2012 NBA Mock Draft: Where Will Harrison Barnes and the Biggest Names Land?
With June 28's NBA Draft just around the corner, the plot is well past thickening.
The lottery teams stewing about while the postseason goes on without them are about to have their day in the sun. They're also about to get quite a bit better.
The question those lottery clubs are asking is: How much better, and how long do we have to wait?
The answer to that question all depends on where the NCAA's biggest stars land. Former McDonalds' All-Americans like UNC sophomore Harrison Barnes successfully carried their teams to prominent success, and they might do the same for the lucky pro teams that acquire them.
Which once-and-future star will your team acquire?
Let's have a look at one scenario that makes sense.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF (Kentucky)
The case for Davis goes on and on, but the simple truth is that he's the safest bet in the draft. Yes, his upside is exceptional, but you just can't pass up a guy whose worst-case scenario is a super athletic version of Marcus Camby. If he learns to score like Kevin Garnett, watch out.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF (Kentucky)
The Bobcats are faced with quite the decision. They could trade this pick and either acquire multiple first-rounders or look for a deal that would return some veteran talent. That would allow the club to make the most of its assets and rebuild a roster that still has a number of needs.
It would also make sense given how deep this draft is and how much impact a middle- or late-lottery pick would still make. If Charlotte holds on to the pick, the best all-around player is probably Kidd-Gilchrist. He's an elite athlete, a relentless defender and a winner at heart. With improved offense, he'll be a superstar.
3. Washington Wizards: Thomas Robinson, PF (Kansas)
This is an intriguing pick thanks to the fact that Washington needs just about anything other than a point guard or a center. If Kidd-Gilchrist is still around, the Wizards would probably snatch him up. If not, Thomas Robinson is just as good of a fit.
He rebounds and defends well for his size, and he's probably the best scorer coming out of this draft at the power forward position. More importantly, Washington needs cultural transformation in the locker room, and Robinson is perfect candidate to spark that change.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG (Florida)
Beal is one of the very best scorers in the draft and almost a lock to eventually be an All-Star. He's never met a shot he didn't like, and he's well-rounded for a guard his size (around 6'4"). Don't be surprised if Beal goes as high as second overall, especially if the Bobcats don't hold on to that pick. The Wizards might be interested as well if they don't mind benching or trading Jordan Crawford.
Otherwise, another exceptional guard will fall into Cleveland's lap. Beal would complement Kyrie Irving nicely. He's the kind of shooter who Irving would love playing with, and he can create his own shot pretty capably as well.
5. Sacramento Kings: Harrison Barnes, SF (North Carolina)
It would be at all surprising to see the Cleveland Cavaliers or Washington Wizards take Barnes. He may not have the limitless upside you'd associate with MKG, but he's a safe bet to be a borderline All-Star at the very least.
Even if he's not the next Rudy Gay, he knows how to play the game on both ends of the floor, and he's already a very good shooter. The Kings need a sure thing, and they need a legitimate small forward. Tyreke Evans is better off in the backcourt, and Barnes' length would come in handy on the perimeter.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (from Brooklyn Nets): Andre Drummond, C (UConn)
After Anthony Davis, Drummond is this draft's next best bet to become an imposing big man. That's not a knock on Thomas Robinson, who just doesn't have the same kind of size. If Drummond can piece together a more consistent approach, he could become the next Andrew Bynum.
It will take some work, though. The Trail Blazers need a big man who can defend the paint and replace the hole left by Marcus Camby (and the hopes we all had for Greg Oden). Drummond has the profile of an All-Star, and taking him at the six-spot is well worth the risks.
7. Golden State Warriors: Perry Jones III, PF (Baylor)
The Warriors have no better reason to take Jones than the fact he's just too good to pass up—or at least he might be. His production at Baylor varied, but he could be a very raw approximation of the next Kevin Garnett.
8. Toronto Raptors: Jeremy Lamb, SG (UConn)
The Raptors need to take the best-available talent, ideally someone who could become the team's go-to scorer, or at least a really good one. Lamb shoots well from all over the floor, and he has the kind of spidery athleticism than you might associate with scorers like Jamal Crawford or Kevin Durant. Chances are Lamb could wind up somewhere in between.
9. Detroit Pistons: Terrence Jones, SF (Kentucky)
Jones is a rare commodity. He's got great length at 6'9" with a 7'3" wingspan, and he does a lot of different things well. He played some point guard in high school, and it shows in his surprising penchant for passing—rare among guys his size. He's also a consistent defender who can intimidate shots in the paint and on the perimeter. Jones is the kind of all-around talent just about any team would like, but Detroit may be in the best position to actually draft him.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Damian Lillard, PG (Weber State)
Because the Hornets will probably be getting their big draft prize with Anthony Davis, there's always the chance this pick will be dealt for a veteran or two. Otherwise, you might expect New Orleans to go after a point guard to couple with Eric Gordon in the future. Lillard may be the best point in the draft, and he's certainly a dynamic scorer.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Kendall Marshall, PG (North Carolina)
Marshall had a lot to do with UNC's success, and his ability to distribute the ball so prolifically—almost 10 assists a game last year—is one of the reasons several of his teammates will be taken in the first round. Portland needs that kind of facilitator to invigorate a talented but leaderless lineup.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller, C (North Carolina)
Andrew Bogut is now in a Golden State Warriors uniform, and the Bucks are left with guys like Drew Gooden and Larry Sanders in the middle. Zeller would give the team a legitimate seven-footer who already knows how to play the game.
