2012 NBA Mock Draft: Complete 1st Round Breakdown, Post-Lottery

And so it ends! The NBA draft lottery has come to a close, and as always, there were some surprises and some shockers.

The class of 2012 is loaded with potential. This draft could well decide the future of several franchises and the people who run them.

Now that the order is set in stone, it's time for our first concrete mock draft.

Let's take a look at who should go where.

No. 1 New Orleans Hornets

Well, Tom Benson sure looks like a genius, doesn't he? 

If the Saints owner was an investor, he'd be pretty happy with the health of his stock right now. With the No.1 pick, the New Orleans Hornets select Anthony Davis.

He will step in and likely be the starting 4 right away for a Hornets team that is suddenly starting a nice post-Chris Paul era.

Any time you trade a superstar, you need to rebuild around young, promising stars. With Davis, Eric Gordon and Al Farouq Aminu, the Hornets are certainly doing that.

Add that to a decent center tandem of Emeka Okafor and Chris Kaman, and a fearless gamer at point guard with Jarrett Jack, and you've got a potential playoff team.

I've projected the rookie Davis to struggle initially on offense due to his lack of bulk and somewhat unrefined scoring skills. However, length and tenacity on the boards is not something you can teach, and that is what the coaches have coveted about the Kentucky product.

He should dominate right away on defense, averaging 10-12 boards and a couple of blocks a  game.

No. 2 Charlotte Bobcats

Not the best scenario for the worst team in NBA history. But the Charlotte Bobcats can be happy to grab Thomas Robinson, a guy who can absolutely be a building block for the future.

The Kansas product is a 6'10'' forward who has the perfect physical tools to play the 4-spot at the NBA level. He is the second-best player in the draft, and he has the winner's mentality it takes to be a leader on a perennial loser.

Like Anthony Davis, Robinson can contribute right away as a rebounder. As we saw with Kenneth Faried, guys who have energy and rebound in college will do so similarly well in the NBA.

Unlike Davis, Robinson has definitely put in some work in the weight room and has an NBA body. 

I love his old-school, low-block mentality. He will need to improve on his jumper, and his passing and court vision are not all that great. But these are small details that can be worked on.

No one has questions about T-Rob's work ethic.

In terms of fit, when you are as bad as Charlotte, you need to go for the best available player. Robinson fits the bill. 

No. 3 Washington Wizards

The Wiz are set at the guard spot with a young backcourt tandem of John Wall and Jordan Crawford. So there is no need for a guard like Brad Beal at this spot. 

They are, however, sorely lacking at the forward spot. Andray Blatche has pretty much worn out his welcome with the fans in DC. So I have the Wizards picking the third-best guy in the draft, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

MKG is a versatile wing defender who has an NBA body, like Thomas Robinson. This guy has all kinds of skills that transfer to the NBA level. He has drawn comparisons to Gerald Wallace and Andre Iguodala.

Crawford is solid at the 2. Nene is one of the most underrated big guys around. If Wall can take the next step like Derrick Rose, adding a no-nonsense guy like MKG gives them a great young nucleus.

If Washington can use Rashard Lewis' massive $23 million expiring contract (in 2013) to get themselves some players from a team desperate for cap relief a year down the road, this could be a team challenging for the No. 4 or 5 seed in the Eastern Conference sooner rather than later.

No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs got off to a nice start last year in the post-Decision rebuilding process by drafting Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving. They also picked up a future starting forward in Tristan Thompson.

They'll continue to add solid guys to the bow-tie crew. Bradley Beal is an absolutely perfect fit here. This guy is the second coming of Eric Gordon in terms of size and skill-set. He has a beautiful stroke on his shot and will benefit from Irving's play-making.

He gets his shot blocked a lot when he takes it inside, but he has the scoring moxie to learn how to draw fouls at the pro level.

He was somewhat inconsistent from deep in his freshman year. This could have been due to the fact that he wasn't shooting that many open shots.

Cleveland picks Beal, knowing that they can't risk taking a project like Andre Drummond, who has a work-ethic problem.  

No. 5 Sacramento Kings

Whatever Sacramento does, they absolutely need to avoid Andre Drummond here. They already have DeMarcus Cousins, who is a world-class headache. The Kings almost gave up on him despite his massive potential. 

They already have Tyreke Evans and Jimmer Fredette, two guys completely allergic to passing. 

