2012 NBA Mock Draft: How Bradley Beal at No. 2 Shakes Things Up

The Charlotte Bobcats have been on the clock ever since the New Orleans Hornets were awarded the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft. There are many avenues for the Bobcats to explore as to who they should draft, but Florida Gator Bradley Beal could very well be the best choice.

Kentucky Wildcat Anthony Davis seems to be the consensus No. 1 overall pick. While several players have the talent to go No. 2, there is no player in particular that sticks out above the rest.

Most mock drafts have Beal going within the top-five, and many even have him going within the top-three.

At No. 2, he'd really shake things up for the rest of the first round.

1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis

Like I said before, Davis will likely hear his name called first on draft day.

In a draft that lacks an abundance of players with superstar potential, the New Orleans Hornets would not be wise to pass up on one of the few guys that does.

After the selection of Davis, the rest of the draft has the potential to get really interesting.

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Bradley Beal

The Charlotte Bobcats have so many needs, after winning just seven games last season, that it's really hard to pick out a singular area that requires the most help.

With the top forward off of the board after the selection of Davis, the Bobcats would be wise to select the draft's top guard.

Bradley Beal is an explosive scorer and is one of those select few players that has the potential to develop into a superstar.

3. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

The Washington Wizards are another team with a lot of needs. The best choice for them at No. 3 with Beal off the board would undoubtedly be Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Kidd-Gilchrist has the build to be an effective NBA small forward, and his athleticism is matched by few in this year's draft.

He's a great playmaker, defender and rebounder, and he would be a welcome addition to a Wizards team that lacks any sort of firepower outside of John Wall.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes

The Cleveland Cavaliers struck gold with Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson last season, and there's a great chance that they will have the opportunity to add another young talent to the mix next season.

Harrison Barnes, a small forward from the University of North Carolina, is a player that can take over games if he gets hot. He has the ability to hit shots from all over the court and could really expand the floor for the Cavaliers.

He scored 17.1 points during his sophomore season at UNC, and he may even match that total in his first season in the NBA if he gets ample playing time.

5. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson

Thomas Robinson profiles as your prototypical power forward in the NBA, and the Sacramento Kings would be wise to draft him at No. 5.

Jason Thompson, Chuck Hayes and Donte Green played more like power-less forwards last season, and there's no doubt that Robinson would be an immediate upgrade.

While he has some work to do with his under the basket moves and rebounding, he clearly has the potential to shine in the NBA.

6. Portland Trail Blazers: Andre Drummond

Andre Drummond is the best big man in the draft, and the Portland Trail Blazers would be foolish to pass up on the seven-footer out of the University of Connecticut.

He already has all the tools to become the next Dwight Howard. He is athletic, he can rebound and he has a variety of low post moves at his disposal.

His NBA-ready build and skill set would likely even give him the ability to start right away over the likes of Joel Przybilla.

7. Golden State Warriors: Jeremy Lamb

Jeremy Lamb is one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft. His athleticism, defensive presence and offensive awareness should make him an easy choice for the Golden State Warriors at No. 7.

He scored 17.7 points per game as a sophomore at the University of Connecticut, and his scoring ability should translate well into the NBA.

The Warriors have Klay Thompson at shooting guard right now, but Lamb would be a nice option off the bench until he earns his way into the starting lineup.

8. Toronto Raptors; Kendall Marshall

Kendall Marshall is your typical pass-first point guard, and he could learn a lot from Jose Calderon if the Toronto Raptors take him at No. 8.

While he is not the scoring threat that the previously selected guards are, Marshall has innate court vision and a knack for finding his teammates.

He racks up assists like it's nobody's business and could be a great building block for a struggling Raptors franchise.

He may not be the most athletic guy in the world, but he sure knows how to distribute the basketball.

9. Detroit Pistons: Meyers Leonard

Meyers Leonard may still be learning the ins and outs of basketball, but he has the sheer size and strength necessary to be a successful center in the NBA.

Greg Monroe was great last season in Detroit, but the Pistons haven't had a dominating presence in the paint since Ben Wallace was in his heyday.

Leonard has the potential to be that kind of guy a few years down the line, and the Pistons would benefit from him learning from Wallace while he's still on the roster.

10. New Orleans Hornets: Damian Lillard

The Hornets drafted Chris Paul when he was the best point guard available in the 2005 NBA draft, so it would make sense that they target one of the best point guards in the 2012 draft to replace him.

That guy is Damian Lillard.

