2012 NBA Mock Draft: Where Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Best SFs Will Go
While small forward isn't the deepest position at this year's NBA draft, there are several intriguing prospects at the position, and it could account for two of the top four picks at this year's NBA draft.
Let's take a closer look at some of the top small forwards in this draft, predict where they will land and say a few words about how the rest of the first round will play out while we're at it.
We mock around the clock for you, folks.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF (Kentucky)
New Orleans, welcome the man who will change the face of your franchise. Yes, I think he'll be that good.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas Robinson, PF (Kansas)
Robinson is my pick to win Rookie of the Year next year. Finally, Bobcats fans will have a player worth getting excited about.
3. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF (Kentucky)
I don't think Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will ever be a game-changing scorer in the NBA. I just think he'll be a game-changer in every other facet of the game.
And that's what will makes him the perfect complementary piece to John Wall.
While MKG needs to work on his jump shot and offensive game in general, he's a high-energy, unselfish teammate who will fly down the court on the break, finish strongly at the rim, play excellent defense and battle on the boards.
Really, he's only realized a small portion of his potential. He may even be more of a scoring presence than I'm predicting. If he is here for the Wizards, he's a no-brainer in my opinion.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG (Florida)
It's between Harrison Barnes and Beal here. The fact that Beal is capable of creating his own shot is the difference for the Cavs.
5. Sacramento Kings: Perry Jones III, PF (Baylor)
Given how the board has played out, this is the logical pick for the Kings.
Maybe they go Barnes here, but I think they'll look to add the top power forward or point guard on the board. It's too high to go with a point guard here, so Jones is the pick. He certainly has the potential to warrant the suggestion.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey): Andre Drummond, C (Connecticut)
Hard to pass up Drummond here, especially since the Blazers will more than likely be able to take one of the top two point guards at pick No. 11. Boom-or-bust pick, but the combination of Drummond and LaMarcus Aldridge on the block will be too tempting to pass up.
7. Golden State Warriors (from Utah): Harrison Barnes, SF (North Carolina)
There are two main things you need to know about Barnes: He's always been a scorer, but he'll never be terribly proficient creating his own shot.
For a team that needs the former from the wing position and can accept the latter, Barnes is an excellent pick.
Barnes isn't a one-trick pony, either—he'll play solid defense and crash the boards well for a small forward. He's Danny Granger, but not as effective getting to the basket. Golden State will take that happily.
8. Toronto Raptors: Dion Waiters, SG (Syracuse)
This could also be Jeremy Lamb. If the Raptors want a physical specimen who will take the ball hard to the rim and has huge upside, they'll go with Waiters. If they want a silky-smooth jump-shooter who moves well without the ball and has solid upside but more polish to his game, they'll choose Lamb.
9. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, PF (North Carolina)
Henson and Greg Monroe would be a powerful pair on the block. If Henson puts some muscle on his frame, he could be a very good NBA power forward.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota): Damian Lillard, PG (Weber State)
Gotta love this draft for the Hornets. In Davis, they get the draft's best player. In Lillard, they get the top point guard off the board and arguably the best backcourt scorer in this draft.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Kendall Marshall, PG (North Carolina)
He's the best passer in the draft and should instantly bring stability to the point guard position in Portland.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller, C (North Carolina)
This could also be Meyers Leonard if the Bucks go upside over polish. I wouldn't recommend it—I think Zeller will be a solid NBA center—but upside can be so tantalizing.
13. Phoenix Suns: Jeremy Lamb, SG (Connecticut)
Hard to pass up on Lamb here. He's good enough to contribute in Phoenix immediately next season.
14. Houston Rockets: Meyers Leonard, C (Illinois)
He could jump up as high as the Bucks at 12, and I don't think he'll get by the Rockets here. Leonard brings a lot of athleticism and upside to the position, and the Rockets will be intrigued by him as a long-term solution at center.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Austin Rivers, SG (Duke)
With Lou Williams opting out of his contract, the Sixers will need to add a scoring presence should he leave town.
