NBA Draft 2012: Predicting How the Top 10 Picks Will Play Out

With the NBA draft just over a week away and numerous individual workouts already having taken place, it is starting to become clearer how the top 10 picks will play out on draft night. 

Last week, I posted my first mock draft on who I felt was the best fit for each team's first-round selection. The first 10 picks played out like this:

1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis (Kentucky)

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Harrison Barnes (UNC)

3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal (Florida)

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky)

5. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson (Kansas)

6. Portland Trail Blazers: Andre Drummond (Connecticut)

7. Golden State Warriors: Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)

8. Toronto Raptors: Dion Waiters (Syracuse)

9. Detroit Pistons: John Henson (UNC)

10. New Orleans Hornets: Damian Lillard (Weber State)

This week, I will discuss who I now feel will be drafted in the top 10 based off of the latest rumors swirling around the NBA. 

1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis (Kentucky)

2011-2012 Statistics: 14.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 4.6 BPG

The Hornets aren't discussing or even thinking about this No. 1 pick, so neither will I. 

Anthony Davis is a no-brainer selection. 

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas Robinson (Kansas)

2011-2012 Statistics: 17.9 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 1.9 BPG

Unlike popular opinion, it appears Charlotte Bobcats GM Michael Jordan isn't even considering Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the No. 2 overall pick. 

According to numerous NBA execs, Jordan has narrowed his choices down to Thomas Robinson, Harrison Barnes and Brad Beal.

I believe the decision will end up coming down to Robinson or Barnes, with Robinson being the selection in the end. He is such a great low-post scorer and is ferocious when going after rebounds. The Bobcats can't go wrong adding Robinson, who should be able to step in and start right away. 

There is also a dark-horse chance that the Bobcats trade this pick for a young star, like the Thunder's James Harden, but it appears their asking price is just way too high for any team to pull the trigger. 

3. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky)

2011-2012 Statistics: 11.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.0 APG

The Washington Wizards have worked out a couple of projected top-five picks so far, like Thomas Robinson and Brad Beal, but Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is the only player who has gotten his own individual workout with the Wizards. 

The fact that he is the only player who has gotten his own workout for Coach Randy Wittman and team president Ernie Grunfeld leads me to believe he is the player the Wizards have at the top of their list. 

Kidd-Gilchrist spoke with the Washington Post after his workout and had this to say about his hour-and-a-half session: “A lot of shooting. I did good for the most part, I think. I was real comfortable with myself.”

It is easy to see Kidd-Gilchrist will be a stud defender from day one in the NBA, but it is still unsure whether or not his offense will be able to match his defense. 

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Brad Beal (Florida)

2011-2012 Statistics: 14.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.2 APG

NBA scouts and executives have fallen in love with Brad Beal's dynamic scoring ability and great rebounding for a guard.  

Teams are supposedly trying to trade up into the top four picks to select Beal, since he has already worked out for all of the top four teams in the draft and is now done with individual workouts, as he is confident No. 4 is the farthest he could fall.  

Beal worked out in Cleveland with Harrison Barnes on Sunday. It was reported Beal was extremely impressive during this workout and had absolutely no trouble with the length advantage Barnes had over him.  

A backcourt of Kyrie Irving and Brad Beal could be deadly for opposing teams to defend for years to come. 

5. Sacramento Kings: Harrison Barnes (UNC)

2011-2012 Statistics: 17.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.0 APG

The Sacramento Kings are desperate to get some scoring from the small forward position, and Harrison Barnes is by far the best scorer from that position in this draft.

This seems like a match made in heaven.

The only reason to be skeptical of this selection is because Barnes has yet to workout with Sacramento, but I'm sure he will before the draft comes next week. 

Other players the Kings are rumored to like are Damian Lillard and Terrence Jones, but both would be a reach at the No. 5 pick. 

Also, this doesn't appear likely either, but it is still believed the Kings are willing to move out of the No. 5 spot if the right trade is offered to them.  

6. Portland Trail Blazers: Andre Drummond (Connecticut)

2011-2012 Statistics: 10.2 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.7 BPG

The Portland Trail Blazers are very fortunate to own the No. 6 and No. 11 picks in this very deep draft.

With rumors swirling that the Blazers have promised Syracuse guard Dion Waiters that they will select him with the No. 11 pick, I believe they will go after a big man to pair with LaMarcus Aldridge at No. 6. 

