attention off of Greg Monroe, who was the Pistons' best player last season. There have been some grumblings that compare him to Dwyane Wade, and he has the ability to play point guard if need be.

Don't be surprised if Waiters becomes an NBA superstar before all is said and done.

Grade for 2012 Impact: B+

10. New Orleans Hornets: Jared Sullinger, PF, OSU

Break up the Hornets! They'll pick up two of the best players in this draft class and have a huge chance at turning their franchise around in a hurry.

Sullinger is so strong underneath the hoop, but what makes him great is his ability to score when facing the basket. He's a great rebounder despite his conditioning issues, but that's nothing that can't be fixed by an intense offseason training regimen.

Greivis Vazquez, Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, Sullinger and Anthony Davis...like I said, break up the Hornets.

Grade for 2012 Impact: B+

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Tyler Zeller, C, UNC

The Trail Blazers already have their point guard in this draft in Damian Lillard, so now they need a big man to run the pick-and-roll with that point guard.

Zeller is a point guard's big man, as he can get down the court in a hurry. He's extremely fast for a seven-footer and has a nice touch when he's near the hoop.

The UNC alum can score on short jumpers, and he's a good rebounder. Zeller will need to put on some bulk to really establish himself as an elite big man, but at 22 years old, he has time to do so.

It will take him a little bit to get acclimated to playing with Lillard, but he'll figure it out with some time.

Grade for 2012 Impact: B-

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky

Terrence Jones is 6'8" but has an unfair 7'2" wingspan that he uses to terrorize his opponents on both ends of the floor. He's a lefty and a great passer for a bigger guy and can shoot the lights out.

He can handle the ball but doesn't always play relentlessly. Jones is a great guy to add to a lineup with Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings to replace the slower Drew Gooden.

Jones is fast and athletic enough to run the floor, but he's also a good enough shooter to help draw attention away from Milwaukee's high-scoring backcourt. 

Grade for 2012 Impact: B-

13. Phoenix Suns: Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut

Lamb has a seven-foot wingspan, which is absolutely unheard of from a 6'5" shooting guard. He's a high-flyer and attacks the rim with explosiveness, but he's also a good shooter who can hit the three if he needs to.

He can move without the ball, something that always makes a guy who's playing with Steve Nash better (if Nash stays). He's really quick on defense, and his quickness is accentuated by his long arms that make him look even better on that end.

Grade for 2012 Impact: A- (with Nash), B- (without Nash)

14. Houston Rockets: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

Ross is adept at driving to the hoop and complements his penetrating abilities with his above-average jump shot that he'll take from just about anywhere.

He's not a good ball-handler, though, nor does he have a game in between the perimeter and the paint, which is something he'll need to fix if he wants to become a successful NBA player.

Grade for 2012 Impact: B-

15. Philadelphia 76ers: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Moultrie can do it all, which is something you seldom see from a big man in this day in age. He can score from the perimeter and has a patented spin move to get to the hoop with ease.

He has the size to play center at 6'11" but the agility to play power forward, making him extremely dangerous. The Sixers need a big man more than anything else, as they have a bunch of smaller players who can feed Moultrie down low.

He's not as strong as he needs to be, which means he won't have a huge impact his first year, but he will improve from then on out.

Grade for 2012 Impact: B-

16. Houston Rockets: John Henson, PF, UNC

Henson is 6'10", which is good height for a power forward. The Rockets could run a two-PF set, as Marcus Camby is going to be on the outs in the coming years.

Defense is Henson's thing, and that's why he isn't projected to go higher on most draft boards. His offense is unpolished, but he makes up for that with his shot-blocking and rebounding.

He has a great work ethic, which is always a good sign for a player's future.

Grade for 2012 Impact: C+

17. Dallas Mavericks: Kendall Marshall, PG, UNC

The Mavericks are getting old fast, and there's no guarantee that Deron Williams will be playing in Dallas next season. They'd be wise to play it safe and draft Marshall, one of the best passers in this draft.

He can learn a thing or two from Jason Kidd before Kidd moves on to the next stage in his life. This kid absolutely loves to pass the ball, and his 6'4" height (just like Kidd) gives him a huge advantage over shorter defenders.

He has great court vision and would be a good foundation around which to bring in some young players for the Mavericks.

Grade for 2012 Impact: B

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

The T'Wolves have two star players in Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love. Their shooting guard, Martell Webster, cannot be given the same label.

