2012 NBA Mock Draft: How Each Team Would Pick If Starting from Scratch

For weeks now, analysts and fans alike have been filling out their mock drafts in an effort to predict how the 2012 NBA draft will play out.

They take into account team needs, team philosophies and even coaching styles in order to create the best fit for each individual player.

What would happen if each team started from scratch and just picked the best player available? Needless to say, there would be teams that would become vastly overpopulated at a particular position, while other teams would be left hard-pressed to find somebody to fill the void.

If each team drafted from scratch, the results would be drastically different than what they would be if each pick was more closely examined.

1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis should be the No. 1 overall pick regardless of how the New Orleans Hornets draft.

He is undoubtedly the most talented player in this draft class and will likely play a large role with the Hornets in his debut season.

Aside from his statistical and physical prowess, Davis is a true winner. He led his Kentucky Wildcats to an NCAA championship last season over the University of Kansas.

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

The Charlotte Bobcats need to improve in nearly every facet of the game, so it's really hard to go wrong with the No. 2 overall pick.

While they may look elsewhere, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist would be the next best player available after the Hornets' selection of Davis.

Kidd-Gilchrist will make a great swingman small forward after a few seasons of adapting to the NBA, and his defensive skills make him a valuable asset to a rebuilding Bobcats team.

With MKG paired with Kemba Walker, the Bobcats could be set with great scorers for the next decade.

3. Washington Wizards: Thomas Robinson

With the best big man already off the board, the Washington Wizards will have to "settle" for Thomas Robinson, a lengthy power forward out of the University of Kansas.

He put up 18 points and 12 rebounds as a junior with Kansas and led the team to the NCAA championship game against Davis and the Wildcats.

Robinson is big, athletic and knows how to score in the paint, and he'd be a great addition to an underachieving Wizards franchise.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal

Just imagine a backcourt of Kyrie Irving and Bradley Beal in Cleveland. That has the potential to be very, very scary.

Beal is the top guard available in the draft and will provide a boost to an already very young Cleveland Cavaliers team.

He helped his Florida Gators to the Elite Eight in his first year with the team last season, mostly because of his great statistical line of 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

Beal could very well end up being the best pure scorer of anybody in this draft class.

5. Sacramento Kings: Harrison Barnes

While MKG is the better all-around small forward, Harrison Barnes is much more effective as a scorer.

He scored 17.1 points per game last season with the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and could be just the offensive weapon that the Sacramento Kings need to get back to their winning ways.

Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas are all young players that are already on board, and the addition of Barnes has the potential to make the Kings one of the best teams in the NBA in a few years time.

He'd be the best player available at No. 5. The Kings would not be wise to pass on him.

6. Portland Trail Blazers: Andre Drummond

Andre Drummond is the best center available in the NBA draft, and this pick is one of the rare scenarios where the big board and the analysts' predictions coincide.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Drummond are a natural fit. Joel Przybilla, although solid, is not a great NBA center at this point in his career. This gives Drummond the opportunity to play right away if he performs well in training camp.

Drummond, a product of the University of Connecticut, has a NBA-ready body at 6'10" and 270 pounds.

7. Golden State Warriors: Jeremy Lamb

Jeremy Lamb represents the No. 2 guard available in the draft, although it is clear that Beal is the better of the two.

Regardless, Lamb would be a nice pickup for the Golden State Warriors. With Monta Ellis gone and Stephen Curry injured much of the time, the Warriors could use a little depth in the backcourt.

The Warriors could even find Lamb a spot when everybody is healthy, as he is capable of playing small forward as well.

His versatility and ability to score the basketball would be a welcome addition to the Warriors.

8. Toronto Raptors: Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard had a spectacular fourth season at Weber State, scoring 24.5 points per game and establishing himself as the top point guard in the draft.

At pick No. 8, the Toronto Raptors should take him if they are going by best available. While he wasn't on many radars several weeks ago, his draft stock has since shot up and could very well be one of the best picks of the first round.

Jose Calderon has run the point for the Raptors for the past several seasons, but the Raptors have been an underachieving franchise with him orchestrating the offense.

Selecting Lillard may not be such a bad idea. 

9. Detroit Pistons: Kendall Marshall

While Lillard may be the best scoring point guard in the draft, Kendall Marshall is by far the best pass-first point guard.

He averaged 9.8 assists per game as a sophomore at the University of North Carolina because of his outstanding court vision and ability to make nearly every pass.

His unique court vision and awareness would make him a valuable asset to any team, and the Detroit Pistons will be lucky to select him at No. 9.

10. New Orleans Hornets: John Henson

What better way to build around the No. 1 overall pick than to draft again at No. 10? 

The Hornets will already have drafted their possible center of the future in Davis and could potentially add John Henson to their frontcourt before the lottery is over.

