2012 NBA Mock Draft: Players Who Will Be Overvalued by Lottery Teams
The 2012 NBA Draft is less than a week away and there could not be more anticipation.
This may be one of the most stacked classes in recent years, as a number of prospects are hoping to get selected in the lottery. Some definitely deserve to go that early, while others are going to be a huge reach.
Let’s take a look at the latest first-round mock draft with a focus on players likely be overvalued.
1. New Orleans Hornets (21-45): Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
This future superstar definitely isn’t overrated and deserves to be the No. 1 pick. Davis is already an incredible defender and has the most skills and highest ceiling of any prospect in this draft class.
2. Charlotte Bobcats (7-59): Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
Robinson is a solid consolation prize for the Bobcats after getting shafted out of the first overall selection. The Kansas star was just as good as Davis during the 2011-12 college basketball season, but his upside is lower due to him being older and less athletic than Davis.
3. Washington Wizards (20-46): Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
Beal looks like he will be the best scorer in the draft. As such, he is a perfect fit with the Wizards. This team just traded for Trevor Ariza to fill the hole at small forward and now needs to add a backcourt partner for John Wall to defer to. The Florida product is their man.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (21-45): Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
Barnes is another elite scorer who the Cavs will be happy to land at No. 4. Kyrie Irving had trouble being both the top shot-maker and facilitator of the offense during his rookie season, so the UNC star will be of huge help here.
5. Sacramento Kings (22-44): Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
MKG is an absolute steal at No. 5. He’s the best overall perimeter player in this class and will be able to contribute immediately due to his defensive prowess and ability to finish at the rim. He has to polish his offensive game, but he’s a nice addition here.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via 22-44 New Jersey Nets): Andre Drummond, C, UConn
Size is something that you cannot teach in the NBA, which is exactly why Portland or another lottery team will take a stab at Drummond this early. He’s shown almost no ability to dominate at the collegiate level, and it’s unlikely he will somehow figure out how to do that against tougher competition.
If Drummond does become a productive player, it will take years and he likely will not be with the team that originally selects him.
7. Golden State Warriors (23-43): Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn
Lamb is another disappointing UConn player who is taking much of the blame for the failures of this past season. He wasn’t assertive enough and did not embrace the leadership role that Kemba Walker left behind. However, if he lands with a decent squad with some veterans, he will not be called upon to do that and can just concentrate on scoring and defending.
8. Toronto Raptors (23-43): Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
Rivers can handle the rock, knock down shots from anywhere on the court and has immense confidence. He has an NBA pedigree and superstar potential, which is why he is a perfect fit for the Raptors. If he can learn to move better without the ball, he’ll be making an impact in no time.
9. Detroit Pistons (25-41): John Henson, PF, North Carolina
Henson is a lengthy, athletic power forward who will immediately push for minutes in the Detroit frontcourt. He’s a perfect fit next to Greg Monroe and should form a foundation to build around for years to come.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via 26-40 Minnesota Timberwolves): Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
Marshall might not have a lot of upside, but he has the best passing ability in the class and has shown the know-how to run an offense. He’s perfect for a team that wants to build around Anthony Davis as their star.
11. Portland Trail Blazers (28-38): Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
Waiters can handle the rock, get to the rim and hit mid-range jumpers. He has to improve all of his other skills and continue to develop, but there are much worse picks for a team that needs a guard.
12. Milwaukee Bucks (31-35): Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
Zeller is a low-upside big man who will fill a huge need for the Bucks. He’s the best available center and can run the floor better than most NBA players.
13. Phoenix Suns (33-33): Damian Lillard, G, Weber State
Lillard is a shooting guard stuck in a point guard’s body. He dominates the ball and is great at scoring with it, but he’s not going to be able to do that in the NBA against better defenders and bigger competition.
He’s going to go in the lottery due to his excellent workouts that have blinded teams to his size. It will not surprise me to see him become a career bench player who play as a combo guard in certain situations.
14. Houston Rockets (34-32): Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
Ross is a solid all-around shooting guard who can do a bit of everything well. He’s been slowly rising as he proves to franchises around the league that he is versatile and well-suited for the position.
15. Philadelphia 76ers (35-31): Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky
Jones is a high-upside ‘tweener forward. He can play like the best player in the world on some nights and look absolutely lost on other nights. If some modicum of consistency can be found, the Kentucky product could become a star.
16. Houston Rockets (via 36-20 New York Knicks): Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Leonard is a big body and not much more. He wasn’t skilled in college and could not lead his team to a postseason appearance in 2012. As mentioned with Drummond, teams fall in love with size and forget that these players need to be skilled as well. This kid will be a bust.
17. Dallas Mavericks (36-30): Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor
PJIII has been falling down draft boards because of his lack of motor and terrible workouts. Let's hope that being selected outside of the lottery will provide motivation for this talented young man. He has some of the best skills of anyone in the draft class. It would be a shame to waste them.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via 36-30 Utah Jazz): Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor
Miller has a lot of upside and may go earlier if teams are confident that he has healed from a high school ACL injury that forced him to shoot jumpers and look uncomfortable at times in college.
19. Orlando Magic (37-29): Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
Sullinger was medically red-lagged at the draft combine for having back issues that may shorten his career. That is going to dramatically hurt his stock, but he is still worthy of a first-round pick. A few good years of elite play from a top-10 talent big is definitely worth the No. 19 pick from Orlando, especially if the Magic are trading Dwight Howard.
20. Denver Nuggets (38-28): Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's
Harkless is an extremely raw prospect who has to work on his jumper if he expects opponents to respect his athleticism.
21. Boston Celtics (39-27): Royce White, PF, Iowa State
White has an anxiety disorder and a fear of flying, but has apparently interviewed well during the draft process. He has top-five talent but has to prove he is truly able to overcome these problems.
22. Boston Celtics (via 40-26 Los Angeles Clippers): Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
Nicholson is a senior who can play defense, hit the mid-range jumper and grab boards. He’s a perfect heir to Kevin Garnett in Beantown.
23. Atlanta Hawks (40-26): Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
Moultrie is a super athletic ;power forward who is super valuable this late in the draft. There are some concerns about his age and late development, but that is nothing the Hawks should worry about.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via 41-25 Los Angeles Lakers): Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
Lamb made a ton of nice shots during the NCAA tournament and that alone has vaulted him into the first round. If they land Barnes, Cleveland needs a solid third scorer. Lamb could be the guy.
25. Memphis Grizzlies (41-25): Tony Wroten, PG/SG, Washington
Wroten has the worst jumper in the draft, but it won’t matter if he can emerge as a point guard. He has great court vision and passing ability, he just needs to work on his leadership.
26. Indiana Pacers (42-24): Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky
Teague is perfect to run a second unit, making the Pacers a good fit. They play in Teague's home state and have several young athletes with whom Teague can run the break.
27. Miami Heat (46-20): Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
Melo hurt his stock by not appearing in the 2012 NCAA tournament. But the Miami Heat just won the NBA Finals, so they can afford to take a risk on an unproven big with a lot of upside.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder (47-19): Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State
Green is versatile and could become yet another star on a team full of them. He rebounds, shoots threes, defends and inspires on the court.
29. Chicago Bulls (50-16): John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
Jenkins has one of the best strokes in the class and would immediately be able to log minutes in the Bulls rotation.
30. Golden State Warriors (via 50-16 San Antonio Spurs): Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
Taylor can play defense, shoot and score. There is nothing more to ask for from the last pick in the first round.
