2012 NBA Mock Draft: Teams That Must Fill a Specific Role

Selecting the best player available isn’t always an option.

In the 2012 NBA Draft, most teams have multiple holes that they’ll attempt to fill and will have flexibility to take the top available prospect on their big board. A few franchises, though, don’t have that luxury. They have a glaring need that must be filled this summer or it’ll prove to be their Achilles heel next season.

Here is an updated first-round mock highlighting the squads that must go in a specific direction.

1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis (PF, Kentucky)

Davis is the only player with superstar potential in the entire class.

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Bradley Beal (SG, Florida)

Beal isn’t the best available player, but the Bobcats won’t select Kidd-Gilchrist because he isn’t a scorer.

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

Washington needs talent on the wing and a player dedicated to the defensive end of the floor—MKG fits the bill.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes (SF, North Carolina)

Barnes is the best perimeter scorer available and he’s best friends with Kyrie Irving.

5. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson (PF, Kansas)

Sacramento is filled with selfish players—Robinson would enhance the Kings’ chemistry.

6. Portland Trail Blazers: Andre Drummond (C, Connecticut)

Portland needs a big man to pair with LaMarcus Aldridge and Drummond has the second highest ceiling in the draft next to Davis.

7. Golden State Warriors: Meyers Leonard (C, Illinois)

Leonard would inject much needed athleticism into a frontcourt featuring the immobile David Lee and Andrew Bogut.

8. Toronto Raptors: Dion Waiters (SG, Syracuse)

Toronto has absolutely nothing on the wing opposite DeMar Derozan.

9. Detroit Pistons: Terrence Jones (PF, Kentucky)

Greg Monroe needs a partner in crime down low and Jason Maxiell isn’t it.

10. New Orleans Hornets: Damian Lillard (PG, Weber St.)

Lillard would fill the Hornets’ two greatest needs for a point guard and a scoring boost.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Jeremy Lamb (SG, Connecticut)

If Jamal Crawford opts out, Portland will desperately need perimeter scoring.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller (C, North Carolina)

Milwaukee is a borderline playoff team. What’s holding them back is their size.  They can’t start a 6’1”, 169-pound Brandon Jennings alongside a 6’3”, 185-pound Monta Ellis without a true starting center on their roster and expect to compete with the Eastern Conference’s best.

Zeller isn’t exactly a physical force in the paint, but at 7’0”, he has the length that the Bucks desperately need. He’s also an impressive athlete for a player his size so he’d fit in with the squad’s up-tempo pace. If Zeller or Leonard doesn’t drop to No. 12, they’re best bet would be to trade back for Fab Melo.

13. Phoenix Suns: Kendall Marshall (PG, North Carolina)

Unless the Suns are in denial, they’ll select Marshall to replace Steve Nash.

14. Houston Rockets: Austin Rivers (SG, Duke)

Kevin Martin is aging, declining and becomes a free agent next offseason, so the Rockets need a successor.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: John Henson (PF, North Carolina)

Elton Brand is 33 years old and Henson boasts the athleticism that the 76ers love.

16. Houston Rockets: Moe Harkless (SF, St. John’s)

Chase Budinger and Chandler Parsons are nothing but average talents while Marcus Morris showed nothing last year.

17. Dallas Mavericks: Perry Jones (PF, Baylor)

Mark Cuban isn’t passing on a player with as high of a ceiling as Jones even if he has bust written all over him.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Terrence Ross (SG, Washington)

Wesley Johnson is a phenomenal defender, but playing out of position at the two, he’s a major liability on the offensive end. Minnesota has nothing at shooting guard and is a legitimate perimeter scorer away from being a playoff contender. If they land Ross, they should throw a party.

Unfortunately for the T-Wolves, though, there’s no guarantee that he’ll still be on the board when they’re on the clock. Minnesota is a major candidate to trade up for Ross or even Austin Rivers. If they stay at No. 18 and there isn’t a worthy two-guard available, they should just trade back for Will Barton, John Jenkins or Doron Lamb.

19. Orlando Magic: Arnett Moultrie (PF, Mississippi St.)

Orlando must replace Dwight Howard with the best near-seven footer on the board.

20. Denver Nuggets: Tony Wroten Jr. (PG, Washington)

Andre Miller is a free agent and if he isn’t replaced, Denver will take a step back offensively.

21. Boston Celtics: Quincy Miller (SF, Baylor)

Miller’s potential is through the roof and Paul Pierce’s hourglass doesn’t have much sand left.

22. Boston Celtics: Jared Sullinger (PF, Ohio St.)

Chad Ford of ESPN reported that Sullinger has been medically red flagged with back issues, but the Celtics are too smart not to roll the dice on him.

 23: Atlanta Hawks: Royce White (SF, Iowa St.)

White would fill a need at small forward and add much-needed grit to the Hawks.

 24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Fab Melo (C, Syracuse)

Like the Bucks, Cleveland has no capable starting center on their roster. Anderson Varejao is a talented player, but he’s out of position at the five. Throw in the fact that length isn’t exactly Tristan Thompson’s strength and the Cavs must walk away from the draft with a seven-footer.

Melo is an ideal selection and would give them a major defensive boost. But if the Celtics or Hawks snag him before No. 24, Cleveland must trade back for Festus Ezeli. Trading up is also an option because they have two early second-round picks.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Andrew Nicholson (PF, St. Bonaventure)

Memphis’ depth behind Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol is pitiful.

26. Indiana Pacers: Evan Fournier (SG, France)

Indiana either needs to shakeup their starting lineup or upgrade their bench—Fournier would help accomplish the latter.

27. Miami Heat: Will Barton (SG, Memphis)

Miami’s greatest need is for a wing scorer on their second unit because they have nothing but immobile spot-up shooters.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Marquis Teague (PG, Kentucky)

OKC’s greatest need is for a backup to Russell Westbrook, because Derek Fisher is nearly fossilized.

29. Chicago Bulls: Jared Cunningham (SG, Oregon St.)

A committee of Richard Hamilton, Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver isn’t the answer at shooting guard for the Bulls.

30. Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green (SF, Michigan St.)

Golden State’s lone weakness in their starting lineup is at the small forward position.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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