2012 NBA Mock Draft: Players Who Will Turn Pretenders into Contenders
Once the results of this year's lottery were revealed, we learned a lot about which teams are going to compete for playoff spots next year and which ones are still a long way off.
The Bobcats, for example, aren't going anywhere any time soon, but a team like the Hornets—after reeling in the No. 1 selection, against all odds—could make a play for the postseason next year if they select wisely with their two lottery picks in 2012. A team like the Thunder got where it is primarily by drafting well—in the 2008 draft, they took Russell Westbrook (No. 4) and Serge Ibaka (No. 24), both of whom are currently starting in the NBA Finals, and the Hornets could be right where they are before long with the right picks.
Here's a mock that focuses on the teams that could use this year's draft picks to turn themselves into contenders.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
After getting very lucky and drawing the No. 1 overall pick, the Hornets are close to being a contender, despite the fact that they finished dead last in the Western Conference last season. Davis is the kind of game changer who can alter a team that quickly. He's excellent defensively, he can get to the hoop and he still has room to fill out and get stronger.
On top of that, he doesn't have the typical me-first attitude associated with far too many No. 1 draft picks. He's a high-character kid and an excellent teammate who will do whatever he can to win—not to beef up his stat line—whether that means dominating in the paint or drawing double-teams so his teammates can get open looks.
The Hornets still have another pick at No. 10, which they'll most likely use to shore up the backcourt. If they make a smart selection—taking an excellent distributor who can set up a player like Davis—this will be a hugely successful draft for New Orleans.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
Even with Beal, the Bobcats aren't close to being a contender. Beal can be their lights-out shooting guard of the future, but they still need more talent to bolster a roster plagued by inexperience.
3. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
Gilchrist is a huge step for a Wizards team that is in desperate need of toughness and leadership, but they still need a pure scorer before they're a true contender.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
The Cavs are one of the teams with the most to gain from this draft. They're so close to being the type of team that can make a run with Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving, and with two smart selections in this year's first round, they can continue building into the type of young powerhouse that has the talent and athleticism to make a deep playoff run.
That all starts with Barnes, who proved to be one of the top shooters in the ACC last year as well as someone who can score from anywhere. He's certainly not perfect yet (one of the knocks on him is that he needs an elite point guard to set him up), but regardless, that shouldn't be a problem with Irving around.
There are certainly questions about how Barnes' offensive abilities will translate to the NBA, but he has the kind of basketball IQ that will allow him to grow and develop proficiently. Plus, his defense is solid, too, so he shouldn't be a liability on either end of the floor.
5. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
Robinson is one of the best players available this year and the Kings will win big with him. He's slightly undersized but is incredibly athletic and can get to the hoop. The Kings need to surround him with a little bit of veteran talent, too, though. He can't do everything himself.
6. Portland Trail Blazers: Andre Drummond, C, UConn
Drummond is risky because he's never been able to shed that soft reputation, and he tends to play passively. Maybe that's a product of his youth, and he can get stronger and tougher with some experience.
7. Golden State Warriors: Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor
Jones is another risky big man who is a bit too passive for the scouts' liking, but he had the presence of mind to stay in school for an extra year because he didn't think he was ready for the NBA last year. He's very fast, very athletic and seems like he has a good head on his shoulders. Most importantly, he proved last season that he's smart enough to avoid buying into his own hype.
8. Toronto Raptors: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
The Raptors were hoping to be picking a little bit higher so they could snag Beal, but they'll have to settle for Lillard—which is not too shabby, considering his versatility and his 24.5 points per game last season.
9. Detroit Pistons: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
Sullinger is precisely the type of player who fits the Pistons' vibe, and they will love it if he falls to them at No. 9. He's tough, he works incredibly hard and he plays with a chip on his shoulder because of all of the doubters he's encountered throughout his career.
After last week's NBA Combine, he told the Chicago Tribune's Brian Hamilton:
"A lot of people have been sleeping on me, and it's kind of fun. All my life I've kind of been known as the underdog. People said I wasn't going to be able to play at the college level, and I did. Some people said I wasn't going to be able to play at the high school level; some people said I was too overweight to play at the middle school level. I'm used to it.
"
A lot of the doubts about Sullinger are based upon the supposition that he might have trouble staying in shape, but if he can conquer those conditioning issues, he has the strength and the defensive ability to make a serious impact next season. He also has a 7'1" wingspan that rivals most of the centers available in this draft.
