2012 NBA Mock Draft: Highlighting the Most Perfect Picks in the First Round
The 2012 NBA draft is full of players who are all kinds of perfect. Some are perfect for their position, some would be perfect for prospective teams and some are perfectly fine to pass up on.
In this mock draft, we're going to highlight the different kinds of perfection that will come along with drafting some of these players. Perfect has a loose definition in this case, as well as a wide-ranging meaning.
Here is our latest mock draft, with the most perfect picks in italics.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
How perfect is everything surrounding Anthony Davis being drafting No. 1 overall by the New Orleans Hornets? It's serendipitous that the organization was lucky enough to usurp the throne to the No. 1 overall pick, ensuring that the Charlotte Bobcats will continue their epic tailspin.
Davis is a lock to become a powerhouse in the paint for years to come in the NBA. His athleticism is perfect. His work ethic is perfect. His length (7'4" wingspan) is perfect. His unibrow is perfect.
There's no other player in the draft that can do what Davis will for the Hornets. He's tall enough to guard the elite big men in the league, and he's fast enough to cover faster power forwards. His main problem is going to be putting on enough muscle to guard the bigger centers in the league, but that's an easier problem than things like being too short or too slow.
The Hornets weren't an embarrassment on the defensive end of the court, finishing eighth in points allowed, so expect them to be amongst the league leaders in 2012 again.
He's incredibly mobile for a big man his height, and he consistently shows the ability to get his timing down on rebounds and blocks. Just the thought of Davis under the hoop is going to keep a lot of players from trying to take the ball to the rim. Even when he's not filling the stat sheet, the intangibles that he brings to the court cannot be understated.
He's a great leader and he's clearly not afraid of the league's veterans—in case you missed it, he called out Kobe Bryant—which is great to see from a young guy who hasn't played an NBA game yet.
Say what you want about the conspiracy theories surrounding the Hornets winning the lottery, but it won't bother them at all, because they've locked down the rights to one of the most can't-miss prospects in recent memory. You can bet everyone in the Hornets community was jumping for joy once they found out about their good fortune.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
This is definitely not a perfect situation for the Bobcats. Kidd-Gilchrist is no slouch by any means, but he definitely isn't anywhere near Davis' caliber. He'll be playing lockdown perimeter defense from the moment his career begins, but his offensive game—specifically his jump shooting—needs more than a bit of work.
3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
If Beal falls to the Wizards at No. 3, this would be a perfect guy to bring to Washington.
He's going to make an impact right away, as he's a shooting guard who does exactly what shooting guards do—shoot. He's the purest shooter in this draft class and should come in and develop perfect chemistry with John Wall right away.
Wall loves to drive the lane, and Beal's presence will only serve as a positive impact on Wall's numbers, as defenders will have to keep in mind the possibility of a drive-and-kick, taking attention away from Wall in the lane. If they do forget about Beal on the wing, it's just an easy kick-out, catch-and-shoot for the youngest and one of the most exciting backcourts in the league.
The Wizards don't have anybody on their team who is worth watching aside from Wall and Nene, so this is a perfect situation, as a dead-eye shooter may fall right into their laps with the third overall pick.
Not only can he shoot, but he's not afraid to take the ball to the cup, which makes him that much better. He can help to shoulder the ball-handling load if he is in without Wall. He's a very versatile player who won't have a problem adjusting at the next level thanks to his NBA body.
If Chris Singleton or Jan Vesely can get his act together, we could see a potentially scary Wizards team next season and beyond. Wall, Beal, Vesely/Singleton, Trevor Booker and Nene could play to the level of a seventh or eighth seed if everything falls perfectly into place.
I'm not saying that they are going to make the playoffs next season, but there's going to be some semblance of mediocrity at some point during the 2012-2013 basketball season.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
Robinson is touted more for his athletic ability than his skill on the basketball court. However, he can score in a variety of ways, including at the rim and on the perimeter. He hasn't had much practice with the jump shot, as he first started to showcase it frequently in his last season at Kansas, but if he consistently shows that he can hit jumpers, he'll be a great player for the Cavaliers.
5. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut
I really like Drummond's chances of becoming a great NBA player for the Sacramento Kings. If he can harness his raw ability and natural athleticism—and I believe he will—this will prove to be a perfect pick for the Kings.
If Drummond plays his cards right, he can wind up being a dominant big man. Mostly because there are hardly any other players who can rival his combination of athleticism and size, but also because he's shown shades of heading in that direction.