They can't afford to take risks on guys based on potential or who have anything resembling an attitude problem. 

If they're smart, they go ahead and take Harrison Barnes of North Carolina. He's a sure thing with prototypical skills and size for his position. I love his game. If he could ever learn to create his own shot, he could be an All-Star.

He's too much of a shooter to be a 20 points-per-game guy, as he hasn't developed a real go-to dribble drive move yet. But I think Sacramento needs basketball players right now, and Barnes is a fantastic player. 

No. 6 Portland Trail Blazers

It's a crying shame that Greg Oden didn't work out in Portland. The myriad of injuries couldn't have happen to a nicer guy.

With an aging Kurt Thomas and Joel Pryzbilla, who is more suited to being a backup, at the center spot, Portland needs a big man. 

And no, former draft bust Hasheem Thabeet will never be the answer.

Drummond is a risk and someone who shouldn't be taken by a team that isn't willing to wait a little bit. However, his physical skills and potential are too tantalizing to pass up, especially since he falls out of the Top 5.

Portland gets tremendous value and makes the pick of the draft if the UConn product even begins to scratch the surface of his absolutely immense potential. 

No. 7 Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have a need at the swingman spot, and they get a quality prospect with a monster wingspan in Jeremy Lamb.

He has great scoring skills with a decent handle and awesome shooting ability. His incredible wingspan at the 2 or 3 spot allows him to jump passing lanes like a gazelle.

Throw in solid athletic skills, and Lamb could prove to be a steal at No. 7. Most overlooked is that during UConn's run through the NCAA tournament in 2011, he hit big shots when UConn needed them.

At 180 pounds, Lamb needs to bulk up. Skills-wise, there's not too much to dislike. Golden State gets a quality player here.

No. 8 Toronto Raptors

The last No. 8 I remember the Raptors taking was Rafael Araujo. Yikes.

The Raptors would love to get a big man here. They take Jared Sullinger, out of Ohio State, who can play both the 4 and 5.

This is a good fit since the Raptors love to mix and match in the frontcourt. They use their former No.1 pick, Andrea Bargnani, at either power forward or center, or even strong forward on occasion.

Aaron Gray as your starting center never gets you any measure of respect. 

Sullinger is not the most athletic player and lacks elite size for the center position. But he's a great player on the low block, and at 281 pounds, he is not afraid to mix it up underneath.

This team sorely needs some of the rebounding toughness Sullinger offers. Bargnani is not a great rebounder.

Sullinger is not a sexy pick or anyone to get excited about as a franchise player. But this is a useful pick for Toronto. 

No. 9 Detroit Pistons

The Pistons have needs at the guard spot. Ben Gordon has not lived up to his contract. Joe Dumars also looks foolish for anointing Rodney Stuckey a ''sacred cow'' and jettisoning Chauncey BIllups.

However, the Pistons are content to shore up the front line here. Jason Maxiell is a good player but not the biggest guy at 6'7''. John Henson, the junior out of North Carolina, is a good fit here.

Henson, like countless other prospects, needs some weight on him. However, it's too tough to pass on his 7'4'' length that disrupts passing lanes and  has posed such a problem for college teams.

He also has some quick-twitch jumping ability that will allow him to be a great defender at the next level. 

He needs a lot of work on the offensive end. His points mostly came from off-ball passes, alley-oops and putbacks. 

His physical tools are too rare to pass up at No. 9. Detroit may need to wait two to three years, but the Pistons could have something good here. 

No. 10 New Orleans Hornets

The Hornets already got Anthony Davis. They pick up another selection at No.10 from the Timberwolves and are happy to grab their point guard of the future in Damon Lilliard.

The 2012 draft class is not a top-heavy in point guards, but Lilliard is no joke. In a league where great point guards reign supreme, the Hornets love to grab a guy who can score in his sleep, has NBA range on three-pointers and creates offensively.

People knock tweeners like Lilliard for ''lack of size'' and ''not being a true point guard.'' In today's NBA, you have a place on offense if you can get to the rim and create. Lilliard is the best in the draft at this.

I would be excited to watch some great two-guard sets with Lilliard and Jack lighting up slower and older teams.  

No. 11 Portland Trail Blazers

Perry Jones is skilled, has incredible physical tools and has drawn comparisons to Anthony Randolph. He's fast, moves well and makes cuts in the off-ball game very well. Here's hoping he doesn't get buried on the bench like Randolph does. 