The Pistons aren't far away from being a contender; they finished just 10 games out of the playoff hunt last season. A smart decision in this draft—like Sullinger—could fill in the missing piece.
10. New Orleans Hornets: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
After drafting Davis, Marshall is precisely the type of point guard New Orleans needs. He's not a prolific scorer, but he was the best distributor in college last year, which will allow Davis to excel.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn
Lamb has been knocked for under-performing at UConn, but the same could be said of virtually anyone who was on the Huskies' roster last season. He has a lot of potential, but he is easily intimidated by physical, tougher opponents. If he gains a bit of tenacity, he will fulfill his potential offensively.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: John Henson, PF, North Carolina
If Henson drops to 12, he is more of a steal and less of a risk. He's long, lean and can be a disruptive force in the paint, but he really needs to add some bulk to his frame in order to excel at the next level.
13. Phoenix Suns: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
Ross is one of the best shooters available, especially from mid-range. The Suns are going to be looking for some backcourt offense to replace Steve Nash, and Ross can't totally fill that void—no one can in this draft—but his offense will definitely be a spark.
14. Houston Rockets: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
Zeller is athletic and fast for a big man, and he has a lot of maturity and a high NBA IQ, too. The reason he falls to the end of the lottery is that he still needs to add some strength to be able to use his frame to his full advantage.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky
Jones is gritty and tough, and when he gets into a rhythm, he can shoot the lights out. The only challenge with him is establishing consistency.
16. Houston Rockets: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
For a player who's 6'10", Moultrie leaves nothing to be desired in terms of athleticism. Skill-wise, he's one of the best players still on the board, but concerns about his effort level will drop him.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
Dad Doc Rivers has expressed to Yahoo Sports his bewilderment over the selfish reputation his son has cultivated, but it's there because in one year at Duke, Rivers showed that he wants to be the star but doesn't yet have the ball control or the athleticism. Once he becomes a better teammate, though, he can be dangerous.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Dion Waiters, PG/SG, Syracuse
Waiters' lack of a true position has hurt him more than it's helped him. Though he's aggressive and strong, he's not a lights-out shooter or a stellar ball-handler, so it's unclear where he'll be able to fit in in the backcourt.
19. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Meyers is still very raw, but his athleticism and quickness—in spite of being 7'1"—are both good signs. He's not ready to be a star in the middle yet, but he could still really help an Orlando team that's probably going to lose Dwight Howard.
20. Denver Nuggets: Tony Wroten Jr., PG, Washington
Purely based on talent, Wroten is an excellent prospect. His ball-handling still needs work, but he has great size (6'5", 205 pounds) and can get to the hoop. The problem with him is whether he can function effectively as a distributor rather than a shooter.
21. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
He needs plenty of work before he's ready—and he's risky because it's unclear whether or not he has the maturity or the focus to put in the work—but if he can get himself together, he has the raw talent to be a huge addition for the Celtics up front.
22. Boston Celtics: Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
The Celtics' bench really struggled to make an impact down the stretch this season, and Taylor would be a great addition to the second unit because of his defensive intensity and his offensive efficiency from long range.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Royce White, SF, Iowa State
There's not a lot to dislike about White. He has tons of raw talent and is a big, strong prospect, but he has an anxiety disorder that has caused him to fall pretty far in most draft projections.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor
He's a risk because he still hasn't proven that he can be a serious offensive threat after undergoing ACL surgery. But if he can reclaim his former stature, he'll pay off big for a young and talented Cavs squad.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's
At this stage, Harkless is a steal. He's fast, he's long and he can be a force offensively, but he struggles sometimes to maintain that intensity on the defensive end as well.
26. Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky
He commandeered Kentucky's national-championship offense last season and proved that he's willing to alter his game for the good of the team. A few years down the line, he could turn into a top NBA point guard.
27. Miami Heat: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
He's an excellent shooter who could fill a big role on the Heat as a second-unit spark. He's not terribly athletic or quick, so his smooth shot is his one big selling point.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
This is low for Nicholson, so the Thunder absolutely have to snag him if he's available here. His 7'4" wingspan allows him to be deadly defensively—he averaged 8.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game as a senior at St. Bonaventure.
29. Chicago Bulls: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
Lamb shouldn't fall out of the first round. Despite playing for a national champion, he was one of the more underrated—and most consistent—shooters in the NCAA.
30. Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State
He's definitely not going to step in and become a star, but he can be an excellent shooter and can use a 7'1" wingspan to reel in boards.
