2012 NBA Mock Draft: Top Sleeper Candidates for Rookie of the Year
Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Harrison Barnes are obvious candidates for Rookie of the Year next season, regardless of which team they play for in the NBA.
All four players are special talents with enough skill to make an entire team better. Davis is a difference-maker on the boards and defensive end and has a developing offensive game. And, with the right point guard, he'll still find easy buckets with lob passes.
Beal is a silky-smooth shooter whose talents weren't on full display at Florida because he had to play on the ball so much. He's a good rebounder for his size, should see plenty of opportunities as a spot-up shooter and could be a big-time scorer.
MKG isn't the best of scorers, but he gets easy buckets by getting out on the run and is a lockdown defender.
And Barnes, well, it's simple with Barnes: he's going to score the basketball any way he can. Should he buy into all of his skills, he could become a legitimate defender and rebounder, too.
Again, we already know all of this, and we know they're the most likely ROY candidates.
With that in mind, here's a look a the top sleeper candidates for the award in this draft class.
1. New Orleans Hornets (21-45): Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
The top player in the draft isn't assured the award, but he'll be one of the top vote-getters.
2. Charlotte Bobcats (7-59): Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
As long as he's off the ball and his shot returns, he'll be one of the top vote-getters.
3. Washington Wizards (20-46): Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
If MKG gets paired up with Johnny Wall, look out. These two could do great things together.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (21-45): Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
A proven scorer, Barnes would be the perfect shooter on the wing for Kyrie Irving. Again, if he develops a full game, he could be the best player in this draft.
5. Sacramento Kings (22-44): Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
Robinson can do everything, but he doesn't excel at any one thing. He carried his Jayhawk team this season and will be a boost to whichever club he joins, but don't expect amazing Rookie of the Year-type numbers.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via 22-44 New Jersey Nets): Andre Drummond, C, UConn
Drummond is a major project. He possesses an impressive combination of skills an athleticism, but he doesn't play up to his potential and it'll be a few years before he's a regular contributor.
7. Golden State Warriors (23-43): Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor
PJIII's future depends entirely upon how good he wants to be. We know the type of potential he possesses and the skill set he brings to the court, but sometimes we wonder if he does.
8. Toronto Raptors (23-43): Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
The son of Doc Rivers has unlimited potential, ice in his veins and a ton of things still to learn. He left Duke after a year and is far from lottery-lock, but he's a gamer and that's why he makes this list.
Rivers will work his way onto the court and possibly never come off. He can score, he can play defense (he gambles a bit) and he will do everything possible to win a game.
If he can keep himself in line, and step over it from time to time when it calls for it, he'll be a player early in this league.
9. Detroit Pistons (25-41): Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
Sully will immediately impact any team he plays for, but he's not going to be a star. Don't count him out as making a difference for a playoff team.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via 26-40 Minnesota Timberwolves): Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
Marshall will be outshone if he winds up in New Orleans, but he's a great candidate to be tossing lob passes to Anthony Davis. He's the best passer in this draft.
11. Portland Trail Blazers (28-38): Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky
T-Jones has saved some of his sinking stock and is now back in consideration for a top-10 selection. He has a ton of talent, but what position is he going to play? Until we figure that out, he's not a ROY candidate.
12. Milwaukee Bucks (31-35): Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
Zeller would join the Bucks to do exactly what Andrew Bogut did before he sent out. He'll be a great addition to this team, but he's not ROY material.
13. Phoenix Suns (33-33): Damian Lillard, G, Weber State
Lillard's push for ROY depends on the Steve Nash situation. If the veteran guard goes elsewhere, the youngster would be forced into the lineup earlier and his ability to score the basketball will be more important than ever.
He's not a true point guard, but he has proven he can score the basketball.
14. Houston Rockets (34-32): Terrence Ross, G, Washington
Ross is a gifted scorer with explosive athleticism and a great shot. He's a good teammate and will be an instant-offense weapon off the bench for a team in the mid-first round.
Should he play up to his potential, he'll earn a ton of minutes off the bench and could easily earn consideration for the award.