Portland already chose Andre Drummond in this mock, and taking both Drummond and Jones is a huge risk. If neither pan out, people will be fired. 

But both of these guys' athleticism, size and physical tools are simply too much to pass up. We could be looking at two All-Stars who will suddenly team with LaMarcus Aldridge to lead Portland to challenge for the Western Conference crown.

Of course, that's a few years down the road. Stay tuned, Blazer fans. 

No. 12 Milwaukee Bucks

Tyler Zeller has ideal size at 6'11" and 240 pounds for the power forward spot. And if he added some strength, he could be a solid center. His game is fluid and shows good athleticism.

He sets good picks and has a solid jumper for a big man. He could be the pick-and-pop big man that is becoming more popular in today's game. 

What I love most about his game is that UNC played an up-tempo style and Zeller was very proficient and comfortable in it. Modern NBA offenses love running, and Zeller won't slow you down.

He's a little awkward when pressured and isn't elite in any physical category. But Milwaukee lost Andrew Bogut and needs to start over with a solid big-man prospect like Zeller.  

No. 13 Phoenix Suns

Steve Nash is not going to be around for long. The Suns need to find a guy who can be groomed as Nash's successor.

I think the guy is Kendall Marshall. A 6'4" guard with great size at 197 pounds and traditional point guard skills, he can learn a lot from Nash. This is a perfect fit.

Marshall is a pass-first prospect to a fault. He hasn't shown much ability to score, but that may be because his college system demanded that he create. At the very least, his 6'4'' frame could give him a height advantage over his competition.

He doesn't have awesome athleticism, nor the jump shot to make NBA defenders truly respect him. If he can develop a mid-range jumper, he can be a starting point guard in the league for a long time, 

No. 14 Houston Rockets

I have Houston grabbing Austin Rivers here. I believe Houston is going to try to package Kevin Martin to trade for a big man, like they did with the failed Pau Gasol trade at the start of the year.

Rivers is a multi-talented guy who has enough facilitating skills to perhaps even be featured a little bit at point guard. He has drawn comparisons to O.J. Mayo. They have similar size and certainly similar skill-sets.

I believe Rivers could become more of a factor scoring than Mayo. His game is tailor-made for the up-tempo NBA style.

He has natural scoring ability and a strong work ethic.  

No. 15 Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers certainly overachieved this year with the playoff run they had. Critics may chalk up beating the Bulls to Derrick Rose's injury. But you can't take away pushing a veteran Boston team to seven in the next round.

While Spencer Hawes and Elton Brand were serviceable, the Sixers could shore up on the front line. They need another big man to complement the bevy of quick guards they have.

Arnett Moultrie is somewhat of a surprise. Some have Philly picking up Terence Jones, but I like Moultrie, who has successfully converted from the 3 to the 4 and is a good athlete with a relentless motor.

He has a versatile skill-set on offense. In the right small-ball system, he may even be able to play center. As a result of his size and versatility, he can defend multiple positions.

Philly's offense is certainly run by athletes like Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala. The Sixers  need a big man who is versatile and fluid enough to hang with them. They get one in Moultrie. 

No. 16 Houston Rockets

Houston picked two slots earlier and got Austin Rivers out of Duke. They now go big man and grab Meyers Leonard at 16th. Marcus Camby is no spring chicken at 38. The Rockets need his replacement.

Leonard is an athletic big man who can rebound and is a willing battler on defense. He runs the floor well for a 7-footer, and can be mentored by Camby and Samuel Dalembert.

The knock on him is that he's not as fluid on the offensive end and does not have a low-post move he can rely on. Like many other big man prospects, he needs to add bulk to his frame.

But Leonard has decent upside, and the Rockets get decent value in the mid-first round and walk away with an intriguing pair of players. 

No. 17 Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks corps of guards in Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Delonte West are nobody's idea of ''young.'' I do not believe the Mavericks can contend with this group any longer. 

Whether Dirk Nowitzki likes it or not, Dallas needs to get younger. I have them picking up a tremendous value in Terrence Ross, who could have gone in the Top 10.

He has prototypical 2-guard skills, is a solid ball-handler and can score in bunches. He gets cocky with his shot sometimes and thinks he's a little better than he usually is, which definitely has its place on a playoff team that will be an underdog.

