2012 NBA Mock Draft: Round 1 Moves with Biggest Impact
The 2012 NBA draft is just days away, and the closer it gets, the more we hear about teams trying to move certain pieces with the goal of getting high enough in the draft order to have a chance at selecting this year's premiere players.
For many teams, this year's draft represents a make-or-break situation. The right pick could pay off in the form of a title run, and the wrong pick could descend them further into NBA purgatory.
Here's a complete first-round mock, with a special look at selections with the highest impact.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
This pick, of course, has the potential to become the most advantageous of all because if anyone from this class is going to be a league MVP, it's Davis.
First off, Davis is going to have the opportunity to thrive defensively in New Orleans. He's the perfect size, he's long, he's athletic and he still has room to get stronger and more physical. On top of that, he'll continue to be an offensive threat in the paint, just like he was in college, and he'll give the Hornets the superstar they've been missing since Chris Paul left.
Davis is not only the best post player in this draft, he's the best all-around player—but still, that doesn't guarantee success for this team. What the Hornets need to do is pick up a point guard who fits in with Davis' style of play and who can set him up, and then the Hornets have a chance to be really dangerous, even if it doesn't happen right away.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
The closer we get to the draft, the more we hear about what Charlotte's going to do with this pick—and if the Bobcats hold on to it, all indications are that they're taking Robinson. For the Bobcats, there's no better selection—not even MKG or Bradley Beal.
Robinson has long been heralded as one of the most, if not the most, complete players in this draft. He's a physical specimen, he has good size for the position, he plays defense with intensity and he can get to the hoop. MKG may have won a national title, but Robinson was surrounded with far less talent and still found a way to dominate. He's just about as safe a pick as you can get, and his skills translate well to the NBA.
It's going to take a miracle to make the Bobcats competitive, but Robinson is the type of player who can dominate for them for many years to come.
3. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
Some scouts are more excited about MKG than they are about his Kentucky teammate who's going No. 1. They say he has the perfect size, the perfect mindset and the perfect skill set to be a star.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
The Cavs are going to feel like the luckiest team in the world if Beal falls to them at No. 4.
There aren't a lot of pieces the Cavs still need in order to compete once again in the Eastern Conference in the wake of King James' departure. They already have Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving and they have a young and athletic frontcourt; one of the first things they need in this draft is some help at shooting guard.
If Beal is still on the board when they pick, there's no chance the Cavs will leave him there. He didn't completely live up to massive expectations last season, but Beal has so much offensive upside that there's very little chance it will fail to pay off. He can score from anywhere, he's fast and he's super-athletic.
The Cavs' hopes and dreams won't fall on Beal's shoulders, and they don't have to. He could be the missing piece of the Cleveland puzzle that will finally get this team back to the playoffs.
5. Sacramento Kings: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
Thomas Robinson's gain in this draft is Harrison Barnes' loss. The UNC prospect isn't as much of a sure thing as Robinson because, despite the fact that he can be a lights-out shooter, he hasn't proven that he can create offense for himself.
6. Portland Trail Blazers: Andre Drummond, C, UConn
The Trail Blazers need size up front, and with Robinson off the board—and with Perry Jones and Jared Sullinger presenting to be too risky—they'll go for Drummond, a high-risk, high-reward prospect with spectacular upside but with a tendency to play passively.
7. Golden State Warriors: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
The Warriors might decide to go for Sullinger despite the fact that his achy back has presented questions about his longevity as a player. If anyone can rise above, though, it's him.
8. Toronto Raptors: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
He's the consensus best pure point guard available, and the Raptors could use him. His ball-handling skills aren't quite where they should be, but he can really shoot and is a smart player.
9. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor
With Sullinger gone, the Pistons go for Jones, who might end up being the better prospect, anyway. Physically, he's much more appealing than Sullinger, and given his size, he could be a shot-blocking and rebounding machine.
