2012 NBA Mock Draft: Busts from Lottery to Late First Round
Busts aren’t always shocking.
While some prospects that scouts projected to be studs don’t pan out, many players that fail to make it in the league had bust written all over them. Here’s a 2012 first-round NBA mock draft highlighting the ballers that shouldn’t surprise you if they fall flat on their faces.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis (PF, Kentucky)
Davis is exactly what the doctor ordered to resurrect the fallen Hornets.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Bradley Beal (SG, Florida)
Michael Jordan isn’t walking away from the draft without a bona fide scoring threat, and Beal has the highest ceiling out of any pure shooter in the class.
3. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF, Kentucky)
After ridding themselves of JaVale McGee, Nick Young and hopefully in the near future Andray Blatche, MKG would have the Wizards well on their way to being a high-IQ basketball team.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes (SF, North Carolina)
With Antawn Jamison headed to free agency, Cleveland doesn’t have a capable scorer on their roster not named Kyrie Irving.
5. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson (PF, Kansas)
Sacramento is the most immature team in the league, but the hardworking Robinson would change that instantly.
6. Portland Trail Blazers: Andre Drummond (C, Connecticut)
Drummond is a 7’0”, 279-pound behemoth with a 33.5-inch vertical. As you’d expect, the man among boys imposed his will on all Big East opposition last season. Eh, not quite.
Despite his superior physical ability to everyone on the basketball court, he only averaged 10.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He isn’t assertive on the offensive end at all. His greatest weakness on that end is his pathetic free-throw shooting at 29.5 percent, which will allow teams to hack-a-Drummond all game long.
It would take a wise big-man coach to work the kinks out of the raw Drummond, and the Trail Blazers don’t have the greatest record with drafting centers.
7. Golden State Warriors: Meyers Leonard (C, Illinois)
Leonard’s stock has skyrocketed, and his athleticism would be a huge boost to an athletically-challenged frontcourt featuring David Lee and Andrew Bogut.
8. Toronto Raptors: Dion Waiters (SG, Syracuse)
Toronto needs a capable wing across from DeMar Derozan, because right now, they have nothing of the sort.
9. Detroit Pistons: John Henson (PF, North Carolina)
Henson would have the Pistons well on their way to becoming a defensive force again.
10. New Orleans Hornets: Damian Lillard (PG, Weber St.)
Pairing Lillard with Eric Gordon would give the Hornets a lethal scoring backcourt to pair with their defensive-minded big men in Davis and Emeka Okafor.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Jeremy Lamb (SG, Connecticut)
Jamal Crawford has an opt-out clause, and if the Trail Blazers fail to replace him, their perimeter scoring next season would be pitiful.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller (C, North Carolina)
Milwaukee needs a seven-footer to offset the 6’1” Brandon Jennings and the 6’3” Monta Ellis’ lack of size.
13. Phoenix Suns: Kendall Marshall (PG, North Carolina)
Unless the desert heat screws with the Phoenix front office’s heads, they won’t build around, but find a replacement for Steve Nash this summer.
14. Houston Rockets: Austin Rivers (SG, Duke)
Kevin Martin will become a free agent in 2013, and there’s no way that the Rockers re-sign the declining scorer.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Jones (PF, Kentucky)
With Andre Iguodala likely on his way out of town, Philly could use another player capable of playing point forward.
16. Houston Rockets: Moe Harkless (SF, St. John’s)
Houston has plenty of average small forwards in Chandler Parsons, Chase Budinger and Marcus Morris, but they don’t have one solid starter.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Perry Jones (PF, Baylor)
Perry Jones is an NBA 2K creation.
Jones is 6’11”, 234 pounds with a 7’2” wingspan and a 38.5-inch vertical. He finishes at the rim just as well as he drains three-point jumpers—and he does both extremely well, by the way.
Despite his video game-like combination of physical ability and talent, the only thing Jones dominated in college was the what-went-wrong-for-Baylor talk after losses.
He only averaged 13.5 points and 7.6 boards per game for the Bears. Like Drummond, he simply doesn’t have the mindset of an elite competitor. Jones has the ceiling to be the best player in the class, but more likely than not, he’ll end up being one of the biggest busts.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Terrence Ross (SG, Washington)
Minnesota is a capable 2-guard away from being a playoff contender.
19. Orlando Magic: Arnett Moultrie (PF, Mississippi St.)
Orlando needs size inside, because Dwight Howard is as good as gone, while Ryan Anderson (if he stays) and Big Baby couldn’t block a shot to save their lives.
20. Denver Nuggets: Tony Wroten Jr. (PG, Washington)
When a prospect is drawing comparisons to Gary Payton, you know that their ceiling is through the roof. Wroten is blessed with great size for a point guard at 6’6”. Naturally, he’s a phenomenal finisher at the rim.
Wroten also possesses tremendous floor vision and passing ability, but that’s what makes him such a confusing prospect. In college, he averaged more turnovers per game than assists.
Like Drummond and Jones, Wroten has the physical ability and skill set to be a stud in the NBA, but the mental aspect of the game can’t be understated. Unless the light bulb magically turns on inside Wroten’s head, his poor decision-making will cost him greatly at the next level.
21. Boston Celtics: Quincy Miller (SF, Baylor)
Quincy Miller would’ve been a top-10 pick in next year’s draft, so he’s worth the risk at this point in the first round.
22. Boston Celtics: Jared Sullinger (PF, Ohio St.)
Sullinger’s back issues will scare teams away, but the Celtics can’t pass on a chance to add a top-10 prospect this late.
23: Atlanta Hawks: Royce White (SF, Iowa St.)
The Marvin Williams-era is all but over in ATL and they must find his replacement, which shouldn’t be too difficult.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Fab Melo (C, Syracuse)
Anderson Varejao is playing out of position at the 5, so the Cavs must select a true center.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Andrew Nicholson (PF, St. Bonaventure)
Memphis needs depth everywhere, and their greatest weakness is down low behind Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol.
26. Indiana Pacers: Evan Fournier (SG, France)
Indiana’s bench came up short against the Heat, and Leandro Barbosa is a free agent.
27. Miami Heat: Will Barton (SG, Memphis)
Miami doesn’t have a perimeter player on their roster who is capable of creating their own shot outside of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Marquis Teague (PG, Kentucky)
Derek Fisher will likely retire this offseason, so OKC needs a new backup for Russell Westbrook.
29. Chicago Bulls: Jared Cunningham (SG, Oregon St.)
Chicago’s search for a backcourt partner for Derrick Rose still isn’t over, as Richard Hamilton was a disappointment last season.
30. Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green (SF, Michigan St.)
Green is the ultimate role player and would be welcomed on a team that needs an upgrade at the 3.
David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.
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