I could absolutely imagine Ross and Jason Terry raining threes like it is the Maverick's 2011 title run. The Mavericks get an awesome value here. 

No. 18 Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves are an exciting young team with a Top-10 player in Kevin Love and the electrifying Ricky Rubio. It's a testament to them that they're finally not picking in the lottery.

They could use some depth at the 2-guard. Martell Webster is good, but the Wolves go ahead and grab Dion Waiters of Syracuse here. He's a good shooter, with prototypical combo-guard qualities. 

Most importantly, he is a great defensive player who has active hands, quick feet and good instincts. He will work hard for his minutes and be a great role player. 

He can also take the ball to the hole and finish effectively. He would add some scoring punch to the Minnesota offense

We're no longer finding guys who can be All-Stars or franchise players at this spot, but Minnesota has to be satisfied with this pick. 

No. 19 Orlando Magic

Poor Orlando, having to deal with the Dwight Howard soap opera. Their best scenario probably revolves around packaging D12 and Hedo Turkoglu's hideous contract for Andrew Bynum.

If they get rid of Hedo, they need a new pivot man. And they will use their pick on Moe Harkless, a SF/PF hybrid who can play in a variety of positions and situations. 

He's 6'8'' and has awesome athleticism and length with a 7'2'' wingspan. He has an NBA-style scoring moxie that allows him to hit off-balance shots. He's a good mid-range shooter and his mechanics could allow him to become an outside threat, too. 

He needs time to develop, but in the post-Dwight era he'll be able to get a lot of shots. Watching this guy play, I'm convinced that he might be able to develop into an All-Star.

Orlando gets an intriguing prospect here.

No. 20 Denver Nuggets

A first-round loser, Denver is in no-man's land in the first round and probably won't be able to find a star here. But the Nuggets had tremendous success against the Lakers with a team full of decent role players who played well together.

At No. 20, I see the Nuggets taking Terrence Jones, who could have gone a lot earlier. He can play the 3 or 4. He's rangy, is dynamic with the ball and has great shot mechanics.

He draws comparisons to Marvin Williams, but he may have a better chance to capitalize on his potential should he land in Denver's up-tempo offense that will allow him to use his versatility.

He doesn't have the killer instinct to be a star, but that's not necessary on George Karl's team.  

No. 21 Boston Celtics

It's time for Boston to pick up a couple of young players. The Celtics could win the title this season, but they can't delay the inevitable. The Big Three era will come to a close soon.

And we can't expect Rajon Rondo to want to stick through a rebuilding phase like that. The Celtics have two picks in a row here, and I expect one of them to be Andrew Nicholson.

Nicholson is 6'9'', 225, and could obviously bulk up. He's an awesome pick-and-pop guy, and could fill the void left by KG when he retires.

Nicholson is an excellent help defender and help-side shot blocker. If he can learn from KG, one of the greatest help defenders and defensive communicators in the game, the kid's length could propel him to be one of the better defenders in the league.

No. 22 Boston Celtics

In Andrew Nicholson, the Celtics just grabbed a power forward with range. Now they get themselves a guard. I like Tony Wroten of Washington to get the nod here.

Wroten is a combo guard who is a bit undersized for the 2-guard at 6'5''. He's prone to turnovers, somehow isn't that great of a free throw shooter and could stand to improve his mid-range jumper.

But he has amazing scoring finesse and can be absolutely dazzling on the offense at times. He anticipates well on defense and is good when he's cutting into the passing lanes.

He has some trouble with decision-making, but the guidance of veterans on the Boston team will help him with that.

No. 23 Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta has some decisions to make about Josh Smith's future and what they can do to get over the hump. It seems every season, they are a first-round exit waiting to happen. And no one is surprised when it does.

I think Atlanta played Joe Johnson too much at the 3 and they aren't fast enough to play small ball. As a result, the Hawks lost a lot of size and presence on the floor. 

I have them picking up Jeffery Taylor, a glue guy who is a no-nonsense basketball player. Drawing comparisons to Thabo Sefolosha, Taylor can play defense and will be a consummate professional. He will be a favorite of Larry Drew for years to come.

His 6'7'', 225-pound frame is plenty big enough to be a small forward at the next level, and he is a decent shooter. Although he can't really handle the ball, which severely hinders his ability to be a creator or a pure scorer at the next level, he brings too much to the table to pass up this late.  

