2012 NBA Mock Draft: Stars Who Will Melt Down in the NBA

Adding star power in the NBA draft is so important for many franchises, especially in the lottery.

That is why it was such a big deal when the New Orleans Hornets locked up the No. 1 pick, being almost guaranteed a perennial All-Star in Anthony Davis, while the Bobcats will have to hope their No. 2 selection pans out.

Fortunately, this draft is quite loaded near the top of the lottery, but there are still a few prospects who will struggle to adjust to the NBA game and eventually flame out.

Let’s take a look at the latest first-round mock with a focus on some potential busts.

1. New Orleans Hornets (21-45): Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

As mentioned earlier, Davis is the surest thing in the class. He’s going to immediately make an impact and should be the favorite for Rookie of the Year in 2012-13.

2. Charlotte Bobcats (7-59): Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Beal’s offensive game is excellent and he’s the go-to scorer the Bobcats have always seemed to lack. He might not play the biggest position of need for the team, but he’s the best available to the franchise.

3. Washington Wizards (20-46): Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

MKG is long, athletic, plays great defense and is arguably the best finisher in the draft while hustling on every possession. With John Wall in a critical stage of development, adding a legit young swingman into the mix would be ideal.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (21-45): Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

Barnes makes perfect sense as a scorer for the Cavs. They haven’t had an elite 3 since LeBron James took his talents to South Beach. While Barnes will never be as good as LBJ, he’s got a chance to make up some of the points that he took with him.  

5. Sacramento Kings (22-44): Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

Robinson is a steal at No. 5. Even though the Kings have said they do not want to develop another big next to DeMarcus Cousins, Robinson is too valuable to pass up on. He’s got all the tools necessary to be a stud—great size, a post presence, a solid jumper, a motor that doesn’t quit and a team-oriented attitude.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via 22-44 New Jersey Nets): Andre Drummond, C, UConn

Drummond worries many people for good reason. He just didn’t dominate the way he easily should have during his freshman season at UConn. The center prospect is just so much bigger than most of the competition at that level that he should have absolutely destroyed them.

He obviously didn’t and came through with arguably his worst game in the NCAA tournament, the most important of his career. He’s got a lot to work on if he is ever going to be a starter in the NBA.

7. Golden State Warriors (23-43): Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor

PJIII is another player with a questionable motor, although his natural abilities and ceiling are ridiculous. If he can get motivated to display more passion and desire on the court, he’ll become a star. 

8. Toronto Raptors (23-43):  Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Rivers has a lot of upside and needs to spend some time working on moving without the ball and making plays off of it. He’s dominant when he’s holding on to the rock right now, but he’s not going to be a facilitator in the NBA and will have to spend more time finding space.

9. Detroit Pistons (25-41): Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

It’s unlikely that a team that takes Sullinger thinks they are going to get an elite player.

Even if an organization thinks they’ll get serviceable rotation minutes out of the Buckeye product, they are likely mistaken.

Sullinger just doesn’t have the athleticism to hang with modern NBA bigs. He isn’t too fast, he isn’t overwhelmingly strong and he plays below the rim. Those traits aren’t worth a lottery pick. 

10. New Orleans Hornets (via 26-40 Minnesota Timberwolves): Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

Marshall doesn’t possess the same upside as some of the other PGs in this draft, but he is hands down the best passer.

With NOLA locking up Anthony Davis, they need a solid guard to feed him the ball and facilitate the offense, which is what they will be getting here.

11. Portland Trail Blazers (28-38):  Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky

Jones would be going much earlier than this if he played with more consistency. The Wildcats star has insane skills and the ability to play both forward positions. He just needs to figure out a way to bring 100 percent every game.

12. Milwaukee Bucks (31-35): Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

Zeller is a low-upside big who will immediately get minutes in Milwaukee’s size-starved rotation. He’s not going to be a dominant player, but he’ll be serviceable.

13. Phoenix Suns (33-33): Damian Lillard, G, Weber State

Lillard looks like a mix between Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson. He’s not a true point guard and has yet to show any ability to facilitate an offense.

