2012 NBA Mock Draft: Mid-Round Players Who Will Contribute Right Away

The most successful teams in the NBA are the ones that can go into the mid-rounds of the NBA draft and find a player that will contribute to their team right off the bat.

Anybody can draft studs with the first few picks, but it's the truly great teams who are able to find that rookie to add to an already solid group of players in the hopes of making a playoff run. Most teams drafting from the mid-round up had fairly good teams the past year remember, so being able to draft a good player is essentially like bringing in a flashy free agent, but much cheaper.

Drafting well in the mid-rounds can essentially be the difference between being a playoff team and a championship team.

Here's my latest 2012 NBA mock draft with an emphasis on those mid-round players that will be big contributors:

1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky 

Don't expect many changes near the top from here on out. Davis is the consensus No. 1 for good reason.

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

Robinson is big and will be a good post presence, but he can also be a scoring threat. He's a must-have player for the Bobcats.

3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

The Wizards need a shooting guard they can pair up with John Wall, and Beal is the best one in this draft.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

The Cavaliers will be ecstatic that Barnes fell to them here. He'll work well with Kyrie Irving in the backcourt, but is still big enough to be a presence down low.

5. Sacramento Kings: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

Kidd-Gilchrist's numbers last season don't do him credit. He averaged just 11.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game on that very talented Kentucky team. He can be a high-level scorer on a team like the Kings.

6. Portland Trail Blazers: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut 

The Trail Blazers may feel a bit hesitant to take a center after Greg Oden fizzled out, but like it or not they need to draft a big guy here and Drummond would be the perfect fit.

7. Golden State Warriors: Perry Jones III, SF, Baylor

Perry can be an explosive scorer with the Warriors and can make an impact in the backcourt or down in the block. This is a huge pickup for a team that needs help.

8. Toronto Raptors: Dion Waiters, SG Syracuse

Waiters has a chance to be a star on the right team, and that's something the Raptors haven't really had much of recently. He can control the basketball and run the offense, but he can also be a great scorer.

9. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, PF, North Carolina

Henson falling to No. 9 is a dream scenario for the Pistons. They will put him at the five and ask him to rebound, block shots and control the rim, which would allow Greg Monroe the room to grow even more offensively.

10. New Orleans Hornets: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

The Hornets will be looking much better after this pick. In just two picks they've managed to get the best power forward and point guard in the draft respectively in Davis and now Lillard.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

After taking care of the center position, the Blazers will want to shore up their backcourt. Marshall can contribute in his rookie season off the bench or even as a starter.

12. Milwaukee Bucks:  Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

The Bucks will take Meyers with the hopes that he can be the replacement for Andrew Bogut, who they shipped off to Golden State with Stephen Jackson for Monte Ellis and a few other pieces.

At 7'1'', 245 pounds, Meyers has great size, and he can definitely add some muscle mass in the NBA. He's also a very good passer in and around the paint. Needless to say, he'll be a very valuable piece for this team right away and into the future.

13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Austin Rivers is going to be the future of this Phoenix backcourt. Whether or not Steve Nash is there or not, Rivers will be able to score, facilitate and take care of the basketball on offense.

If Nash leaves, the Suns are going to be looking for a new face to bring excitement to their team, and that's what they'll be getting in Rivers. We know he can hit clutch shots and he played at arguably the best basketball school in the country. He's going to be a huge part of this organization right off the bat.

14. Houston Rockets: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

Zeller is an athletic and energetic big man that can be a great hustle player at the very least for the Rockets. At the most, he may have star potential.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

Sullinger may be somewhat of a "tweener" and he's been given a big red flag because of back concerns. That said, the 76ers need to get younger in the front court and he's shown enough promise to be worth the risk here at No. 15.

16. Houston Rockets: Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky 

At 6'9'', 252 pounds, Jones is an athletic power forward that can be very good offensively if he's used correctly. The Rockets front court of the future is looking very good with Zeller and now Jones.

17. Dallas Mavericks: Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut

Jeremy Lamb is one of my favorite picks in this draft, and he's going to be a huge part of the Mavericks attack next season.

He scored 17.7 points and grabbed 4.9 rebounds for the Huskies last season, and at 6'5'', 180 pounds with his skill set, he can be quite a mismatch.

He may not see the starting lineup right away with the Mavericks, but I expect him to be a key scoring piece coming off the bench for an offense that needs to get younger.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Terrence Ross, G, Washington

Ross was a very productive player at Washington, notching 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, and at 6'6, 195 pounds, he can be a huge threat for the Timberwolves moving into the future.

19. Orlando Magic: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

The Magic may want to start thinking about the future of their front court, and Moultrie is a tall, lanky player that can be effective on both offense and defense.

20. Denver Nuggets: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt

At 6'11'', 255 pounds, Ezeli can be a great post presence on both sides of the ball for a Nuggets team that needs help down low.

21. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

With the big three most likely breaking up, it's time for the Celtics to start thinking about the future. Fab Melo is a very big prospect at 7'0'', 255, and  a very raw talent.

With the right coaching he can become very good, and that's what I expect out of him with Boston.

He's going to become a very valuable piece off the bench in the near future, and eventually he'll be the guy holding down the middle from tip-off for the C's.

22. Boston Celtics: Royce White, PF, Iowa State

The same could be said of White as far as potential. He's honestly one of my favorite players in this draft. He has the body and mentality of a power forward, but the skill set and agility of a point guard.

If the Celtics use him right, he could become an incredible mismatch against most teams.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Moe Harkless, SF, St. Johns

The Hawks will take Harkless as a depth player that may have the chance to develop into more when all is said and done. At 6'8'', 208 pounds, Harkless can be utilized in many ways.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt 

Jenkins scored 19.9 points per game with Vanderbilt in 2011. Needless to say, the Cavs will really want his production in their backcourt.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure            

The Grizzlies will look to add some depth to their frontcourt with this pick. Nicholson may not be a big name, but he scored 18.4 points per game for the Bonnies in 2011.                    

26. Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, PG Kentucky 

Teague will serve as a very talented backup for the Pacers. He can score, assist or rebound the ball, and he'll be a great depth piece for a team on the rise.

27. Miami Heat: Evan Fournier, SG, France

If you don't believe guard play off the bench is integral for the Heat then I don't believe you watched this year's finals. This pick will allow them to get younger off the bench and at 6'7'', he can be a very versatile option.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tony Wroten, PG, Washington

Getting backcourt production off the bench from somebody not named James Harden will be integral for the Thunder if they want to get back to the Finals. Wroten averaged 16.7 points, 5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game for Washington. He'll be a great fit.

29. Chicago Bulls: Jae Crowder, SG, Marquette

The Bulls need scoring help at the two and Crowder averaged 17.4 points per game for the Golden Eagles. He could be a very formidable option for this team as a starter in the future.

30. Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State

I like Green coming off the bench for the Warriors. He can score, pass, shoot or rebound, and at 6'7'', 230 pounds, he will be a tough cover for post players, but too big for many guards.