2012 NBA Mock Draft: How Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at No. 2 Shakes Things Up

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is the most talented player in the draft not named Anthony Davis and should be selected No. 2 overall. The draft would get completely shaken up at the top if that happens.

MKG has the same kind of potential as Andre Iguodala had when he came into the draft, and if he is a featured part of an offense, he will make the team that drafts him extremely happy. He is the kind of player that can save a franchise, and that is what the Bobcats need right now. 

The scenario here is seeing how MKG getting taken early affects the entire first round of the NBA draft. The entire draft would change if MKG gets taken at No. 2 overall, where he definitely should be go.

One quick note before you read: The positions listed are the position they are being drafted to play, not the position they were listed at in college.

1) New Orleans Hornets Select PF Anthony Davis

The Hornets traded away Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza in the past couple of days in preparation for the drafting of the best big man to enter the draft in years.

Anthony Davis is very reminiscent of Kevin Garnett and has many people expecting him to be a primary building block of a New Orleans franchise that needs someone to build around.

The Hornets are also lucky enough to have a second pick in the top 10 and a young Eric Gordon as someone to build around (assuming he re-signs).

With Davis and Gordon to build around, the Hornets won't be at the bottom of the barrel anymore and will undergo a long-term turnaround similar to the Hawks from years ago.

2) Charlotte Bobcats Select SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

The Bobcats need everything but a point guard at this point, since they have Kemba Walker, last year's first-round pick, at the 1.

The best way for a team to build a scoring future is with a good swingman, and they should take the best, most athletic player left with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist as opposed to Harrison Barnes, the local talent. 

Kidd-Gilchrist is known as a leader of the Kentucky national championship team from this past year and deserves to be taken in the top four picks based on his talent alone. He is the kind of player who will take over a franchise and bring them to the playoffs and eventually a championship once he has the right supporting cast.

3) Washington Wizards Select SG/SF Harrison Barnes

The Wizards just brought in Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza to increase the depth and scoring at forward and center. They need a true swingman who can come in and start right away and get that in Harrison Barnes here.

Barnes can start at either guard or small forward, and it wouldn't shock anyone to see the Wizards with a starting five of Wall, Barnes, Ariza, Nene and Okafor next season.

By bringing in a forward, center and guard to assist Wall, the Wizards should be much better than they were in the 2011-2012 season and will still have the cap to go out and get another player. The Wizards do need some better depth with just Jordan Crawford looking like a solid depth player.

4) Cleveland Cavaliers Select PF Thomas Robinson

The Cavaliers need a lot of help in terms of overall talent. They did take a guy last year at No. 4 overall in Tristan Thompson who can play both center and power forward.

By taking Robinson here, they add another starter to help out last year's rookie of the year, Kyrie Irving, by giving him some talent in the paint to attack the basket from the post.

Robinson is an athletic power forward who can help create a top-notch pair for the Cavaliers in the paint. He was part of the Kansas team that made it to the national championship game in 2011-2012.

The talent infusion from Robinson will only help a team that beat a couple of playoff teams last season.

5) Sacramento Kings Select C Andre Drummond

The Kings take a page out of the old-school Spurs here and take a guy who can come in and start at center with Cousins playing power forward. By having one of the best young frontcourts in basketball, the Kings could make a push towards the playoffs for the first time since the 2006 season. 

The combination of Fredette knocking down random threes, Drummond and Cousins down in the paint and Isaiah Thomas running the show should be enough for the Kings to be much more competitive than they are now.

However, they are still a bit away from a good playoff run, and just getting into the playoff race should be a victory in and of itself for the Kings this season.

6) Portland Trail Blazers Select SG Bradley Beal

The Trail Blazers need a true scoring option at guard to compliment the post abilities of Aldridge and to give Felton another weapon to work with. Beal is definitely someone who can come in and start right away and should be a long-term solution for that scorer.

7) Golden State Warriors Select SG Austin Rivers

The Warriors take Doc Rivers' son in hopes of getting a true 2-guard to start and have Jefferson move back to his preferred forward spot.

Adding Rivers to a lineup that already features the post abilities of Bogut and Lee and the point abilities of Stephen Curry will give the Warriors a shot at the playoffs.

8) Toronto Raptors Select PF Perry Jones

Toronto is starting to put all the pieces together, and by adding the highly athletic forward here, they not only bring in someone who can play multiple positions and provide an instant starter, but they also improve their overall talent level tremendously.

9) Detroit Pistons Select C Tyler Zeller

The Pistons haven't had a great center since Ben Wallace left town. Zeller has the potential to come in and take over games much like Wallace used to. Although he's 7'0" and 247 lbs, there will be a question about his strength in the post early.

10) New Orleans Hornets Select PG Damian Lillard

Adding Davis is a great start, but they need a point guard to run the show, and Lillard is the guy to take here.

Gordon and Davis are players to build around with their all-around talent, and Lillard can come in right away and contribute to give the Hornets at least four starting-caliber players this year.

11) Portland Trail Blazers Select PF Jared Sullinger

The Trail Blazers need someone to join Aldridge down low, and Sullinger is a top talent despite the back problems that will cause him to slip early. Adding Sullinger to Aldridge, Felton and, in this scenario, Beal will only make the Trail Blazers a more well-rounded team.

12) Milwaukee Bucks Select C/PF Meyers Leonard

After trading away Andrew Bogut before the deadline this year, the Bucks need a true post player to team with Gooden.

