NBA Draft 2012: Making the Case for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist over Bradley Beal

The decision to pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Bradley Beal isn't quite as hard as Greg Oden over Kevin Durant, but it's a tough one nonetheless.

Kidd-Gilchrist, Beal and Thomas Robinson have been interchangeable at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 on most draft boards, with Robinson picking up more steam lately.

We'll disregard Robinson for the time being and focus on making the case for Kidd-Gilchrist over Beal.

Kidd-Gilchrist, the former John Calipari protege, has been touted for his winning attitude and work ethic wherever he goes. From his time in AAU with Team Final to his time in high school at St. Patrick's in New Jersey to his championship season with the Kentucky Wildcats.

We know that he isn't the polished offensive talent that most teams would hope to get out of a lottery pick in the NBA draft, but he makes up for his offensive deficiencies in a variety of ways.

MKG is the best-built small forward prospect in this draft. He measured 6'7.5" tall, 232 pounds at the NBA combine. That's the perfect size for an NBA small forward.

Beal, on the other hand, measured at 6'4.75" tall. That's a bit small for a shooting guard in the NBA. He won't be able to get his shot off over taller defenders, and his 8'3" reach isn't going to help him do that either.

The former Florida star is a decent defender, but his defensive tenacity pales in comparison to Kidd-Gilchrist's ability. MKG has a seven-foot wingspan and an 8'8.5" standing reach. That length will allow him to guard taller, slower opponents. His quickness gives him the ability to shut down shorter, quicker guards.

Beal's defensive versatility is nowhere near that of Kidd-Gilchrist. He's undersized for a two-guard and would likely have a hard time guarding guys that are the slightest bit taller than him because of his lack of length.

Supposedly, Beal is projected to be a bona fide star shooter. His numbers at Florida tell a different story, though. He's been heralded as the next Ray Allen, but shot just 34 percent from behind the arc in his one college season. 

I call this next point the Carlos Beltran effect—when a player has a ridiculous postseason and scores a huge free-agent contract because of it. Beal's situation isn't quite the same, but he was essentially playing for a contract when he lit it up in March. Clutch performances turn teams on to guys, but the majority of games are played in non-clutch situations.

What happens if Beal isn't the shooter that everybody thinks he is? He turns into a guy like J.R. Smith, with the hottest hots and even colder (and more frequent) colds.

More than Beal, Kidd-Gilchrist is the perfect guy for a team in the midst of a rebuilding period. His work ethic, attitude and devotion to the game would be infectious for any young team going through a tough stretch of basketball.

He's a special talent and has succeeded at all levels. Whichever teams choose to pass up on him will regret the decision in the future.