NBA Draft 2012: Evaluating Best Landing Spots for Top Picks
Everybody who has their own mock draft thinks that they have a pretty good idea as to where a player is going to land (myself included).
But in reality, nobody knows what's going to happen on draft day until it actually comes.
With that being said, we'll evaluate which top-10 picks would pair best with teams that have top-10 picks, regardless of whether they will still be on the board or not.
Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal at No. 3 Overall
Nobody knows if the Charlotte Bobcats are going to go with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Beal at No. 2, but if Beal falls to the Wizards, he'd be the perfect guy for them.
He has such a smooth shot, and it doesn't take long for a straight shooter to get acclimated to the NBA. That means he's going to come in right away and make an impact for a team that so desperately needs his services.
Not to mention he and John Wall would make a great pair.
Wall would be able to facilitate the offense, as he always does, while Beal would hang out on the perimeter. Once wall cuts to the hoop, the defense will have to collapse inward to help protect the paint. With the defenders in the interior, Wall would have no trouble kicking out to Beal for an easy jumper. If the defense doesn't collapse, Wall has an easy layup.
Beal can penetrate too, making him even more dangerous. He can put the ball on the floor and beat defenders off the dribble.
The last thing the Wizards need is to run Wall into the ground by overworking him game after game, and Beal would be the man to help with that.
You're going to see a lot of transition points for the Wizards if they get Beal, as well as an effective drive-and-kick offense.
Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond at No. 5 Overall
Let's get past the possible chemistry issue that could arise between Drummond and DeMarcus Cousins if the Kings take Drummond at No. 5. Through no fault of Drummond's, we would probably see an uneasy Cousins during offseason workouts.
But if they can get over that hump and figure out how to work together, the Kings would have the most dominant frontcourt in the league.
Can you imagine having two guys that are 6'11", 275 pounds in the paint? No, you can't. At least you wouldn't want to if you're anywhere other than Sacramento.
We seldom see a prospect that has the same combination of natural size and athleticism that Drummond has. He can block shots, rebound and throw the ball down with authority. His length and quickness allow him to defend almost anybody.
The only problem is that he doesn't have much of a jump shot or a low-post move. That could be a blessing in disguise, as it would ensure that Cousins gets most of the low-post touches to keep him happy.
If somebody can persuade Cousins to start playing defense, the Kings could lead the league in blocked shots and allow the least points in the paint of any team.
Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes at No. 7 Overall
If the basketball gods are kind enough to allow Barnes to fall to No. 7 to the Warriors, they need to draft him.
Barnes, a standout scorer at UNC, has the natural strength that few other prospects in the draft have. On top of that, he has a 6'11" wingspan that gives him the ability to rebound, shoot over tall defenders and play lockdown defense.
The Warriors had the 28th-worst defense in the league last year, so they can use whatever help they can get in terms of protecting the perimeter.
On the offensive end, he'd work well with Klay Thompson and Steph Curry. If Curry is able to stay on the court for an extended amount of time, the trio would be one of the most potent, young scorers in all the league.
They would have height, length, shooters, penetrators, rebounders and all the intangibles that the three would combine to provide.
What more does a team need?