He's the type of guy that could steal the award when we're not looking.
15. Philadelphia 76ers (35-31): John Henson, PF, North Carolina
Henson's role on the Sixers would depend on Elton Brand, but either way he's going to be a player who does exactly what you expect of him.
He's got a good hook and he loves to rebound and play defense.
16. Houston Rockets (via 36-20 New York Knicks): Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Leonard would join Houston knowing he's a backup and project player. That's all he's ready for right now, though.
17. Dallas Mavericks (36-30): Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor
Miller has elite potential and is likely to be selected higher come draft night. He has star potential with his combination of size and athleticism, and the Mavericks could use someone just like him.
If put in the right position, he could thrive as a rookie.
Don't count him out as a potential Rookie of the Year prospect.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via 36-30 Utah Jazz): Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn
Playing off the ball next to Ricky Rubio will make anyone dangerous, but if Jeremy Lamb lives up to his potential, he could be great in Minnesota.
The problem is that he doesn't always take over the way he should, and that will hurt him in the NBA.
19. Orlando Magic (37-29): Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
Possibly the biggest sleeper on this list, Waiters in Orlando could be the steal of the draft. The 'Cuse guard is incredibly tough, can shoot from all over and has star potential.
The Magic desperately need someone who can create their own shot and someone they can depend on to score when things aren't going well for Dwight Howard.
Waiters, if he falls this far, is the ideal candidate and possibly the biggest sleeper candidate for Rookie of the Year.
20. Denver Nuggets (38-28): Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's
Harkless has a ton of versatility and could be a star in this league, but it's unlikely to happen right away. If he goes to the Nuggets, a team without a ton of immediate needs, he won't make enough of an impact to scare up votes.
He's one to watch, though.
21. Boston Celtics (39-27): Royce White, PF, Iowa State
This monster will go to Boston with one reason only, but he does have some flair to his game and could be a steal at this point. The Celtics will make sure he's banging the boards all day long, though.
22. Boston Celtics (via 40-26 Los Angeles Clippers): Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
That is because they'll leave the fancy stuff for Nicholson. The do-everything four-year star gives Boston another big body, but he's a guy who can stretch the paint and force defenders to worry about him on the perimeter.
He'll be one to watch, but he won't do enough as a rookie to merit consideration for the award.
23. Atlanta Hawks (40-26): Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
Another do-everything big man, Moultrie wouldn't see a ton of time if he winds up in Atlanta. That said, he's got a great skill set and will eventually be someone to watch.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via 41-25 Los Angeles Lakers): Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
The Cavs already landed their big ROY candidate of the year, but Lamb's a proven scorer who showed he can handle the big time. Don't be surprised if he scores some points off the bench in his rookie season.
25. Memphis Grizzlies (41-25): Tony Wroten, PG/SG, Washington
Wroten has huge upside, but has a broken shot and a me-first attitude. Some time as a backup will do him good.
26. Indiana Pacers (42-24): Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky
Teague needs more seasoning, but going to Indiana would be huge for him as he gets a chance to back up Darren Collison.
27. Miami Heat (46-20): Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
Believe it or not, Melo would be a dark horse candidate for ROY if he wound up in Miami. The Heat have a desperate need for a big man on the block and this wild, erratic but potential-filled big man could make something happen.
He'd need to stay on the court first, which is a huge long shot, but best case scenario he could be someone to watch.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder (47-19): Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State
The Spartans' do-everything forward is a great fit for the Thunder this late in the draft. They don't have any pressing needs, but he can pass, shoot, rebound and defend even if he doesn't have a legitimate position.
29. Chicago Bulls (50-16): John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
The best shooter in this draft outside of Beal, Jenkins might not see enough court time, but he's the eventual replacement for Richard Hamilton.
If he breaks the starting lineup, look out—he'll be a scoring threat to keep an eye on.
30. Golden State Warriors (via 50-16 San Antonio Spurs): Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
Taylor is a tremendous athlete and defender and also has some range on his shot. If he falls in line with the right team, he could be a player early.