Henson is very undersized at just 216 pounds, but his athletic prowess and shot-blocking ability make him a valuable pick at No. 10.

The Hornets are obviously in rebuilding mode, and adding two big-time presences in the low post in one draft would definitely be a step in the right direction.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Perry Jones III

The Portland Trail Blazers are another team that has the opportunity to really bolster its frontcourt via the draft. Having already selected Drummond with the No. 6 overall pick, the Blazers should go with the next best available at No. 11.

That's Perry Jones III, an athletic power forward from Baylor.

He's a risky pick because of his tendency to settle for a jump shot rather than attack the basket, but he has all the potential in the world to be an above-average NBA power forward.

He just needs to get a little more aggressive.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Meyers Leonard

Meyers Leonard is a physical specimen as a center. He is strong and powerful in the paint yet also athletic enough to play above the rim.

He is a rebounding and shot-blocking presence and is a guy that teams need to watch on both sides of the floor.

Leonard is still learning the intricacies of the game, so he'll have to learn a few things before becoming one of the game's elite.

The Milwaukee Bucks are in need of a center, and he's the best available, so it's a logical choice for the Bucks at No. 12.

13. Phoenix Suns: Dion Waiters

The draft combines have vastly affected the stock of Dion Waiters, a shooting guard out of Syracuse University.

Once thought to be a late-first-round pick, Waiters is now in the discussion as a late lottery pick.

At No. 13, he's the best player available for the Phoenix Suns.

With Steve Nash's career beginning to come to an end, it's time for the Suns to look for a new face of the franchise. Waiters' lights-out shooting and solid all-around play could propel him into that role as he progresses in the NBA.

14. Houston Rockets: Terrence Ross

Terrence Ross is as much of an offensive presence as he is a defensive presence, shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc while also grabbing 6.4 rebounds per game in his final season at the University of Washington.

Ross, a small forward, can score from nearly anywhere on the court. His offense alone makes him a valuable pick, but the added defense he provides is what makes him the best available at No. 14.

He has the potential to turn into a Kidd-Gilchrist-type of talent if all goes well at the next level.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: Austin Rivers

Austin Rivers has all the tools to be an elite scorer in the NBA. He showed them off in his freshman season at Duke University, scoring nearly 16 points per game.

While the Philadelphia 76ers have a team filled with very capable players on offense, they lack that one true scorer that can get them over the hump.

He can play both point guard and shooting guard, but his great scoring ability translates to more of a shooting guard.

The 76ers should be ecstatic to draft Rivers at No. 15.

16. Houston Rockets: Tyler Zeller

Tyler Zeller is the best big man available at No. 16 for the Houston Rockets, and he would stand to learn a lot from the likes of Luis Scola and Marcus Camby.

At 7'0" tall with an athletic build, Zeller has the potential to even overtake Camby at center next season. He scored 16.5 points per game while grabbing 9.3 rebounds per game. That scoring would definitely warrant him a spot at the end of the lottery picks.

Zeller has all the potential in the world if he can just fill out a little bit, and there's absolutely no reason to believe that he can't do that.

17. Dallas Mavericks: Terrence Jones

Terrence Jones was the big man that played next to Davis in the frontcourt for the Kentucky Wildcats, and it seems as if some of Davis' potential rubbed off on Jones.

Jones specializes on defensive play and averaged 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per game last season.

His offensive game is not nearly as polished, though he did score 12 points per game in his final season at Kentucky.

The Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki could teach Jones a lot about playing power forward in the NBA, and it would be a great situation for Jones to walk into in Dallas.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jared Sullinger

This is not nearly as low in the draft as Jared Sullinger should be, especially after being red-flagged by doctors last week.

Regardless, Sullinger is a beast in the low post and would be able to compliment the outside play of Kevin Love quite well.

If we're going by talent alone, Sullinger likely would've cracked the top 10 picks. When injury is taken into consideration, he has to drop down lower.

19. Orlando Magic: Moe Harkless

While Sullinger's draft stock has taken a huge hit in recent weeks, Moe Harkless' has actually risen.

The athletic swingman from St. John's has a nice scoring touch from the perimeter and scored 15.3 points per game last season. He also sprinkled in 8.6 rebounds per contest.

Harkless could potentially move up this list, but for now, he's the 19th best available prospect. The Orlando Magic will be very happy that they selected him here, as a little extra offensive firepower is never a bad thing.

20. Denver Nuggets: Arnett Moultrie

Arnett Moultrie can score near the basket, rebound and play solid defense. What more could you want from a young big man?

He averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds last season at Mississippi State. Although he only blocked 0.8 shots per game, he has the size at 6'11" to be a much better shot-blocking presence on defense.