No. 24 Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs also get a pick on the back end and they go with Royce White here. He's 6'8'', 250 pounds and will play either the 3 or 4. He has intriguing physical tools and the potential of a lottery pick.

So Cleveland jumps at the chance to grab a player who has the potential to develop into something much more than a No. 24 pick.

White is strong and deceptively fast for somebody his size. He could absolutely keep up with any forward at the next level defensively. His offensive game is a little unrefined. In college, he could get away with using his physical abilities. But again, Cleveland can afford to be patient with a young group. 

No. 25 Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis had a disappointing season, having expected to beat the Clippers and have a rematch with the Spurs in the second round. I don't expect them to pick up a project.

I have the Griz picking up Jeff's brother, Marquis Teague, at No. 25. He fits what the Griz like to do; up-tempo, slash, explosive plays getting to the rim. He reminds me of Ty Lawson or a young Steve Francis.

He's ultra-athletic and has the explosiveness to make up for his 6'2'' frame. He struggles with ball-handling when he over-dribbles and makes some questionable decisions. It will lead to him being benched a lot and probably cause Lionel Hollins to yell at him a lot. 

All in all, Teague is a quality player who can spell Mike Conley for some valuable minutes.  

No. 26 Indiana Pacers

The Pacers were a very respectable team this season, and at times it looked like they could have pushed Miami out of the playoffs. They had a certain toughness to them that makes any top seed cringe.

However, Danny Granger got injured at some critical times and the Pacers weren't the same team without him. I'm not saying they can replace him here. They can, however, find an insurance prospect.

Quincy Miller isn't a Granger-type guy. But he has unbelievable length, with a 7'3'' wingspan and terrific size for the small forward spot. He's thin, but his athleticism has to have scouts intrigued. 

He has good footwork on cuts and doesn't waste time moving to his spots. He shows good ability in creating. Given his slight frame and the fact that he has yet to totally commit himself on the defensive end, he could use some seasoning. But the Pacers could end up with a player who totally outperforms his draft slot. 

No. 27 Miami Heat

This is an awesome pick and scenario for Miami. They get to pick up Fab Melo, a 7-footer out of Syracuse who has the size and athleticism to be a good NBA center. 

He's an amazing defender who was Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He's a proficient finisher of lobs  and has good upside given his age. 

The knocks against him are his lack of back-to-the-basket moves and overall offensive refinement. Those weaknesses are moot on a Miami team with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh doing most of the scoring.

His defensive contributions alone would make him a great addition. He'd be an major upgrade over Joel Anthony. 

Without pressure to score and being to told to focus on defense, I could definitely see Melo developing into a Tyson Chandler-type player. 

No. 28 Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder may win the title this season. They don't need to find a hidden gem in terms of raw, athletic ability who could develop into a star. They need guys who can specialize in one thing in a supporting role.

Kevin Jones is 6'8'' and doesn't bring great size to the power forward spot, but he's a hard competitor who will fight for every rebound ferociously, especially on the offensive boards.

He's also managed to develop a pretty nice mid-range jumper, which is crucial on a team full of offensive stars and playmakers like Kevin Durant and James Harden. 

Serge Ibaka's shot-blocking style could get him into foul trouble at times. Jones can be a Udonis Haslem-type for OKC. He  would definitely challenge Nick Collison for playing time. 

No. 29 Chicago Bulls

Let's pray Derrick Rose is healthy and is the same Rose we know and love. He's too special of a player for the basketball world to miss out on because of a freak injury.

The Bulls know they are in title contention if Rose is healthy. They are not missing much, either, because their formula right now clearly works. If I were them, I would pick up Evan Fournier, a 6'6'' 2-guard who is extremely crafty scoring and shooting the ball.

He doesn't have great explosiveness, but that won't matter since he's on such a good team. Besides, the Bulls lack a little bit of foreign flair on their team. 

No. 30 Golden State Warriors

When you have a foreign center with a bad attitude problem who has completely played below his contract's standards, what do you do? Shame on you, Andris Biedrins. That's why I have the Warriors picking up Festus Ezeli. 

He's huge and has an NBA-body already. His height is good enough to make him a proficient rebounder and, more importantly, a rim protector.

His offensive game is pretty much non-existent. It is limited to easy dunks that others create for him. But in Golden State's offense, that's pretty much all he has to do.