Andre Drummond easily has the most upside out of any player left in this draft, and he also happens to be 6'11".

There is also a ton of risk in selecting Drummond that high though, which may scare a few teams off and prevent him from becoming a top-five pick.  

Drummond's potential should outweigh the risk though for the Trail Blazers, who will envision one of the best frontcourts in the NBA with Drummond and Aldridge. 

7. Golden State Warriors: Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)

2011-2012 Statistics: 17.6 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.2 APG

The Golden State Warriors own four picks in this draft and appear adamant on moving at least one, maybe even two of them. It most likely won't be this No. 7 selection though, unless they can somehow move up into the top five. 

This pick still appears to be wide open, with the Warriors working out a number of players at all different positions. These workouts have included point guard Damian Lillard and forwards Terrence Jones, Perry Jones III, Jared Sullinger and John Henson.

Sullinger should be the pick in the end, even though there have been red flags raised about his health this past week. His agent has come out explained why this shouldn't be an issue though, and that he will be healthy for the next 15 years with no concern.

With injury-prone Andrew Bogut joining the Warriors next season, they will definitely need another big man on the roster just in case he goes down once again. 

8. Toronto Raptors: Damian Lillard (Weber State)

2011-2012 Statistics: 24.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.0 APG

The Toronto Raptors are another team who still appear to be debating a lot of different options with their pick.  

ESPN NBA analyst Chad Ford has weighed in greatly on what he believes the Raptors are thinking and what they will do on draft day. 

He believes the Raptors are seriously trying to move their pick for a veteran player and even went as far as giving a possible trade—Luol Deng and No. 29 for Jose Calderon and No. 8. If the Raptors don't make a trade, he believes they are considering Dion Waiters, Damian Lillard and Jeremy Lamb.  

If they do keep the pick, Damian Lillard should be the Raptors' selection. They do already have a solid point guard in Calderon, but he is now 30 years old and entering the final year of his contract. Lillard proved in college he can be a dominant scorer, so maybe he can learn how to become a much better distributor playing behind Calderon for a season. 

Lillard and DeMar DeRozan complement each other perfectly and could become a formidable backcourt duo in the near future.  

9. Detroit Pistons: Arnett Moultrie (Mississippi State)

2011-2012 Statistics: 15.8 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.1 APG

This was by far the most surprising rumor I came across while doing research for this article. 

It appears all indications are that the Detroit Pistons will select Arnett Moultrie with the No. 9 pick in this draft, even though most people don't feel he is top-10 worthy. 

The Pistons have reportedly (h/t David Mayo, MLive.com) worked out 15 players so far. Out of the 15, Moultrie is the only one who is projected to be a first-round pick. To further fuel this rumor, Moultrie declined to take part in numerous drills at the NBA combine.

Moultrie admitted the Pistons have been in contact with his agent numerous times and had this to say about the Pistons and the possibility of him playing there:

"

Detroit is a perfect fit. I know that they need a big. They're looking for an athletic big to play above the rim, to play alongside Greg Monroe. He's more of a skilled four and I bring my energy when I'm on the floor, blocking shots and rebounding the basketball. I'd fit in very really well, just come in as a role player, because he's already established himself with that team. They have a lot of good guards that can score the ball, so I wouldn't come in and worry about scoring. I'd come in as a role player and do all the dirty work.

"

10. New Orleans Hornets: Meyers Leonard (Illinois)

2011-2012 Statistics: 13.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.9 BPG

As I stated before, the New Orleans Hornets are looking past the No. 1 pick and are solely focused on the No. 10 pick.

Even though they will certainly bring in a big man in Anthony Davis, coach Monty Williams feels another big man will probably be the selection at No. 10, as he said (via John Reid, The Times-Picayune):

"

There is more bigs, in my opinion, that fit what we’re looking for. With the number of guards available, most of them are going to go a lot of higher than our 10th pick, so that may have something to do with it.’

"

Meyers Leonard is still a project, but he would be the best complement to Davis left in this draft. Since the Hornets probably don't expect to contend for the title for at least another few seasons, taking Leonard, who is 7'1" and impressed many people at the NBA Draft Combine, would give the Hornets potential for a fantastic frontcourt in the future.