2012 NBA Mock Draft: Best-Case Scenario for Every 1st-Round Pick
It's hard to imagine a true best-case scenario for every team in the NBA draft, mostly because the real best-case scenario for just about every squad would be Anthony Davis dropping down the board for them to select.
The draft is a fluent event, and while what you find below may not represent the actual best-case scenario for your favorite team, it will represent the best move for that team if the board falls the way I believe it will.
Rock out with your mock out, ladies and gentlemen.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF (Kentucky)
This is a no-brainer. He's the only game-changing, franchise superstar in the making to be had in this draft. The Hornets win this draft.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas Robinson, PF (Kansas)
The first huge decision of the draft belongs to Charlotte. Will it go with the athletic and relentless Robinson, who impressed at the NBA combine? The versatile, hard-working Michael Kidd-Gilchrist? Or will it surprise everyone and go a different direction?
I've been going back and forth on this one, but ultimately, I think Robinson's polished game, electric athleticism, intensity on the court and desire to get better off it will make the difference.
Robinson is already my early pick to win Rookie of the Year next season, and I believe he'll be an automatic double-double threat at the next level.
If Charlotte thinks MKG can be an elite scorer at the next level, then he's the pick. But if not, the Bobcats should go with Robinson.
3. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF (Kentucky)
The Wizards could go with Bradley Beal here, but I think they'd love to pair MKG with John Wall. Kidd-Gilchrist looks like the ultimate complementary piece to me, a player who will do everything well and won't need to score to impact a game. He and Wall will be exciting to watch for years to come.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG (Florida)
Here's another very interesting swing pick: Will the Cavs go with the draft's top 2-guard in Beal, the top scoring wing in Harrison Barnes or roll the dice on center Andre Drummond?
I think Beal should be the pick. Unlike Barnes, he can create his own shot, and like Barnes, he's an excellent shooter. And he's a far safer option than Drummond.
Plus, how nasty would the combo of Kyrie Irving and Beal in the backcourt be for Cleveland? This is how nasty—I would watch that Cleveland team. Expect Beal to be the pick.
5. Sacramento Kings: Perry Jones III, PF (Baylor)
The Kings will miss out on the top four players in this draft and find no point guard worth selecting here. Look for them to roll the dice on Jones to pair with DeMarcus Cousins on the block. Well, if Jones gives up his delusions of playing small forward, that is.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey): Andre Drummond, C (Connecticut)
With Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum already on the wing, I don't see them taking a player like Barnes or Jeremy Lamb here. And like the Kings before them, there isn't a point guard worth taking here. At this point, taking a chance on the risky Drummond is actually the right decision to make.
7. Golden State Warriors (from Utah): Harrison Barnes, SF (North Carolina)
This really is the perfect pick for Golden State. The Warriors desperately need a solid player who can score the rock out on the wing, and Barnes fits the bill perfectly.
Really, the only concern about Barnes is his ability to create his own shot at the next level. He's got a silky-smooth jumper, moves well without the ball, holds his own defensively and is a solid rebounder.
But he'll need a point guard that can find him on the court and hit him crisply so Barnes can catch and shoot. Utilized effectively, Barnes will be a valuable asset in Golden State immediately.
8. Toronto Raptors: Jeremy Lamb, SG (Connecticut)
Could be Lamb, could be Dion Waiters. If the Raptors want an excellent shooter and elegant athlete, they'll go with Lamb. If they want a player more likely to take it hard to the cup and create his own shot, it's Waiters. Flip a coin.
9. Detroit Pistons: Jared Sullinger, PF (Ohio State)
Sullinger and Greg Monroe will do work on the block. Not a sexy pick, but a smart one.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota): Damian Lillard, PG (Weber State)
So they land the best player and now the best point guard in this draft. With Eric Gordon already in town, the Hornets may get good rather quickly.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Kendall Marshall, PG (North Carolina)
He won't score like Lillard, but he's one of the best pure passers coming out of college in years. Portland already has players who can score the rock—now it adds a very solid floor general.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller, C (North Carolina)
It could also be Myers Leonard here. I think the Bucks play it smart and go with college performance over pure potential.
