2012 NBA Mock Draft: Ideal Landing Spots for First Round Picks
Thursday's NBA Draft is fast-approaching, and that's good news for fans patiently awaiting the fates of their favorite teams.
General managers, on the other hand, probably appreciate every day of preparation and scouting they can fit into their schedules. For teams looking to take the best-available talent, this draft could come down to little more than comparing the guys with the most upside to those with the most-proven track records.
For teams attempting to address immediate needs, the equation changes dramatically. The best player on the draft board might not be worth much if a club doesn't have the minutes to play him. Sometimes organizations pass on the wrong guy for the right reasons.
Here's a look at how the first round would shake out if every team took the guy they actually needed.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF (Kentucky)
No mystery here. Davis has the first-overall pick locked up and for good reason. He'll be a dominant defensive presence, just as he was for Kentucky. His scoring ability isn't yet ideal, and he could suffer from diminished athletic ability as he ages, but now we're just being picky.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas Robinson, PF (Kansas)
The Bobcats need Robinson's grit as much as they need anything he can actually do on the court. It doesn't hurt that he's got the best scoring ability of any power forward in the draft, though. He'll also rebound and bring plenty of energy to the game.
3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, SG (Florida)
Beal has the well-rounded scoring ability to become the best player in this draft when all the dust has settled. Just about any top five positioned team outside of Sacramento could use a big-time scorer, and this scenario just happens to have Washington landing him. He could just as easily wind up in Charlotte or Cleveland.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF (Kentucky)
In a perfect world, MKG should probably be the second-overall pick, but his shooting struggles could scare the Bobcats off. That should be just as well for either Washington or Cleveland. Whoever snatches him up could have the last laugh thanks to what a hard worker and tenacious hustler he is.
5. Sacramento Kings: Harrison Barnes, SF (North Carolina)
Barnes doesn't have the upside some of his peers feature, but that may not be a bad thing in a draft so short on sure things. At the very worst, Barnes should eventually do the kind of things Luol Deng does, and you could do a lot worse in a draft filled with potential busts. Maybe he never amounts to more than a solid third option who can defend—so what?
6. Portland Trail Blazers (from Brooklyn Nets): Andre Drummond, C (UConn)
Drummond is one of this draft's biggest enigmas, and not just because of his NBA-ready stature. This guy has all the physical tools and signs of inside-outside talent that make a young big man irresistible. He also has the warning signs that you don't want to see from a top-10 pick. Yes, buyer beware, but Portland really needs a big man to spare LaMarcus Aldridge duty at the center position.
7. Golden State Warriors: Perry Jones III, PF (Baylor)
Like Drummond, Jones has a lot a risk attached to his name. He's also more versatile than any of his peers, and that alone should land him in the top 10. Jones should be able to guard multiple positions and put together an effective combination of perimeter shooting and explosiveness inside.
8. Toronto Raptors: Jeremy Lamb, SG (UConn)
Lamb has work to do, both in terms of the mental (shot-selection) and physical (adding weight) elements of the game. He's still worth a shot in the lottery, though, and the Raptors could use a guy with legitimate shooting ability. They haven't found that in DeMar DeRozan, so Lamb fills a need.
9. Detroit Pistons: Terrence Jones, SF (Kentucky)
Whatever questions there are about Jones, this is an easy pick. He passes, defends and can score in a variety of ways. The consistency and decision-making will come in time. Meanwhile, the Pistons need someone with star potential on the wing, and Jones could be the guy.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Damian Lillard, PG (Weber State)
There's a solid chance Portland takes Lillard as high as sixth. The Trail Blazers need a point guard just as much as they need a center. If Lillard begins to slip, he go past the Hornets. Whether Jarrett Jack is part of the club's long-term plans, Lillard would still have value as a lightening-quick scorer off the bench.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Kendall Marshall, PG (North Carolina)
Sure, this is a bit of a reach, but it makes sense for Portland if it hasn't already selected Lillard. And remember: Marshall is a rarity among point guards coming out of college. He's a much better passer than most, and he cares more about running the offense than his own scoring.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller, C (North Carolina)
Like Marshall, Zeller could be a reach here. He's a fantastic fit for the Bucks, though. They need a replacement for Andrew Bogut, and they're good enough that waiting on a long-term project like Meyers Leonard doesn't make as much sense.
13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, G (Duke)
Rivers may be a polarizing figure among draft enthusiasts, but that's not always a bad thing. At least he has people talking. His skills are there, and there's little doubt he could become a star if he figures the rest out. The Suns could instead opt to take Dion Waiters, but Rivers may be a safer bet given his proven ability to shoot the ball.
14. Houston Rockets: John Henson, PF (North Carolina)
Despite his raw offense, Henson is a beast when it comes to blocking shots and collecting rebounds. Luis Scola will remain the starter for the time being, but Henson could still bring something to Houston's increasingly young roster.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Ross, SG (Washington)
Five years from now, Ross may well have emerged as a much better player than fellow shooting guards like Jeremy Lamb, Austin Rivers and Dion Waiters. For now, though, he will probably miss the lottery by a hair. He's a perfect fit with Philadelphia given the club's lack of starting options other than Jodie Meeks.