It’s likely that he ends up being an energy guy off the bench who can handle the ball for small stretches and excels off of it when the other team goes small.

Any team drafting Lillard to be a starting PG will be burned.

14. Houston Rockets (34-32): Terrence Ross, G, Washington

Ross has been slowly climbing up draft boards as a solid, do-it-all 2 that has a high ceiling. He’s got a lot of work to do at the combine this week and in workouts leading up to the draft, but he’s likely a lottery pick.

15. Philadelphia 76ers (35-31): John Henson, PF, North Carolina

The 76ers know Elton Brand isn’t the solution at the 4 anymore. He’s too old and slow for their system. Henson is a long, athletic PF who could immediately start pressing him for minutes.

16. Houston Rockets (via 36-20 New York Knicks): Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

The Rockets haven’t had a decent center since Yao Ming retired, so they will try to replace him with this pick. Leonard, a legit seven-footer who will be able to defend against most bigs in the league, is someone Houston sorely needs.

17. Dallas Mavericks (36-30):  Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor

Miller is an intriguing option for many teams that need a scorer. He didn’t look that great during his freshman season at Baylor, but was clearly settling for jumpers and not looking 100 percent comfortable in his recovery from a high school ACL injury.

If he’s healthy and confident, Miller could go much earlier.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via 36-30 Utah Jazz): Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn

Minny direly needs a starting 2 and often runs a three-guard offense. Lamb is the best value on the board and could eventually become one of the better players in this draft, if he gets more consistent and gives more effort. 

19. Orlando Magic (37-29): Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Waiters has the ability to play both guard spots and a solid mid-range game and has a great knack for slashing to the hoop. There is nothing not to like about taking him with the No. 19 pick. Some analysts even have him in the lottery.  

20. Denver Nuggets (38-28): Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

Harkless has a long way to go, but he’s a promising prospect with a lot of upside. He’s got to first develop his shot in order to get more mileage out of his incredible athleticism.

21. Boston Celtics (39-27):  Royce White, PF, Iowa State

White has an anxiety disorder that has impacted his production on the court and behavior off of it. If he can be treated and a team feels confident that it will not impact him in the NBA, White is a steal this late.

22. Boston Celtics (via 40-26 Los Angeles Clippers): Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

The Bonnies senior has worked hard to get a shot at the NBA and certainly deserves one. He’s got good size, can play great defense, has a decent mid-range jumper and makes perfect sense as a replacement for Kevin Garnett in Boston.

23. Atlanta Hawks (40-26): Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Josh Smith’s days seem numbered with the Hawks, and the star is reportedly always unhappy with his situation. Adding another super-athletic forward like Moultrie will make him expendable.  

24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via 41-25 Los Angeles Lakers):  Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

The Cavs need to add a backcourt partner for Kyrie Irving. Lamb has solid size, a great jumper and plays without fear. That is all they can ask from the No. 24 pick.

25. Memphis Grizzlies (41-25): Tony Wroten, PG/SG, Washington

Wroten has to develop his vision and passing ability to be a point guard in the NBA and his jumper to play the 2. If he pans out and develops all of those skills, he’s a steal this late.

26. Indiana Pacers (42-24):  Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

The Indiana native would be a perfect point guard for the Pacers second unit. He could push the break and get all of their athletes involved like he did during his time at Kentucky.

27. Miami Heat (46-20): Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Melo is the only worthwhile big man taking this late. If you have seen the Heat in the playoffs, you know why they are going to take a chance on anyone with size and some semblance of skill.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder (47-19): Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State

Green’s a high-character guy who puts winning before anything else. He can also play both forward positions and makes perfect sense as a member of the Thunder.

29. Chicago Bulls (50-16): John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt 

Jenkins has a sweet shot and projects as a good backup behind Rip Hamilton. With Rip’s injury woes seemingly always present, Jenkins would be in for a lot of floor time next year.

30. Golden State Warriors (via 50-16 San Antonio Spurs): Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

Taylor is a supreme athlete with a decent jumper and promising defense. Can’t ask for any more at No. 30.