He's a one-of-a-kind physical specimen, standing at 6'11", 275 pounds. Not just that, but he has a 7'5" wingspan, and at 19 years old, those are the kind of things that make you a top-five pick.
DeMarcus Cousins is basically the same size as Drummond. Can you imagine a front court that boasts two of the biggest, most physically gifted big men in the entire league? The only question would be whether Cousins could mature and work together with Drummond.
For those who think this is a disaster in the making, think about it. Drummond isn't going to be an offensive force in the league for at least a couple of years, meaning that Cousins won't have to sacrifice too much of his offensive game to work with Drummond.
So, give them at least a season to get to know each other and start working well together, and then, once Drummond polishes his offensive abilities, they'll already have been teammates for a little bit. If Cousins is eased into this process, the Kings have one of the highest ceilings of the current lottery teams.
Once Drummond and Cousins get acclimated to playing with another big man on the court, they will be a near unstoppable duo because most teams don't have two big men who are capable of guarding guys that size below the rim.
As he stands now, Drummond can rebound, block shots and dunk the you-know-what out of the basketball. You can't teach size, but you can definitely teach a guy a handful of post moves that will make him a juggernaut down low.
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.
6. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
Lillard is the best scoring point guard in this draft class. He can shoot from a long way out, but you can't discount his abilities as a general on the court. He hardly turned the ball over at Weber State, which is remarkable considering how much he was utilized.
7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes, SF, UNC
Barnes is a perfect pick for the Warriors if he is still around at No. 7 when they make their pick. He's the absolute perfect size for an NBA small forward and is one of the strongest pound-for-pound prospects in this draft pool.
He's going to be a tenacious defender in the future once he starts learning the tendencies of his opponents, as he has a wingspan of 6'11". Golden State hardly defended at all last season, and Barnes will do nothing but turn that part of the team around.
Barnes can score from anywhere on the court, which is precisely what makes him a perfect pick for the Warriors. Stephen Curry can do the same thing and will draw enough attention so Barnes can get some space for himself to shoot.
Klay Thompson and Brandon Rush have promising futures and will help to shape the new dynamic that the Warriors are trying to bring to their organization before their move to San Francisco in 2017.
If Barnes falls to the Warriors, they would have a possible starting lineup somewhere along the lines of Curry, Thompson, Barnes, David Lee and Andrew Bogut. Rush and Dorell Wright come off the bench to provide the team with some depth, and now there's suddenly a real basketball team in the Golden State area.
Barnes is unselfish and known as a guy with a good work ethic, so he won't complain about a lack of touches if that's the case. Drafting a guy who wants so badly to get better seldom goes wrong for NBA executives, and Barnes is a guy who will reward the team who made him a top pick.
The Warriors lost a great shooter in Monta Ellis, but now they have a chance to grab another guy who can score at will with his jump shot. If the Warriors are able to add Barnes to their roster, this will be looked back on as a crucial step toward the culture change of Mark Jackson's squad.
8. Toronto Raptors: Perry Jones, PF, Baylor
Jones is an enigma. He's one of the best athletes in this class, so good that scouts are confused as to why he didn't put up better numbers at Baylor. People that are his size aren't supposed to run at his speed, and he will make a lot of opponents look stupid by the time his NBA career is said and done.
9. Detroit Pistons: Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
The Pistons need someone to take some attention away from Greg Monroe in the post. There isn't a better way to do that than to put a guy on the court with him who can score at will.
10. New Orleans Hornets: Jared Sullinger, PF, OSU
The combination of Sullinger's strength and Davis' size could be an absolute nightmare for opposing teams. Sullinger has a nice set of skills under the hoop and has a great body for an NBA power forward.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Tyler Zeller, C, UNC
Zeller showed the ability to run in transition with UNC in college, and that ability will carry over to the NBA with no problem. He's seven feet tall but has the quickness of a 6'9" power forward, something that you can't forget about.
He doesn't have enough meat on his bones to power through the bigger centers in the league, but once he starts adding some weight on, he'll only get better.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky
Jones is a lefty who presents huge matchup problems for opposing power forwards. He's fast enough to blow by bigger power forwards on offense but long enough to guard them on defense. He's just too big for a smaller guy to guard without getting outmuscled.
He can shoot, just like a couple of other guys that play for Milwaukee, and his jump shot is going to help Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings increase their numbers next season.