Moultrie utilizes both post moves and a midrange jumper, so his versatility on offense would be a welcome addition to the Denver Nuggets.

21. Boston Celtics: Quincy Miller

The Boston Celtics need to do well in this draft, especially the possibility that both Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett could leave via free agency.

Quincy Miller, a 6'9" forward from Baylor, represents a guy who could potentially fill the role left by Garnett.

While his numbers don't jump off of the stat sheet, they are still very good. He averaged nearly 11 points and five rebounds per game while shooting 35 percent from beyond the arc last season.

He's a very talented player that will only continue to get better.

22. Boston Celtics: Evan Fournier

International prospect is another guy who could fill the void left by a departing veteran in Boston. He has all the tools to be a top shooting guard in the NBA.

He has the ability to create shots for himself as well as his teammates, and he would thrive playing in the same back court as Rajon Rondo.

Fournier is a pure scorer and can score in a variety of ways. He averaged 14 points per game last season, and the Celtics should be thrilled to add him at No. 22.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Andrew Nicholson

Andrew Nicholson put together a great final season at St. Bonaventure, scoring 18.5 points per game, grabbing 8.4 rebounds per game and blocking nearly two shots per game.

He's a versatile big man that can score near the basket or handle the ball on the perimeter. 

His draft stock likely takes a hit because he didn't attend a University of Kentucky or University of North Carolina, but don't be fooled—Nicholson is the real deal and will prove so in his rookie season with the Atlanta Hawks.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tony Wroten

Tony Wroten is a pass-first point guard that has the potential to become a Rajon Rondo-type of player.

Yes, Rajon Rondo.

It may be a stretch at this point in his career, but it can't be denied that he passes at an elite level and has court vision unlike most others in the NBA.

He averaged nearly 16 points per game last season, all without a consistent jump shot.

If he turns into a player like Rondo, he could potentially become the steal of the draft at No. 24.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Royce White

Royce White is an extremely talented power forward from Iowa State, but his draft stock has dropped because of an ongoing battle with anxiety issues.

White is a unique player. At 6'8" and 270 pounds, he has the size to dominate in the low post. That being said, he also handles the ball so well that he could be the main facilitator on offense. Last season at Iowa State, he averaged nearly five assists per game.

He can score, rebound, handle the ball and play a variety of different roles, so seeing him at No. 25 may be a bit of a shock. If he can solve his anxiety problems, White will be one of the best players taken in 2012.

26. Indiana Pacers: Tyshawn Taylor

Tyshawn Taylor is a great shooting point guard that would be a nice addition to the Indiana Pacers. He averaged 16.6 points per game at Kansas last season while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 38 percent from three.

Even though many had him projected to go sometime in the second round, there's no denying his talent level. Taylor is a scorer and a very athletic player. His scoring ability and pure jump shot are most certainly good enough for the No. 26 selection.

The Pacers are on the lookout for some bench depth, and that's exactly the role that he would fill on the team until he's ready for starters' minutes in a few seasons.

27. Miami Heat: Fab Melo

Fab Melo, a Brazilian from Syracuse, has had problems staying out of trouble while in school. A number of off-court incidents have had Melo right in the middle of the them.

Regardless, he has the potential to be a solid center.

He's not a polished scorer, averaging just 7.8 points per game last season, but his shot-blocking ability is out of this world. He swatted 2.9 shots per game.

Melo may never turn into a consistent scorer underneath, but his defensive skills alone make him worthy of a late-first-round pick.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Festus Ezeli

Festus Ezeli is a true center capable of rebounding and playing aggressively on defense.

He averaged 10.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and two blocks per game in his final season at Vanderbilt, establishing himself as one of the more all-around draft options at center.

While he is the best player available at No. 28 for the Oklahoma City Thunder to select, he also represents an area of need.

Depth at center was an issue all season, as the likes of Nazr Mohammed and Cole Aldrich could not be relied on heavily.

29. Chicago Bulls: Marquis Teague

Marquis Teague, a pass-first point guard, would be a nice compliment to the scoring mentality of Derrick Rose.

Last season with Kentucky, Teague put together a strong second half that improved his line to 9.4 points, 4.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game.

The Chicago Bulls may already have their point guard in Rose, but Teague would be able to provide quality minutes off the bench, or in a spot starter's role if Rose shifts over to shooting guard.

30. Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green

Draymond Green averaged a double-double last season at Michigan State, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds per game. He also added nearly four assists per contest.

He's versatile enough to play both forward positions, and his talent would generally translate into a much higher selection. With the volume of frontcourt players in the draft, however, Green comes up short.

The Golden State Warriors could use all the help they can get, and getting a player of Green's caliber so late in the first round will really improve their team.