16. Houston Rockets (via New York Knicks): Dion Waiters, G (Syracuse)
Though not quite as polarizing as Rivers, Waiters has generated a similar hit-or-miss narrative. If he learns to shoot and play the NBA game, he could be an All-Star. If not, he's just another guy who can get to the rim in a playground game.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Meyers Leonard, C (Illinois)
This may be a pessimistic assessment of where Leonard will fall, but he probably hasn't shown enough offensive ability to go much higher. He's not yet a shooter, and his post-game hasn't been anything special. But, the Mavericks could do a lot worse than a seven-footer who can defend the paint and explode to the rim.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah Jazz): Moe Harkless, SF (St. John's)
If the Timberwolves don't find a shooting guard to their liking, they could very well move this pick given the abundance of young guys already populating Minnesota's roster. Otherwise, getting Harkless provides the team a young tweener forward with enough upside to provide the club some flexibility to make moves down the road.
19. Orlando Magic: Arnett Moultrie, PF (Mississippi St.)
Given the things Orlando needs at this point, this pick hardly seems adequate. It feels like the Magic should be awarded a lottery pick merely in anticipation of the post-Howard era. Still, the club could get some good value with a big man like Moultrie. He can score from all over the floor and boasts impressive athleticism.
20. Denver Nuggets: Marquis Teague, PG (Kentucky
If Andre Miller bolts via free agency, Teague would help fill the gap. He certainly wouldn't replace Miller's veteran pedigree, but he's already a solid point guard. His quickness would certainly fit in with the run-and-gun style the Nuggets prefer.
21. Boston Celtics: Royce White, SF/PF (Iowa State)
With Paul Pierce, Brandon Bass and potentially Kevin Garnett returning to Boston's forward positions, White might not have ample opportunity right away, but that could change soon enough. The Celtics need some versatility on the bench, and they could need a whole lot more as Piece inches closer to retirement.
22. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Fab Melo, C (Syracuse)
Boston would surely like to get its hands on a lottery pick rather than taking its chances on whatever it can get two-thirds of the way through the first round. But, we can't always get what we want. The next best thing is probably Melo, a guy who's big enough and athletic enough to play some minutes at center.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Tony Wroten Jr., PG/SG (Washington)
Wroten may have one of the higher ceilings in the draft, but he's certainly not the only guy with potential here. His size is exceptional for a guy with point-guard skills, but those skills are still far too raw to earn a spot in the lottery.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Los Angeles Lakers): Jared Sullinger, PF (Ohio State)
Scares concerning his back condition could send Sullinger into the second round, but his potential to offer lottery-like talent in a world in which he remains healthy could make him incredibly tempting for a team making its pick toward the end of the first round. Sullinger has the kind of post skills you rarely see in a college athlete, and Cleveland could have a steal on its hands if it takes the chance.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Jeff Taylor, SF (Vanderbilt)
Taylor stands out as one of the best defensive players in the draft and a fine athlete to boot. He'd fit perfectly into Memphis philosophy of aggressive defense and an up-tempo approach to offense. He could also become useful if the Grizzlies wind up parting ways with Rudy Gay and/or O.J. Mayo.
26. Indiana Pacers: Draymond Green, F (Michigan St.)
The Pacers are probably more interested in a smart prospect who can contribute right away than any long-term projects. Green fits the profile perfectly and would instantly lend Indiana's bench some versatility. It's not entirely clear how what kind of position he'd play at the NBA level, but that doesn't mean he won't find a way to contribute.
27. Miami Heat: Festus Ezeli, C (Vanderbilt)
The Heat aren't exactly pining away for more talent, but they could obviously use a more formidable defensive presence in the paint. Ezeli has NBA size and a penchant for blocking shots—that's exactly what Miami will be looking for. It could also take Fab Melo if he's still around, but Ezeli may be the better fit either way.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Evan Fournier, SG (Poitiers)
If OKC keeps this pick, there's a good chance it's used on an international player or a raw prospect. With an already-youthful roster contending, there's little need to add guys who will struggle to find minutes. Fournier certainly fits that description, and he's already shown promising offensive instincts.
29. Chicago Bulls: Will Barton G/F (Memphis)
Barton has a better all-around game when compared to similar options like Doron Lamb and John Jenkins. What he lacks as a shooter, he makes up for with a more diversified skill set. The Bulls need the backcourt help with or without Rose around.
30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio Spurs): John Jenkins, SG (Vanderbilt)
Klay Thompson is clearly the Warriors' preferred option at shooting guard, but Jenkins would add backcourt depth that reasons to be pretty useful in Monta Ellis' absence. Jenkins is one of the best pure shooters in the draft, and that could make him more useful than the average 30th pick.