He was the leader at Weber State last season, scoring a ridiculous 24.5 points per game—the best mark in Weber State history.

Jarret Jack played very well last season, but he may be just keeping the seat warm for Lillard until he's ready to be a NBA regular.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Austin Rivers

Austin Rivers knows how to score, and that's something that the Trail Blazers struggled with last season.

Portland greatly underachieved, and you can bet that they'll be looking to make a statement with their second pick of the first round.

Wesley Matthews is not the long-term answer at shooting guard. Rivers has the potential to be that guy.

He's still very young, so it will likely take him a season or two to adjust to the NBA game. When he's ready, he could turn into one of the game's premier scorers.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Perry Jones III

Baylor's Perry Jones III is one of the most unique players in this draft.

He is a big power forward with skills under the basket, but handles the ball like a guard and is capable of running the floor in transition.

Ersan Ilyasova performed well last season, but Jones' skill set should make him the early favorite to start at the four for the Milwaukee Bucks next season.

The Bucks have a great combination of guards, and Jones could be the first step in rebuilding the team's depth at forward.

13. Phoenix Suns: Dion Waiters

Dion Waiters is a unique combo guard in that he can be a dynamic scorer but is a bit undersized to be a shooting guard.

Waiters attacks the basket with regularity and is capable of dishing out to his teammates if he gets into trouble in the paint.

Shannon Brown and Michael Redd performed pretty well last season, but Waiters would likely be an upgrade.

It will take him some time to adjust to being a shooting guard playing against bigger defenders in the NBA, but there's a possibility that we could see him starting by midseason.

14. Houston Rockets: John Henson

While John Henson may need some time to fill into his lanky frame, there's no doubting his defensive skills.

Henson is one of the best shot blockers in the draft and will bring a strong presence in the paint to the Houston Rockets at No. 14.

He actually profiles as a Marcus Camby type of player, so the fact that he is on the Rockets' roster would do wonders for the young PF/C.

Camby and his lanky frame made a name for himself on defense by blocking shots. Henson would be handed a fantastic opportunity to learn if selected at No. 14.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Ross

Terrence Ross has the potential to be a prolific scorer in the NBA.

He is great at creating his own shot and his jumper is as smooth as they come. He needs to work on his shot selection, but that's something that shouldn't be difficult to correct.

Evan Turner and Jodie Meeks were solid last season, but Ross has the potential to outshine both of them.

The 76ers have a unique guard rotation, and it wouldn't hurt to add Ross into the mix at No. 15.

16. Houston Rockets: Moe Harkless

Having already addressed their need at PF/C, the Rockets will look for help at the small forward position with pick No. 16.

The best SF available at this point in the draft will be Moe Harkless, the freshman from St. John's University.

Harkless is great on defense and is a solid rebounder, but he still needs some work on polishing his offensive game.

Given some time in the NBA, he could turn into a solid regular player.

17. Dallas Mavericks: Terrence Jones

Terrence Jones has great ball-handling and distribution skills for a 6' 10" power forward, and his acrobatic play around the rim makes him an exciting option for the Dallas Mavericks at No. 17.

While shooting isn't a strong point of his game just yet, the Mavericks won't have to worry about that for long. Learning how to shoot from Dirk Nowitzki, the game's best shooting big man, will do wonders for Jones.

The Mavs do need a point guard in the draft, but it'll be too difficult to pass up on Jones with the 17th pick.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Tyler Zeller

The Minnesota Timberwolves are an exciting young team, and they have the potential to get even more exciting if they select Tyler Zeller with pick No. 18.

Zeller is a seven-footer with solid fundamentals under the basket. He has solid post moves and can even step out and hit a jumper from just inside the three-point line.

Nikola Pekovic stepped up and played well last season, but Zeller could be a solid option a few years down the line.

19. Orlando Magic: Marquis Teague

Marquis Teague is a ridiculously fast point guard that can break defender's ankles and find his teammates all over the floor.

He's a guy that is capable of orchestrating an NBA offense right now, and the Orlando Magic could benefit by pairing him with Jameer Nelson next season.

While Teague isn't the most reliable option shooting the ball, his ability to find the open man makes up for it.

20. Denver Nuggets: Arnett Moultrie

Arnett Moultrie can sometimes be a liability on defense, but his play in the post is enough to warrant a first-round selection.

He also has the ability to spread the floor with a nice jump shot.

Al Harrington is entering the twilight of his career, so grooming Moultrie to become the next Denver Nuggets power forward would be a smart move on the organization's part.

21. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo

Fab Melo is a seven-footer with a great presence in the paint on defense. He is a shot blocker that plays above average defense in the low post.

His offensive game needs some work, but the Boston Celtics would be taking him for his defense at No. 21.

Melo has the opportunity to shine with the Celtics. He could see significant minutes in his rookie season if he proves that his defensive prowess can translate to the NBA.

22. Boston Celtics: Evan Fournier

Evan Fournier is the draft's top international prospect. While his draft projections have had him going anywhere from the late-first round to mid-second round, Fournier fits well with the Celtics at No. 22.

He loves attacking the rim and shooting from mid range. He'll have to work on his consistency from beyond the arc, but that's something that can develop in time.

Fournier and Melo could turn into a lethal combination in the future, especially if Rajon Rondo is still in Boston dishing them the ball.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Andrew Nicholson

Andrew Nicholson established himself as an offensive force in his senior season at St. Bonaventure, as he dropped 18.5 points per game.

He has a solid jumper along the perimeter for a 6'10" power forward, but is not great at taking guys off the dribble or attacking the rim because of a lack of explosiveness and athleticism.

His long arms make him a solid defensive presence, and the Atlanta Hawks would be wise to take him at No. 23.

As a guy coming off the bench to spell Josh Smith or Ivan Johnson, Nicholson could provide some valuable minutes for the Hawks.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jared Sullinger

Jared Sullinger's draft stock took a huge hit when he was red-flagged by NBA doctors. A once top-tiered prospect expected to go in the draft's lottery picks, Sullinger could prove to be one of the steals of the draft at No. 24.

He owns a great post game and records double-doubles on a nightly basis, which make him a great candidate to produce in his rookie season with the Cavs.

He lacks the shooting ability that you like to see out of a power forward, but the Cavs could do much worse than drafting Sullinger at No. 24.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Doron Lamb

Jeremy won't be the only "lamb" taken in the first round of the draft, as shooting guard Doron Lamb has a good chance of going No. 25 to the Memphis Grizzlies.

He has a great shot from beyond the arc and his high basketball IQ helps him to take smart shots and not push the envelope.

He's not overly athletic or strong, but there's no doubt that his basketball IQ makes up for what he lacks in those categories.

As far as role-playing sixth men go, Lamb could turn into one of the NBA's best at some point in his career.

26. Indiana Pacers: Royce White

Iowa State power forward Royce White's off-court issues may have scared some teams away, but he could be a great value pick at No. 25 for the Indiana Pacers.

His low post game is his strong suit because of his hard-nosed mentality, while his ability to handle the ball along the perimeter is remarkable.

Those ball-handling skills help him with his variety of moves under the basket, and also help him with his mid-range game.

White put Iowa State basketball on the map, and he could potentially have the same effect in Indiana with the Pacers.

27. Miami Heat: Festus Ezeli

Festus Ezeli could be the center that the Miami Heat have been searching for ever since the departure of Shaquille O'Neal a few years back.

While he lacks a mid range jumper, Ezeli has great post moves and is capable of playing well with his back to the basket.

He is also a shot-blocking presence in the paint and would contribute much to the Heat's already strong defense.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Draymond Green

Draymond Green is undersized as a power forward at 6'7", but has the skills necessary to compete in the NBA.

He is strong enough to bang bodies underneath with some of the NBA's biggest, while he also has the ability to step out and hit a jump shot.

He's a terrific rebounder because of his aggressive mentality, and his all-around play would be a great addition to an already talented Oklahoma City Thunder team.

29. Chicago Bulls: Tyshawn Taylor

Tyshawn Taylor dropped 16.6 points per game in his senior season at Kansas and led his team to the NCAA Championship game against Kentucky.

He attacks the rim effectively as a combo guard because of his amazing speed and ball-handling ability. His jump shot has improved over the past several seasons, so there's no reason to believe that he can't be a successful shooting guard in the NBA.

Richard Hamilton could teach him a whole lot about being a scorer in the NBA, so the Chicago Bulls would be wise to take Taylor at No. 29.

30. Golden State Warriors: Tony Wroten

Tony Wroten does not get the credit he deserves. Most mock drafts have him going in the mid-second round. I don't really understand why.

Wroten has unbelievable court vision, great size for a combo guard (6'5") and can step back and hit a jump shot.

He has all the tools to be an effective guard in this league, and has the potential to turn into a Rajon Rondo type of player.

That comparison may be unfair at this point, but we'll have to wait and see if it comes true.