10. New Orleans Hornets: Kendall Marshall, PG, UNC
Marshall has the opposite problem from Lillard: He can't score enough. His ball-handling skills, however, are unparalleled, and they'll pay off with Anthony Davis commandeering the frontcourt.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn
In addition to shoring up the frontcourt, the Trail Blazers need help in the backcourt, and Lamb is the best remaining prospect. He didn't fulfill his potential as the sole star of the Huskies' backcourt last season, but he still has the potential to be a lights-out shooter.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: John Henson, PF, North Carolina
Henson gets a lot of hype because he's a long, lean prospect with an insane wingspan who could turn into a shot-blocking machine, but he really needs to get bulkier or else he's just going to get manhandled in the paint.
13. Phoenix Suns: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
Ross will be able to step in immediately next year in an off-the-bench role for the Suns because of his efficiency from all over the court, and once his shot selection gets a little smarter, he could develop into a starter.
14. Houston Rockets: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
One of the Rockets' priorities in this draft needs to be getting help up front, but they'd almost be better off trading this pick for some veteran help—maybe to a team like the Lakers.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky
Jones is still a bit risky at this stage of the draft, but he's unlikely to fall farther than this because of his ability to play several positions and his ability to score.
16. Houston Rockets: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
At 6'11" and 225 pounds, Moultrie is essentially the ideal size for an NBA 4. He'll be huge for the Rockets in the post, and his athleticism is another big selling point, too.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
It's going to be interesting to see what happens to Rivers at the next level. He definitely needs to make some modifications to his game—particularly in terms of his defense (or lack thereof) and his attitude—and if he does, he could turn into a star because the killer shooting is already there.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Dion Waiters, PG/SG, Syracuse
Waiters could go anywhere from the low lottery to the low 20s. Despite the fact that he has a lot of potential as a shooter, the fact that he's not a true point guard or a true shooting guard is causing teams to back off.
19. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
He's a true seven-footer, he's athletic and he has an exceptional amount of raw talent that will compel teams to want to take the extra time to develop him.
20. Denver Nuggets: Tony Wroten Jr., PG, Washington
If he spent another year in school, he might be able to turn himself into a lottery pick, but as it stands, Wroten is a super athletic prospect who can shoot and pass; he basically just needs to grow up and get more control when he's commanding the court.
21. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
Melo is a risk, but he has to be one the Celtics are willing to take. He's a huge player and he has a 7'2" wingspan, but he doesn't seem particularly focused or committed. The Celtics are so desperate for help up front, though, that they need to take him.
22. Boston Celtics: Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
Alternately, Taylor is a very mature, very committed, very offensively-talented player. He'll immediately be able to step in and fill an off-the-bench shooting role—perhaps one that's vacated by Ray Allen.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Royce White, SF, Iowa State
On paper, he projects to be great: good size, good raw potential. But he doubtlessly will fall farther than expected because so much has been made of his anxiety disorder.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor
After injuring his ACL earlier in the season, Miller never got a good shot at proving that he's still the same player he was before, which is why he falls this far. But at this point, his size and his raw talent—or at least, what he had before—will be too tempting to pass up.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's
At this point, Harkless is by far one of the best remaining prospects, and the Grizzles could use his offense, which is still developing but shows a lot of promise.
26. Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky
For a freshman point guard, Teague shows an impressive amount of composure, and it's that poise and intelligence on the court that allowed him to commandeer the Wildcats' national championship squad. It will pay off at the next level.
27. Miami Heat: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
The Heat could use someone to step in and fill an off-the-bench shooting role next season, and this could be their guy.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
The Thunder won't let Nicholson go if he falls to them. He'll be an excellent defensive asset off the bench, given his 7'4" wingspan.
29. Chicago Bulls: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
Lamb is one of the best lights-out shooters in this entire draft, and yet he's still not a lock for the first round. He can be lethal from beyond the arc, and the Bulls will recognize that and capitalize.
30. Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State
He's definitely small at 6'6", but he's an excellent passer and he can score from virtually anywhere. If they keep this pick, the Warriors will be able to find a place for him.
