2012 NBA Mock Draft: Sleepers, Busts and Shocking Surprises

The 2012 NBA Draft is just weeks away, and we're set for a thrilling night after Wednesday's lottery drawing.

The NBA-owned New Orleans Hornets came down with the No. 1 pick, which they hope will translate into decades of success behind stud freshman Anthony Davis of Kentucky. Davis may have as many as five of his national-champion teammates join him as draftees. 

Sophomore sensations should rule much of the top 10 picks. Jared Sullinger and Harrison Barnes, among others, look to solidify themselves in the NBA and prove that they deserve to be picked ahead of these fab freshman.

Let's take a look at a fresh mock draft with the final NBA Draft order.

1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

This pick was a lock once Davis first stepped on the floor of the University of Kentucky's Rupp Arena. Regardless of who grabbed the top pick, Davis' name was assured to be the first one called in the 2012 NBA Draft. It just so happens that this is a great fit for both sides.

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

The Bobcats are in desperate need of, well, anything that will help them win. Kidd-Gilchrist will be the first step in helping Charlotte forget about the past few seasons.

3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Why Beal is a Sleeper

It's hard to call someone a sleeper when they've been anticipated as a top-five pick for some time, but Beal strolled through his first and only year of college relatively under the radar at Florida while still honing his talent and proving he's one of the best.

He can do almost everything you'd want in a shooting guard. He can be a pure, spot-up, catch-and-pop shooter to add a three-point threat. He can put it on the floor and attack the rim with menace and athletic ability. He plays both sides of the ball with high energy.

I believe the Wizards have had their eye on Beal for some time; they were just hoping to land high enough in the lottery to pull him in. They easily will, and they'll get their man. 

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

Why Drummond is a Bust

Drummond has prototypical NBA size and strength and he fits the mold as a true center. So why is he a bust, you ask?

Because that's by far his best attribute. He plays a low-energy game for the most part, which forces him to get into a habit of becoming ineffective and disappear from the game physically. 

For instance, in UConn's final five games of last season he finished with seven points or less in three games and with five or less rebounds in four games.

When I watched the Huskies try to defend their national championship in a Round of 64 matchup with No. 9 seed Iowa State, I was stuck having to remind myself that a top-five lottery pick is buried somewhere on the bench. 

UConn wasn't even an elite team last year. They had plenty of talent but Drummond also had his fingerprints all over the team's game plan. He could've done all he wanted, but he ended up having a minuscule impact on his team.

5. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

Robinson has as much heart and character as any player in this draft class, and that's exactly what Sacramento needs. 

6. Portland Trail Blazers (from Brooklyn): Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Portland's biggest hole has been at the point guard position for many years, and adding Marshall (who is a guaranteed success) would undoubtedly fill that hole.

7. Golden State Warriors: Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Golden State needs players who can stretch the floor with impeccable athletic ability, and they need it as soon as possible. Waiters has been on a Syracuse team with tons of NBA talent and should be ready for the league more than most. 

8. Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

Harrison Barnes is being pegged by some as a high-risk candidate, but he's one of the best wing scorers in the class, and that's what the Raptors need more than anything. Adding a pure-scorer that has experience running an offense is a win-win.

9. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor

Why Jones III will be a Bust

Perry Jones III was one of the hottest names coming out of high school, but he never found his niche on a highly-talented Baylor team and was overshadowed by players that he shouldn't have come close to being overshadowed by.

Quincy Acy was the hub of the Bears' squad that made a run at the Elite Eight, which transformed Jones from irreplaceable to expendable. 

The Pistons' hole in their lineup is at the 4, which Jones is said to be a perfect fit for. Whether it's the Pistons or someone else, he'll be taken somewhere in or near the top 10 and it'll be labeled as a very risky pick. 

Jones hasn't even made it to the NBA yet, but he's already got plenty of critics.

10. New Orleans Hornets (from Minnesota): Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Why Lillard is a Surprise

The Hornets lost the best point guard in the NBA last offseason, so it's obvious where they need help at. Now that they'll certainly be adding Davis to the fray, they need a floor general to move the offense.

Many draft experts are salivating at the possibility of Davis and Kendall Marshall playing on the same team, but Lillard would be the best move for this New Orleans team if Marshall goes off the board to Portland. 

Both players have insane passing skills, which is what Davis needs if he'll be the team's most featured player. He excelled in a Kentucky system with Marquis Teague, a player who rarely did anything but pass.

Lillard and Davis should be the cornerstones to this new-look Hornets team.

11. Portland Trailblazers: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

The Greg Oden saga in Porland seems to be in its closing stages, so it's time to move on and find a replacement for the center-that-never-was. Zeller looks like a great teammate on paper with LaMarcus Aldridge. 

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

The Bucks will be ecstatic if Sullinger falls in their lap with the No. 12 overall pick. This could be the steal of the draft. 