13. Phoenix Suns: Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut
Lamb blossomed this season for Connecticut in the absence of Kemba Walker, and his draft stock shot up because of his performance. He drives to the hoop strong but can make an impact on defense too, thanks to his length and willingness to guard.
14. Houston Rockets: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
He's not as good as the Terrence who will presumably go before him, but he has a pretty good jump shot that makes his ability to drive to the hoop look even better. He's not as NBA-ready as you may think, but that doesn't always pose a problem for players in the long run.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
Moultrie is one of the most versatile big men in this draft class. He can easily blow by the bigger guys in the league thanks to his freakish speed for a player who is 6'11". He can shoot over the smaller guys guarding him too. Unless a team has a guy like Moultrie, he's going to have his way with most defenders that attempt to cover him.
16. Houston Rockets: John Henson, PF, UNC
Henson has scared some teams off because of his lack of offensive skills. He's awkward to watch and is still learning the power forward position, as he is relatively new to the 4.
His defense is top-notch, though, and his length gives him the ability to disrupt passing lanes and deny post passes. He could wind up being just a defensive specialist, or he could be more. Only time will tell with Henson.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Kendall Marshall, PG, UNC
Marshall is the best passing point guard in this class. Jason Kidd is in the twilight of his career and the Mavericks still have no idea what's going to happen with Deron Williams in the offseason. They'd be wise to take Marshall and put their point-guard rumors to bed.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
Getting Rivers on the floor with Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love could make for an exciting big three in Minnesota. They would have their passer, their shooter and their big man who can shoot. Make no mistake, the T'Wolves are going to be perennial contenders in due time.
19. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Leonard is skinny. Not just a little skinny, one of the skinniest centers in the league. He's going to get bullied if he doesn't put on some weight, but if he does, he could prove to be one of the biggest steals of the 2012 draft.
20. Denver Nuggets: Tony Wroten Jr., PG, Washington
Now we get into no man's land in terms of the crop of players left available. Wroten should turn out to be a serviceable backup for Ty Lawson, though not as quick as the Nuggets' first-stringer.
21. Boston Celtics, Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's
The future of the Big Three doesn't look so promising thanks to the bone chips in Ray Allen's right ankle. Allen isn't the only one getting old in Boston either, as the Celtics are going to need someone to replace Paul Pierce. While Pierce can never be replaced in the minds of Celtics fans, Harkless would be a good place to start,
22. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
Melo has the potential to be known as the steal of the 2012 draft once his career is over. He also has the potential to be kicked to the curb by the team that drafts him. It will be interesting to see which path his career goes down after the draft.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
Nicholson's calling card is rebounding, and the Hawks could use his help as they weren't too good on the glass last season. He averaged 20.8 points per game in college, so you know that he has the ability to put up big numbers.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor
Miller can play multiple positions, he can score from inside or outside and he's a great rebounder for a small forward. He would complement Thomas Robinson and Kyrie Irving nicely if the Cavaliers take him on.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Royce White, SF, Iowa State
White's biggest turn-off is that he has anxiety issues and a fear of flying. However, he can distribute the ball as a small forward, which is one of his most important assets.
26. Indiana Pacers: Marcus Teague, PG, Kentucky
Teague is fast and can push the pace of a game just like Darren Collison can. The Pacers are athletic enough collectively to get out and run, so Teague wouldn't be a bad pick as the backup point guard.
27. Miami Heat: Evan Fournier, SG, France
What the Heat really need is a powerful big man to play in the post alongside Chris Bosh. There won't be much of those types of guys left by the time the No. 27 pick rolls around, so don't be surprised if they go with Fournier, the French shooting sensation.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jeff Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
The Thunder love to crash the boards and get to the hoop in a hurry. Westbrook attacks the rim like no other, and Durant can do the same. There's a hint of that in Taylor, who can score in the lane and at the rim with ease.
29. Chicago Bulls: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
Some people are down on Lamb because of his height and his build. He is a bit small for a shooting guard, but he can shoot with some of the best. He's a scorer, and the Bulls are going to need someone to help Luol Deng carry the load until Derrick Rose returns.
30. Golden State Warriors (from San Antonio Spurs): Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State
There's no reason not to take a chance on Green, especially at the end of the first round. He has all the intangibles that you would want in a basketball player and has shown an dedicated commitment to the game. None of his skills stand out, but his abilities are respectable across the board, which is why he will become a useful NBA player down the road.
