2012 NBA Mock Draft: Teams That Must Plan for the Future
Every team in the NBA wishes that they could be in the same position as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat right now, but the truth is that only two teams can make it to the end every season.
Many teams will have aspirations of doing it next year, however, others are going to have much more realistic expectations.
Most teams realize that they are still quite some distance away from being true contenders. That doesn't mean that they shouldn't try to win over the short term, but building for the future has to be the main priority. That may mean living through some difficult years in the meantime, but it will ultimately be well worth it.
Along with a full, first-round mock draft, here is some further analysis on which teams should use this year's draft to position themselves for future success.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, F (Kentucky)
Fixed or not, the Hornets had the good fortune of landing the top pick in the draft lottery and there is no chance that they pass up on an elite talent like Davis.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas Robinson, F (Kansas)
Even if they didn't technically have the worst record in NBA history, it wouldn't be a stretch to call the 2011-'12 Charlotte Bobcats the worst team ever. They did the best they could every night, but their roster was totally devoid of talent.
Kemba Walker, D.J. Augustin and Corey Maggette were counted upon to be their stars, but none of them should have been put in that position.
No team could have used the No. 1 overall pick more than the Bobcats, but unfortunately for them they were bumped to No. 2. Charlotte may not get an instant game-changer like Davis, but there is plenty of other talent in the class as well.
The Bobcats' main target ought to be Kansas forward Thomas Robinson. He isn't as dominant of a player as Davis, but he is very versatile and should develop a solid game on both ends of the floor.
Not only may Robinson be the Bobcats' top player right away, but he will be a key figure in their rebuild. Nobody expects the Bobcats to be good next season—in fact, winning 20 games would probably be considered a minor victory for them.
Charlotte may not see the true benefit of this pick for several years, but Robinson is the type of player that can contribute for a winning team down the line.
3. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, F (Kentucky)
The Wizards have some interesting choices at this juncture, but with John Wall dominating the backcourt, it would make sense for them to get a do-everything forward such as Kidd-Gilchrist.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, G (Florida)
After losing LeBron James to the Miami Heat in free agency, it looked like it might take the Cleveland Cavaliers a decade to get back to the upper echelon of the league.
Returning to that point won't be easy, but after hitting big on No. 1 overall pick Kyrie Irving last draft, the Cavs are in a pretty good spot. Cleveland won't be competing for a title this year, but with another good first rounder this year, it will be eventually.
The Cavaliers have an opportunity to feature one of the most exciting, young backcourts in basketball if they choose to select Florida shooting guard Bradley Beal with the No. 4 pick.
Irving should nail down the Cavs' starting point guard spot for the next decade or more, but he can't do it on his own. With an explosive running mate like Beal next to him, though, Irving can become a legitimate star in the league.
Beal has the ability to slash to the rim as well as shoot from the perimeter, so he would be the perfect complement to Irving's skills. Beal doesn't strike me as a guy who will step into the NBA right away and dominate, but with some grooming, he clearly has the potential to become a high-volume scorer.
Five years from now the combination of Irving and Beal could be dominating.
5. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, C (Connecticut)
The Kings seem like a team that should be closer to a playoff spot than they have been, but if Drummond develops next to DeMarcus Cousins, then they will be in business.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey): Kendall Marshall, G (North Carolina)
Most mocks have Marshall being taken at the tail end of the lottery, but the Blazers are desperate for a true point guard and will ensure that they get the best one in the draft.
7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes, F (North Carolina)
Barnes is a player who could either become an All-Star scorer or a total bust at the next level depending on how much his game matures, but the Warriors will be willing to take that chance.
8. Toronto Raptors: Jeremy Lamb, G (Connecticut)
Lamb has some deficiencies in his game, but he is one of the purest jump shooters in the draft and would be a fantastic complement to Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan.
9. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones III, F (Baylor)
The Pistons certainly have some promising young talent that has to gel together, and while Jones is a risky pick, he could become similar to LaMarcus Aldridge if he puts in the work and effort.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via MIN): Damian Lillard, G (Weber State)
After taking Anthony Davis first overall, the Hornets will have yet another chance to build for the future at No. 10.
New Orleans already has a promising player in shooting guard Eric Gordon to build around, but he needs some talented players to complement him. Adding Davis is obviously one way to do that, but it's going to take more than that for the Hornets to become contenders again.
