2012 NBA Mock Draft: First-Round Picks Capable of Winning ROY Award
When teams are drafting prospects in the NBA draft, they are all hoping to get a productive player who can start contributing in his first season.
Sometimes, a player is so transcendent and does so well that he is given the prestigious Rookie of the Year award, which generally means the franchise has struck gold on their pick.
Stars like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Chris Paul and Derrick Rose have all earned the honor in recent years, although there have also been a few questionable players—like Tyreke Evans and Emeka Okafo—to get the nod.
Regardless of those few exceptions, the ROY award usually signifies a solid career. Let’s take a look at which prospects have a chance to earn it in 2012-13.
1. New Orleans Hornets (21-45): Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
Davis has a solid shot at winning the ROY. He’s going to be on the court a lot and has NBA-ready defense. His athleticism and basketball know-how should allow him to get plenty of easy buckets as well. It’s unlikely he scores enough as some of these other guys to actually win it, as defense seems to be undervalued in voting.
2. Charlotte Bobcats (7-59): Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
Beal’s got a real chance to win the award, especially if he lands on the scoring-starved Bobcats. He can make any shot on the court and knows how to get to the basket using his big frame.
If he earns the starting job on whichever team drafts him, Beal is likely to be a big producer and should get heavy consideration.
3. Washington Wizards (20-46): Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
MKG is a hustle player who loves to play defense, grab rebounds and finish around the rim. He’s not going to be an offensive force, but he’ll certainly make an impact on his team’s ability to score. The Kentucky product will have a nice rookie season, but he’s not going to challenge for the award.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (21-45): Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
Barnes should be considered 1b to Beal’s 1a in favorites for the ROY award. This kid can simply put the ball in the basket. He’s going to land with a team that direly needs him to do such and should have quite a good stat line in his first year.
5. Sacramento Kings (22-44): Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
Robinson is a hard-working big who is one of the more NBA-ready prospects due to his three years of collegiate ball. He’s got a nice jumper, the ability to play great defense and he honestly cares about winning. He’s a dark horse in the ROY race.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via 22-44 New Jersey Nets): Andre Drummond, C, UConn
Drummond is a project who is going to take some time. His body is good enough for the pros, but his skills aren’t there yet. If he’s going to become a productive player, it will take some time in practice to get there.
7. Golden State Warriors (23-43): Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor
PJIII is a super skilled prospect who doesn’t have much of a motor. If he is able to get his head into the game and find a will to dominate, he could be the best player in this class. Unfortunately, he didn’t show it during his two years of college and may never get there.
8. Toronto Raptors (23-43): Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
Rivers definitely has the confidence to be an elite shooting guard. He’s got the range, ball handling and penetration skills to get some minutes right away, but he’s got to get better at moving without the ball and coming off screens. He’s a nice pick for the offensively inept Raptors.
9. Detroit Pistons (25-41): Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
Sullinger is a long shot to win the ROY award. He’s got some NBA-ready post moves and knows how to score. He may just not be athletic enough to consistently get in position and finish. Time will tell.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via 26-40 Minnesota Timberwolves): Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
Marshall is a solid PG with great size and the best passing ability in the class. He’s not much of a scorer or athlete, but he’s got promise as a facilitator and will make an offense run smoothly.
11. Portland Trail Blazers (28-38): Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky
Jones is a prospect who could go earlier or much later, depending on how he interviews and works out in the time remaining until the draft. He’s a tweener who has undeniable skill, but he has to work on being more consistent.
12. Milwaukee Bucks (31-35): Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
Zeller is a low-upside big who will immediately fill in on the Bucks' extremely thin frontline. He’s going to be useful for defense, fouls and occasional scoring because of his ability to run the court.
13. Phoenix Suns (33-33): Damian Lillard, G, Weber State
Lillard is having amazing combines and workouts, but that just proves what we knew: He’s a good scorer.
He’s going to have to prove he can facilitate if he ever wants to start in the NBA at PG. He’s too small to play the 2 and will likely be an energy combo guard off the bench if he can’t see the court properly.
14. Houston Rockets (34-32): Terrence Ross, G, Washington
Ross is a solid 2 who can do all the little things required from the position. He’s not going to be a star, but he should be a solid starter eventually.
15. Philadelphia 76ers (35-31): John Henson, PF, North Carolina
Henson is a long, athletic PF who will immediately take some of Elton Brand’s minutes and eventually take over the starting job due to his defensive prowess and solid offense.
16. Houston Rockets (via 36-20 New York Knicks): Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Leonard is a few years away from being ready for the NBA game. He’s got the size, which is something that cannot be taught, but he has to hone his raw ability.
17. Dallas Mavericks (36-30): Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor
Miller was bothered by a high school ACL injury last season at Baylor, which saw him settling for too many jumpers. If he’s healthy and shows confidence when going to the hoop in workouts, he’ll go earlier.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via 36-30 Utah Jazz): Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn
There have been some whispers that Lamb has a lottery promise, but it just doesn’t make any sense. He’s inconsistent and hesitant to display his incredible talents—attributes you do not want in a lottery prospect. He fits perfectly with Minnesota at this pick.
19. Orlando Magic (37-29): Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
Waiters is another 2 who could go much earlier, but he honestly doesn’t deserve to. He’s got a solid ability to slash, a decent mid-range game and some ball-handling abilities, but he has a lot to work on.
20. Denver Nuggets (38-28): Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's
Harkless is an extremely athletic young man who has a lot of raw potential. His ceiling is high, but he’ll have to develop a jumper to reach it.
21. Boston Celtics (39-27): Royce White, PF, Iowa State
White’s anxiety disorder has been holding him back throughout his college career. If he can prove he can conquer it, he’s an absolute steal for whichever team gets the Cyclone star in the mid-to-late first round.
22. Boston Celtics (via 40-26 Los Angeles Clippers): Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
Nicholson dragged the Bonnies to the 2012 NCAA tournament and proved he’s a worthy draftee. He’s got the height, defense and mid-range game to go in the early 20s.
23. Atlanta Hawks (40-26): Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
Moultrie is a super athletic forward who can rebound and finish with the best of them. If the Hawks draft him, he makes Josh Smith more expendable, and the team can finally move the disgruntled star.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via 41-25 Los Angeles Lakers): Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
Lamb is another player who proved his mettle in the NCAA tournament. He hit all the big shots and put up big numbers. He’s definitely a value at No. 24 to a team that direly needs a 2.
25. Memphis Grizzlies (41-25): Tony Wroten, PG/SG, Washington
Wroten’s vision is phenomenal, and his passing is crisp for someone who is a legit 6’5”. He’s got to work on his atrocious jumper and leadership skills if he wants to make an impression in the league.
26. Indiana Pacers (42-24): Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky
Teague is a super athletic player who projects as a backup PG who can play big minutes with a second unit that is deep. That makes him a perfect fit in the Hoosier state.
27. Miami Heat (46-20): Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
Melo didn’t do his stock any favors by getting suspended for the NCAA tourney, but the Heat have to be rejoicing. They might get a shot at a high-upside big man who would be better than anyone they are currently developing.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder (47-19): Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State
Green hustles, plays defense, hits threes, rebounds and does all the little things required to win. That is a steal for a team like OKC late in the draft.
29. Chicago Bulls (50-16): John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
Jenkins can stroke the deep ball, and that is exactly what the Bulls need. Rip Hamilton is old and constantly injured, so someone like Jenkins is a nice fit.
30. Golden State Warriors (via 50-16 San Antonio Spurs): Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
Taylor is one of the better athletes in the draft, and he has a solid jumper as well. The Warriors cannot ask for more at No. 30.