13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, G (Duke)
Rivers is an elite scorer with All-Star potential, and the Suns would be lucky to grab him with the 13th pick. He won't reduce Phoenix's need to sign a point guard (or retain Steve Nash), but he'd give the team a backcourt scoring option it needs, especially if Shannon Brown doesn't come back.
14. Houston Rockets: John Henson, PF (North Carolina)
Henson may be gone by this point, but he probably won't slide much further. Houston needs depth behind Luis Scola, and it Henson's athletic defense would pair nicely with Marcus Camby and/or Samuel Dalembert in the Rockets' frontcourt (should the free-agent centers return).
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Ross, SG (Washington)
Ross could move a few spots in either direction, but he'd look pretty good next to up-and-coming Jrue Holiday in Doug Collins' backcourt. He plays hard on both ends of the floor and averaged over 16 points a game as a sophomore. Jodie Meeks needs to come off the bench, and Ross could start quickly.
16. Houston Rockets (via New York Knicks): Dion Waiters, G (Syracuse)
Houston's backcourt is a bit up in the air at the moment, and Waiters could become a valuable asset. He became a much better scorer in his sophomore year, and he's can play defense, too. If the Rockets don't land Austin Rivers or Damian Lillard first, Waiters is a solid option.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Jared Sullinger, PF (Ohio State)
Based on his mature skill set and smart post game, Sullinger could be taken much higher, maybe in the middle of the lottery. If he slides, the Mavericks might not be able to resist bringing in strong body to lineup alongside Nowitzki. Sullinger scores, rebounds and is almost sure to find ways to succeed against taller NBA competition.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah Jazz): Arnett Moultrie, PF (Mississippi St.)
More than any other team, this could really be a hit-or-miss draft for Minnesota. If a guard like Terrence Ross or Dion Waiters is still on the board, the Timberwolves would be crazy to pass up a potential starter at a position of need. Otherwise, though, this pick could be used on bench help. Moultrie is a highly mobile big man who loves attacking the glass, and he'd add good depth to the front line and potentially replace free-agent Anthony Randolph.
19. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard, C (Illinois)
Even if the Magic didn't need an insurance policy for Dwight's possible (inevitable?) departure, they'd be wise to take Leonard based on his potential alone. He's already an explosive, energetic big man, and a legitimate seven-footer at that. He'd help Orlando's defense immediately, and he could become a dangerous scorer if he develops a real post game.
20. Denver Nuggets: Tony Wroten Jr., PG/SG (Washington)
There's plenty not to like about where Wroten's game is right now, but he scored almost 17 points a game for the Huskies, and he rebounds well for a guard. The Nuggets don't need any starters at the moment, and Wroten Jr. could be promising long-term project. With Andre Miller approaching—if not at—the end of his run with the Nuggets, it's time for some new blood on the bench.
21. Boston Celtics: Quincy Miller, SF (Baylor)
Given Ray Allen's uncertain status, the Celtics would love to grab a shooting guard here, at least if there's a good one still available. If not, they could take a chance on someone like Evan Fournier, or they could go with Miller on account of his athleticism and upside. He had an up-and-down freshman campaign, but there were flashes of brilliance.
22. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Fab Melo, C (Syracuse)
While it makes sense for the Celtics to take the best-available talent with their first selection, the second one could help address a huge area of need in the middle. Boston has relied on Kevin Garnett to hold down the center position, but he could use a big man to let him move to the 4 from time to time.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Taylor, SF (Vanderbilt)
The Hawks would be a great fit for someone like Dion Waiters or Tony Wroten Jr., but there's a good chance those kind of combo-guards will be long gone by now. Taylor would make this rotation better, though. The bench could use an athletic—and tenacious—defender to stick on opposing scorers.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Los Angeles Lakers): Moe Harkless, SF (St. John's)
Harkless may not make Cleveland significantly better from day one, but he's probably the best small forward the Cavaliers can get their hands on if they don't wind up taking Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Harrison Barnes. He could be a steal if he lives up to his potential as an athletic 6'8" scorer.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Evan Fournier, SG (France)
The Grizzlies might like to pad their depth in the paint, but they could use some help on the wing too. Fournier is a uniquely gifted scorer who can shoot from anywhere. With Sam Young no longer on the bench, Fournier could find some minutes.
26. Indiana Pacers: Draymond Green, F (Michigan St.)
The Pacers' starting lineup is set, but there's room for a versatile wing player like Green. He does the kind of little things most glorified forwards won't do, and that fits the gritty culture Frank Vogel is trying to build.
27. Miami Heat: Festus Ezeli, C (Vanderbilt)
The Heat could use a shot-blocker manning the middle, and that's Ezeli's claim to fame. He's not the best all-around center in this draft, but he may be all that Miami really needs.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Andrew Nicholson, PF (St. Bonaventure)
Nick Collison isn't a bad back-up at the 4, but nor is he much of a scorer. Nicholson could find a role thanks to his ability to hit a few jump-shots and keep defenders honest.
29. Chicago Bulls: Marquis Teague, PG (Kentucky)
The Bulls could go after a shooter of some sort, but the wise move would be bringing in a young point guard, both as a contributor in Rose's absence and insurance for the future. Teague could blossom into a pretty outstanding guard, much like his brother Jeff has with the Atlanta Hawks.
30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio Spurs): Royce White, SF/PF (Iowa State)
White has a huge frame for a forward, and he'd make for a nice contrast to lanky wing guys like Dorell Wright and Klay Thompson. The Warriors have some good young athletes, but they could use someone with White's size and skill.
