NBA Draft 2012: Projected Landing Spots for Damian Lillard and Top Point Guards

As Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics showed on Wednesday night with his 44 point outburst and near triple-double against the Miami Heat, having a great point guard can take a team a long way in the NBA.

Granted, this year's crop of point guards isn't exceptional, but here's a look at some of the top point men that will be entering "The Association" this season as well as an early projection as to where they might land.

Damian Lillard, Weber State

Damian Lillard may have played on a small stage in college, but the 6'2", 185-pound junior certainly made a big dent in box scores. Lillard was the second highest scorer in Division I a season ago, averaging over 24 points a game while establishing himself as the top option for NBA teams in search of a point guard that can score as well as run the floor.

With the loss of Chris Paul a year ago and after scoring by far the fewest points of any team in the Western Conference last season, the New Orleans Hornets are just such a team.

After winning the NBA's draft lottery, the Hornets should consider themselves fortunate to be able to pair Kentucky's Anthony Davis with a point guard who can not only get him the ball but also draw out defenders with his perimeter shooting ability.

Projected Landing Spot: New Orleans Hornets, 10th overall pick

Kendall Marshall, North Carolina

If you needed to see how important college basketball's best passer was a season ago to his team, you need only look at how that team fared without him. North Carolina's national championship dreams were dashed last March when point guard Kendall Marshall broke his hand during the NCAA tournament.

The 6'4", 188-pound sophomore is more facilitator than scorer, averaging nearly 10 assists a game last year for the Tar Heels. There are some questions regarding Marshall's athleticism and jump shooting ability as a pro.

However, his ability to find the open man and thread the needle cannot be questioned. There are a number of teams picking at the back of the lottery that could use a player with Marshall's passing skills, especially one who may be watching one of the NBA's all-time greats in that regard depart in free agency.

Projected Landing Spot: Phoenix Suns, 13th overall pick

Marquis Teague, Kentucky

March Madness turned out a bit more favorably for the Kentucky Wildcats and point guard Marquis Teague as Kentucky cut down the nets and emerged from New Orleans as the champions of college basketball.

That was due in no small part to the play of Teague, who didn't pile up the stats or rack up the press clippings like teammate Anthony Davis but whose play improved steadily as the season wore on. That's not to say that there isn't still significant room for Teague to improve as his decision making and shot selection are still very much works in progress.

With that said, Teague also possesses tremendous potential from an athletic standpoint, and while it may take a year or two for that talent to develop, the upside is hard to ignore.

Teague's lack of polish may cause the 6'2", 178-pounder to drop a bit in the draft, but his talent could make him a huge steal late in the first round for the playoff team that is able to get Teague to play to his capabilities.

Projected Landing Spot: Miami Heat, 27th overall pick

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