New Orleans have a severe need at point guard after trading Chris Paul this past offseason, and while there isn't a great pass-first point guard on the board, Weber State star Damian Lillard would be a fantastic fit.
He is a point guard that looks to attack the basket, but also has the ability to shoot from long range or to dish the ball off. With Davis dominating down low, Lillard would be the perfect pick.
It's going to take some time to get acclimated to the NBA's high level of competition since Lillard is used to dominating inferior athletes in college, but if he meshes well with the likes of Davis and Gordon, then the Hornets will be a very dangerous team in a few years.
I expect them to make strides next season, but the true impact of the class won't be felt for a couple seasons down the line.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Jared Sullinger, F/C (Ohio State)
The Blazers need somebody who can play next to LaMarcus Aldridge, and Sullinger has the wide frame that will allow him to excel at the center position.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: Meyers Leonard, C (Illinois)
There is no doubt that Leonard is a work in progress, but at 7'0", the Bucks will most likely roll the dice on him in hopes that he can replace Andrew Bogut.
13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, G (Duke)
The Suns seem unlikely to retain point guard Steve Nash, and while Rivers isn't a pure point, he has the ball-handling skills to take on some of that burden.
14. Houston Rockets: Tyler Zeller, F/C (North Carolina)
Houston has been on the hunt for a center since Yao's retirement, and while Zeller needs to bulk up a bit, he should be an asset on the offensive end.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: John Henson, F (North Carolina)
The Sixers can't continue to improve with the aging and declining Elton Brand playing a significant role, so it's time to get a young and athletic big like Henson in the fold.
16. Houston Rockets (via New York): Terrence Jones, F (Kentucky)
The Rockets have pretty good depth throughout their roster, but it never hurts to add a versatile forward like Jones who can hit the boards and score the basketball down low.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Arnett Moultrie, F (Mississippi State)
Dallas is an aging squad that could really use some youthful exuberance, and Moultrie would bring precisely that next to Dirk Nowitzki in the frontcourt.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah): Terrence Ross, G (Washington)
The Timberwolves have one of the fastest-rising stars in the NBA in the form of forward Kevin Love, but they need some outside support in the form of Ross at shooting guard.
19. Orlando Magic: Doron Lamb, G (Kentucky)
Orlando is probably going to do everything it can to convince star center Dwight Howard to sign a long-term deal, and drafting a sharpshooter like Lamb could help.
20. Denver Nuggets: Dion Waiters, G (Syracuse)
There isn't really much that the Nuggets need—as they are fairly stacked at every position—but Waiters can give Denver's guards some support with his ability to run the point and play shooting guard as well.
21. Boston Celtics: Moe Harkless, F (St. John’s)
With the Big Three era potentially done in Boston, it is time to start loading up on young wing players, and Harkless is a guy with star potential if he develops correctly.
22. Boston Celtics (via L.A. Clippers): Fab Melo, C (Syracuse)
The Celtics have been a different team since trading Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but perhaps Fab Melo can bring something similar to the table defensively.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Royce White, F (Iowa State)
There aren't many players in the league like Josh Smith, so White won't be able to replace him if he leaves Atlanta, but he does have some similar attributes.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via L.A. Lakers): Andrew Nicholson, F (St. Bonaventure)
After solidifying the backcourt by taking Beal, the Cavaliers would be smart to take Nicholson as he can score in the paint, step out and shoot and rebound.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten, G (Washington)
The Grizzlies are a solid team, but they lack explosion, so taking Wroten and teaming him with Mike Conley and Rudy Gay in the backcourt would be the best course of action.
26. Indiana Pacers: Festus Ezeli, C (Vanderbilt)
Indiana is very close to being a team that can compete for a title, but one thing it must do is get some support for Roy Hibbert in the form of Ezeli.
27. Miami Heat: Draymond Green, F (Michigan State)
The Heat could use a quality big man, but with none worth taking at this spot, Green makes sense due to his rare passing ability as a forward.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Jones, F (West Virginia)
Oklahoma City really doesn't need much, but since most of their forwards are defensive minded, it wouldn't hurt to take an offensively gifted guy like Jones.
29. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins, G (Vanderbilt)
When Derrick Rose returns to action he would love to have a reliable shooting guard next to him who can knock down open shots, and Jenkins definitely fits the bill.
30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio): Marquis Teague, G (Kentucky)
Point guard isn't a huge need for the Warriors, but if they take Teague, it will allow them to play Stephen Curry at 2-guard a bit to take some of the burden off him.
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