13. Phoenix Suns: Dion Waiters, SG (Syracuse)
Think a poor man's Dwyane Wade, and that should give you a decent idea of Waiters' game. He could be the steal of the draft if he falls to the Suns here.
14. Houston Rockets: John Henson, PF (North Carolina)
If he adds mass to his slight frame, Anthony Davis will be the only player from this draft to surpass Henson as a defensive game-changer.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Austin Rivers, SG (Duke)
The Sixers need a primary scorer. If they don't mind the fact that Rivers is an undersized combo guard who will often dominate the ball, he could actually be a perfect fit on a team currently comprised of excellent role players. This is a town that embraced Allen Iverson, after all.
16. Houston Rockets (via New York): Meyers Leonard, C (Illinois)
This is all about potential. Houston is deep enough to give him time to develop.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Terrence Jones, PF (Kentucky)
Jones has solid athleticism for a big man and is the best player on the board. The only concern I have with him in Dallas is where he would fit into the roster with Dirk Nowitzki manning the 4. But Jones is probably too good here to pass up.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah): Terrence Ross, SG (Washington)
The Wolves need a shooting guard. Ross is the best shooting guard available. You do the math.
19. Orlando Magic: Quincy Miller, SF (Baylor)
A pure upside selection. Orlando won't improve that much through the draft at this point, so rolling the dice on potential future returns makes sense.
20. Denver Nuggets: Arnett Moultrie, PF (Mississippi State)
If he replicates the double-double he averaged for Mississippi State last season, the Nuggets will be very happy with this pick.
21. Boston Celtics: Moe Harkless, PF (St. John's)
He was fantastic for St. John's as a freshman, and depending on how the board plays out, he could actually be a late lottery selection. If he drops this far, he's definitely the steal of the draft.
22. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Jeffery Taylor, SG (Vanderbilt)
I don't like the Celtics, but I love the way my draft board falls for them. Taylor is one of the more underrated talents in this draft and will instantly be popular in Boston for his solid defensive play and excellent shot from range.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Tony Wroten, Jr., PG (Washington)
He's got an NBA-ready body and prime-time athleticism, but he needs to become a better pure point guard. As of now, he projects as a streaky combo guard who will need to get to the bucket to consistently score.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Fab Melo, C (Syracuse)
His offensive game is raw and limited, his rebounding needs to improve and he's an excellent shot-blocker. You take him for his potential defensive presence and hope he improves upon his weaknesses.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Royce White, SF (Iowa State)
There is risk, but there could also be reward. White is a solid, powerful athlete who should score the rock and compete on the boards if he reaches his potential.
26. Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, PG (Kentucky)
I think he's underrated, and we saw consistent improvement from Teague at the point-guard position his freshman year. Plus, I think he's more of a scoring threat than he could show on a loaded Kentucky team full of players who had to share the rock equally.
27. Miami Heat: Draymond Green, PF (Michigan State)
He's that player who was excellent in college but doesn't have a natural position, projects with little to no upside and is ignored by most of the NBA. And then he hits the league on a team where he fits, like the Heat, is surprisingly effective and has a long, productive career.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Andrew Nicholson, PF (St. Bonaventure)
The combine may shoot him up the board. The Thunder would love to add a guy on the block with a natural scoring touch. He'd see significant minutes on a very good Thunder team from day one.
29. Chicago Bulls: Will Barton, SG (Memphis)
He's versatile, athletic and underrated. He'll do a little bit of everything for a Bulls team that already does just about everything well.
30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio): John Jenkins, SG (Vanderbilt)
With Barnes and Jenkins, the Warriors will instantly upgrade their prowess from beyond the arc.
Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets really wanted to have another.