Rivers can shoot from anywhere in the gym. Having him on the perimeter, getting open for Rubio and Love, playing out of his mind like he always does could be dangerous for the rest of the Western Conference.

The trio of Rivers, Rubio and Love could be in the playoffs in no time.

Grade for 2012 Impact: B-

19. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois 

It seems like the Magic are going to need a big man to replace Dwight Howard in the long run, so Leonard is the logical choice here.

He's got a ways to go before he becomes a solid NBA player, but he's got the height and work ethic to do it. At 7'0", he has the height to dominate in this league, but he's really skinny and will need to bulk up before he becomes a force.

It's time to usher in the post-Howard era in Orlando, and the best way to do that is to bring in a new center right off the bat.

Grade for 2012 Impact: C-

20. Denver Nuggets: Tony Wroten Jr., PG, Washington

The Nuggets need a backup PG now that Andre Miller might not be returning. Wroten is a good passer, has great court vision and is a great athlete, just like most of the Nuggets' starting five.

Denver likes to get out and run, and Wroten is capable of doing that, as he is a strong finisher around the rim and uses his court vision to find his teammates.

Grade for 2012 Impact: C

21. Boston Celtics, Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

Harkless is a great swingman and is good in transition. With the "Big Three" on the decline, the Celtics might begin to usher in a new style of basketball, built around Rajon Rondo and a handful of other young players.

He's a good rebounder but needs to bulk up in the offseason if he wants to make an immediate impact for the Celtics. Doc Rivers is a great motivational coach, so Harkless should develop nicely under his watch.

Grade for 2012 Impact: C+

22. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Melo has the opportunity to come into the league and make an immediate impact for a team like the Celtics. Kevin Garnett, although not a prototypical center, played the position this season and would be great with the young center.

At 275 pounds, he's going to be able to use his height and weight to bully defenders in the league once he hones his offensive skills.

Grade for 2012 Impact: C

23. Atlanta Hawks: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure 

The Hawks could use a rebounder, as they finished 23rd in the league last season in that respect.

Nicholson is a good shooter with excellent hands. He has the potential to be a great rebounder, but he could use some work, as he is just above-average right now.

Grade for 2012 Impact: C-

24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor

Miller can play the 3 or the 4, which probably means he'll play the 3, because he's not getting time ahead of Thomas Robinson. He's versatile enough to score inside and outside, and his athleticism will help Kyrie Irving continue to develop as a point guard.

Grade for 2012 Impact: C-

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Royce White, SF, Iowa State

The Grizzlies need a small forward to back up Rudy Gay, because Quincy Pondexter is less than adequate.

Two big problems, though: He has serious anxiety issues and a fear of flying. That doesn't seem to mix so well with the NBA.

Grade for 2012 Impact: C-

26. Indiana Pacers: Marcus Teague, PG, Kentucky

He has a really quick first step but can't shoot too well. He's aggressive, but he gets too aggressive sometimes. He would do well to serve some time on the bench behind Darren Collison next season, but that doesn't mean he can't play a valuable bench role.

Grade for 2012 Impact: D+

27: Miami Heat: Evan Fournier, SG, France

Fournier has good height and can take the ball to the rack. The only problem is that he's got Dwyane Wade in front of him. The Heat could use a big man, but there won't be much talent available by this time in the draft.

He'll be able to come in when they need somebody to hit a few shots, as he possesses an above-average jump shot.

Grade for 2012 Impact: C-

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jeff Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

Taylor would fit in perfectly with the Thunder, as he is explosive and can get to the tin in a hurry just like the rest of the Oklahoma City players. He's a lockdown defender, too, which will definitely help the Thunder and their sometimes porous defense.

Grade for 2012 Impact: C-

29. Chicago Bulls: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

Rip Hamilton isn't getting any younger, so he's going to be playing less and less minutes, which leaves more playing time at the shooting guard position.

The majority of that time will probably go to Ronnie Brewer, but Lamb could use some time to develop anyway. He can shoot, but he's not as strong as he needs to be, so some time to bulk up would be in his best interest.

Grade for 2012 Impact: D

30. Golden State Warriors (from San Antonio Spurs): Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State

Green isn't a superior athlete, and he's not great at one thing, but he's worth a shot at the end of the first round.

He wants to play, and he wants to win. It's those intangibles, along with his leadership, that will help guide him to be a successful NBA player.

Grade for 2102 Impact: D