Philly has a squad of excellent, team-first role players, so adding a shoot-first, ball-dominating player like Rivers actually makes sense. Rivers will be an excellent NBA scorer—mark my words.
16. Houston Rockets (via New York): Terrence Jones, PF (Kentucky)
I'm not sure if Jones will ever be the prototypical player at power forward. I see him more as a bench player who earns extended minutes with his ability to bang on the boards and run the court. He's a solid athlete with room to grow as a basketball player yet.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Moe Harkless, SF (St. John's)
How's this for a freshman: 15.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game?
I'll answer that for you: pretty damn good.
Harkless is an excellent athlete who finishes well at the rim and is effective as a rebounder and shot-blocker even as a small forward. While his offensive game needs polish and his defense needs improving, Harkless will score at the next level.
This is a great pick for the Mavericks, who get one of the safer picks—even if he doesn't contribute immediately—in the draft.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah): Terrence Ross, SG (Washington)
If Ross is here, he's the pick. The one thing this young Timberwolves team lacks is a shooting guard who can create his own shot. Ross solves that problem.
19. Orlando Magic: Tony Wroten, Jr., PG (Washington)
Wroten looks like a combo guard at the NBA level. With an impressive physical frame, excellent athleticism and the upside to become an elite defensive stopper, Wroten could be the steal of the draft if he can develop into a true point guard.
20. Denver Nuggets: Arnett Moultrie, PF (Mississippi State)
Moultrie may shoot up the board if a team falls in love with his upside or the 15.8 points and 10.6 rebounds he averaged per game last year.
21. Boston Celtics: Jared Sullinger, PF (Ohio State)
He's due to drop, but he has too much talent to fall far. I would think the Celtics would nab him as a long-term replacement for Kevin Garnett if he drops to them.
22. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Jeffery Taylor, SF (Vanderbilt)
Taylor will likely play both the 2 and 3 in the NBA. His solid defense and excellent perimeter shooting will make him the perfect fit in Boston.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Andrew Nicholson, PF (St. Bonaventure)
The Hawks should select the best player available. Nicholson has intriguing athleticism and has already shown in college he can score the rock. With Josh Smith constantly keeping one foot out the door in Atlanta, Nicholson makes a lot of sense.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Fab Melo, C (Syracuse)
I'm not a fan of Melo, but some team will love his athleticism and defensive presence as a shot-blocker too much to pass up. If the Cavs want to come out of this draft with a true center, taking a shot on Melo here makes a lot of sense.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Royce White, SF (Iowa State)
He's a boom-or-bust prospect, but with few sure things available at this point in the draft, the Grizzlies could do worse than give White a shot.
26. Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, PG (Kentucky)
Teague is still growing as a point guard, but I thought he made serious strides at the position throughout the year.
He went from being a scoring guard in high school to needing to blend in with a talented Kentucky roster, and that needs to be considered when judging his upside.
27. Miami Heat: Draymond Green, PF (Michigan State)
He's a solid rebounder, proficient scorer, excellent passer and incredibly bright player. I can't shake the notion that he's the perfect fit for Miami. Call it a hunch.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Quincy Miller, SF (Baylor)
He's the ultimate project—he was overshadowed at Baylor by Perry Jones—but he has fantastic potential. In OKC, he can watch, learn and hopefully contribute in a few years.
29. Chicago Bulls: Will Barton, SG (Memphis)
The Conference USA Player of the Year can score, defend, disrupt passing lanes with his length, rebound, run the floor and finish consistently at the rim. He feels like a good fit in Chicago to me. Again, call it a hunch.
30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio): John Jenkins, SG (Vanderbilt)
With Barnes on the wing and Jenkins available to play 2-guard, the Warriors will seriously bolster their perimeter shooting in this draft.
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