Leonard is an athletic big man who has the potential to make plays in the paint and can use his 7'1" height and the length that comes with it to defend almost anyone.

13) Phoenix Suns Select SG Jeremy Lamb

Grant Hill and Michael Redd are both aging free agents who headed up the shooting guard position for the Suns last season. The Suns take Lamb here so that they don't even have to worry about re-signing either guy, unless it's for low-money deals and as contributing backups.

14) Houston Rockets Select SG/SF Terrence Ross

The Rockets need a swingman who can be their small forward moving forward, and Terrence Ross is an athletic, long forward who can take the ball to the basket or hit jumpers from the outside. His confidence will be contagious for the Rockets and should be able to help boost them back into the playoffs.

15) Philadelphia 76ers Select PF/C Arnett Moultrie

The 76ers have only one center under contract and could use some more talent at the position. Arnett Moultrie is an underrated athletic big man who can come right in and bring some talent to join Elton Brand in the post and team with Iguodala and Brand to create a very good frontcourt.

16) Houston Rockets Select PG Kendall Marshall

Marshall should be a good addition to Ross, as Marshall is a true floor general. His ability to run the court is something that the Rockets desperately need at this point and could end up being his true rise. He is big for a point guard and will make a name for himself as a passer, defender and leader, despite not being a good scorer.

17) Dallas Mavericks Select SF/PF Terrence Jones

Dallas is an aging team that is still talented. However, with Marion and Nowitzki both in their mid-30s, they need some new blood at forward. Terrence Jones can start out learning both positions and has the ability to take over at either spot depending on who retires first.

18) Minnesota Timberwolves Select PF John Henson

Darko Milicic isn't anything special even at this point in his career, and Kevin Love is best suited for center. Henson allows Milicic to move to a better role as a reserve big man and gives the Timberwolves a big athletic forward who can defend anyone and compares to a Samuel Dalembert

19) Orlando Magic Select SG Doron Lamb

Richardson and Reddick are better suited to come off the bench than to start. Lamb may not be much better initially, but long-term, he has the ability to come in and be that true scoring presence the Magic need from their shooting guard.

20) Denver Nuggets Select PG Marquis Teague

Andre Miller is a free agent, and Ty Lawson is going to need a backup who can compete with him for playing time. Marquis Teague is the younger brother of Hawks PG Jeff Teague and can be that guy.

Whether as a starter or a primary reserve off the bench, the Nuggets can't lose selecting the younger Teague here.

21) Boston Celtics Select SF Moe Harkless

The Celtics are at a perfect point to rebuild their team with just four players under contract right now. Harkless can come right in and contribute as a starter and have Pierce move back to his more natural shooting guard position.

22) Boston Celtics Select SG Dion Waiters

Dion Waiters is the perfect candidate for a sixth man in the NBA. He doesn't have a set position as a point or a shooting guard and is reminiscent of a Ben Gordon or Jamal Crawford. He should be able to contribute to any team he is on, and Doc Rivers will love him.

23) Atlanta Hawks Select C Fab Melo

The Hawks need something to help boost them up, and while they have just six players under contract for next season currently, all six are either current starters or started at some point for the Hawks. Melo can come right in and start for the Hawks and have Horford and Smith play their more natural forward positions.

24) Cleveland Cavaliers Select SF Jeffrey Taylor

After selecting a big man to pair with Thompson earlier, the Cavaliers take another forward here in Taylor. Taylor is a top-notch defender who can score a lot of points. His main issue is going to be ball-handling, but with Kyrie Irving running the point, he doesn't need to be a top-notch ball-handler.

25) Memphis Grizzlies Select SF Royce White

The Grizzlies are one of the few teams who don't need to take a need with their first pick. Royce White can come in without the pressure of having to start and work his way into the playing rotation. White will provide depth for Rudy Gay at small forward and, should Gay's injury troubles continue, have the ability to spell him.

26) Indiana Pacers Select G Tony Wroten

Wroten is an excellent combo guard and is someone the Pacers could use to help increase their scoring next to Granger. He can play the point in a pinch, but his best fit long-term is likely as a shooting guard, much like an Iman Shumpert.

27) Miami Heat Select PF Andrew Nicholson

The Heat are the toast of the NBA right now and deserve to be the NBA champions. However, they can get better by bringing in another athletic big man for depth in case Bosh ends up having injury issues again in 2012-2013.

28) Oklahoma City Thunder Select SG John Jenkins

James Harden is at his best as a sixth man, and there is question as to whether Thabo Sefoloshia is a long-term option as a starting shooting guard. Jenkins is a pure scorer who can help the Thunder keep up with the high-powered playoff teams when they get off nights from Durant, Westbrook and Harden.

29) Chicago Bulls Select SG Jared Cunningham

The Bulls will be down the NBA's best player in Derrick Rose for much of the 2012-2013 season, but they need to think of the future. Rip Hamilton is aging, and Korver is not a long-term solution at 2-guard. Cunningham is a slasher with the potential to turn into a top-notch scoring guard.

30) Golden State Warriors Select F Draymond Green

After selecting Rivers earlier to be the starting shooting guard, they take Green here to be depth for both forward spots. Green is a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none type that will succeed best in the NBA as a depth player who can be a perennial contender for Sixth Man of the Year.