13. Phoenix Suns: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

The Suns would ideally like to find a replacement for Steve Nash (the soon-to-be free agent who's set on leaving the franchise he's become the embodiment of). However, there's not much on the board to pick from, so they'll go with a solid 2-guard to improve their backcourt from horrible to slightly-less-than-horrible.

14. Houston Rockets: Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky

The Houston Rockets will be busy trying to restructure a championship team without Yao Ming. Adding Jones would not only give them supreme talent, but also an attractive option to use for a trade for, say, a Pau Gasol.

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

Why Moultrie is a Surprise

Arnett Moultrie came under-the-radar at Mississippi State, and often was outshadowed by players on his own team. However, he has the size, speed, athleticism and skill to become a solid starter as a post player in the NBA. 

He had 24 double-digit scoring games just last season with the Bulldogs, and a staggering 11 games with 20 or more points. He also did so in the SEC, where he played daunting frontcourts like Vanderbilt, Florida, Tennessee, and obviously, Kentucky. 

His coaches didn't spare him much in their 73-64 loss to the eventual national champions, playing him 39 minutes. But he delivered with a double-double and showed an impressive game against Davis, a foe he'll find again at the next level.

16. Houston Rockets (from New York): Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut

The Rockets have a lot of questions to answer before they take the next step, and a solid 2-guard is one of them. Lamb has great play-making ability and will prove to be a tough-as-nails player on both ends of the court. 

17. Dallas Mavericks: Austin Rivers, PG, Duke

Austin Rivers might not prove to be a true point guard in the NBA, but he'll make an impact whatever role he plays, and wherever he plays it. The Mavericks can surround him with a ton of talent and are losing skilled vets at the position (i.e. Jason Kidd, Jason Terry). 

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

I'm not ready to throw in the towel just yet on Wesley Johnson, but bringing in his assumed successor could light a fire under the young star.

19. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

Dwight Howard is gone and the Orlando Magic know it. Might as well take a shot at this diamond-in-the-rough pick with Leonard. Either that or climb up for a more solid prospect.

20. Denver Nuggets: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

The Nuggets are a surprisingly complete team after a very solid season, and the one position that needs the most help is point guard. Ty Lawson is a great scorer and is turning into an elite point guard fast, but he'll need a lot of minutes on the bench to keep his motor going and Teague should do a great job of running the offense in his absence.

21. Boston Celtics: John Henson, PF, North Carolina

No one really knows which of the Big Four will be back in Boston for 2012-13, but Kevin Garnett is easily the least likely to return. With that said, they need post help regardless of KG's decision. 

22. Boston Celtics (from L.A. Clippers): Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor

Nothing but housekeeping here. Paul Pierce is on his way out soon, either by retirement or free agency. They'll need a solid guy with NBA size and speed to eat up the minutes that Pierce will leave open. 

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

Why Nicholson is a Sleeper

Nicholson shouldn't be sneaking up on anybody at this point. He had a coming-out party in last year's NCAA Tournament as his team took the third-seeded Florida State Seminoles to the brink and nearly knocked them out behind Nicholson's 20 points and seven rebounds.

He's far from the power forwards he will accompany in the NBA, but with more of a guard-like style of play with a lot of distance from the basket and baseline touches it should prove to pay off in Atlanta. 

24. Cleveland Cavaliers (from L.A. Lakers): Jeffrey Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

The Cavaliers need mid-range players who can put in a lot of minutes. Taylor should be able to do that after a heavy workload at Vandy and an impeccable skill set. He could be a full-time starter by the end of the season and may become a star.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten, PG, Washington

The Grizzlies lack depth at the point guard position and had to put Mike Conley, Jr. through way too many minutes down the stretch in their first-round loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Wroten will help to make their reserve offense more efficient and give them a three-point shooter (which they practically have none of).

26. Indiana Pacers: Will Barton, SG, Memphis

Indiana's biggest need is to add scoring, which became evident after Miami exposed them in Games 5 and 6 of the Eastern Conference semis. 

27. Miami Heat: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Fab Melo should be available for the Heat at this pick, and if he isn't, this draft could be a huge disappointment for Miami. They need to address their lack of size and depth in the post.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tyshawn Taylor, PG, Kansas

Derek Fisher filled in well as a reserve point guard in this year's playoff run, but he's far from a long term answer and the five-time NBA champion is probably gone after the season. With that said, Taylor continues the trend of super-athletic point guards in OKC. 

29. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt

Jenkins is undoubtedly the best three-point shooter in this year's draft, and that facet alone should keep him from falling to the second round. Add his experience in the SEC and his growing ability to attack the rim and he could be the centerpiece to Chicago's reserve lineup, and might evolve into a solid starting shooting guard next to Derrick Rose. 

30. Golden State Warriors (from San Antonio): Royce White, SF, Iowa State

White is one of the more underrated players in this year's draft class, but that won't keep Golden State from picking him up to add some depth and skill to their frontcourt.