2012 NBA Mock Draft: Where Will Biggest Names Land?
The NBA draft is rapidly approaching, and front offices are working overtime to finalize their strategies.
There will be big-time talents taken early, and several lottery teams can solidify their futures early in the draft.
Here are my predictions for every first-round choice, paying particular attention to the top-level prospects that will go in the first five picks.
Note: All measurements are courtesy of CBSSports.com.
1. New Orleans Hornets (21-45): Antony Davis, PF, Kentucky
Davis is unquestionably the best player in this draft. He was the national player of the year, the defensive player of the year and the best player on the national championship-winning team.
He led the nation with 4.7 blocks per game, and his length and athleticism will ensure that he is an elite shot-blocker at the next level.
He protects the rim like few prospects ever have and has the fire and intensity to be a dominant defensive force.
Davis is an elite rebounder as well, although his offensive skill set is still improving. He is exceptionally talented and will make an instant impact for the Hornets.
2. Charlotte Bobcats (7-59): Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
Robinson is an excellent all-around prospect who can help the Bobcats’ offense and rebounding.
The Kansas standout put up 17.7 points and was second in the nation with 11.9 rebounds per game in his junior season.
He finished second behind Davis in national player of the year voting and also finished as a runner-up to Kentucky in the national championship game.
Robinson is an explosive athlete and has excellent length. He will be an effective rebounder in the NBA, and he is the safest option for Charlotte.
3. Washington Wizards (20-46): Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
The Wizards just traded for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, both of whom are defensive-minded players. They will be targeting a scorer with this pick, and Beal can put up points in bunches.
He has a lightning-quick release and unlimited range on his jumper. As a freshman at Florida, he put 14.8 points per game.
Beal is a fantastic athlete and a tough player. He has elite rebounding skills for a guard and grabbed 6.7 boards per game in Gainesville.
He can score, rebound and defend and will be an ideal backcourt mate for John Wall.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (21-45): Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
Kidd-Gilchrist is the best perimeter defender in this draft. He is 6’8” with a 7’0” wingspan and has a non-stop motor.
These qualities make him a destructive force on the wing. He will be an excellent defender immediately upon arrival in the NBA.
He is an incredible athlete and can explode towards the rim, although his offensive game could use some work. He still put up 11.9 points a contest for Kentucky last season while grabbing 7.4 rebounds per game.
Kidd-Gilchrist will instantly upgrade the Cavs defense, and he will be an excellent asset in transition.
5. Sacramento Kings (22-44): Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
Barnes is a complete prospect who does nearly everything well.
He is a smooth scorer with an excellent mid-range game, and he put up 17.1 points per game last season.
He is 6’8” with a 6’11” wingspan, giving him great size for the small-forward position. He is a solid on-ball defender and pulled down 5.2 rebounds a night last season.
Barnes does not have elite athleticism and can struggle to create his own shot at times.
Still, he is a polished and mature player who does several things at high levels.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via 22-44 New Jersey Nets): Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
Lillard is the best point guard in the draft. Despite playing at a small school, he has a great shot at being the most productive rookie in the class.
He was second in the nation with 24.5 points per game. He is a potent scorer who excels in the pick-and-roll game. He is an elite athlete who can pass and put up points at a high level.
7. Golden State Warriors (23-43): Andre Drummond, PF/C, Connecticut
Drummond is a risky pick. If he lives up to his potential, he can be a dominant big man who is a potent scorer and a feared shot-blocker.
If he plays passively—as he did at UConn, where he put up just 10 points and 7.6 rebounds a game—he will never be effective in the NBA.
If Drummond asserts himself and plays aggressively, he may be the best player in this draft class.
8. Toronto Raptors (23-43): Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
Waiters is an exciting player who shows no fear when he drives into the lane.
He is stout and compact, at 6’4” and 221 pounds. He put up 12.6 points per game with Syracuse and can penetrate and finish at the rim as well as any prospect in the draft.
9. Detroit Pistons (25-41): John Henson, PF, North Carolina
Henson is an explosive leaper with a 7’5” wingspan. He averaged 2.9 blocks per game at UNC this past season.
He needs to add bulk and work on his offensive game, but his length and athleticism will ensure that he does not slip out of the top 10.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via 26-40 Minnesota Timberwolves): Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
Kendall Marshall was second in the nation with 9.7 assists last season. He is an ideal player for the Hornets to add alongside Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon.
With Davis and Gordon on the roster, Marshall will run the offense and keep the two stars happy.
11. Portland Trail Blazers (28-38): Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Leonard is a risky pick, but the Blazers need size and defense in the middle.
He is 7’1” and a solid athlete. He plays physically in the post on defense and hustles on the boards, but he needs to add bulk and improve his offensive game.
12. Milwaukee Bucks (31-35): Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
The Bucks need size badly after trading away Andrew Boguy, and Zeller is a great fit.
He is a blue-collar player who gets up and down the floor well. This is a necessary attribute with Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis in the backcourt.
13. Phoenix Suns (33-33): Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut
The Suns need help on the perimeter, and Lamb is a lanky 2-guard who can contribute at both ends of the floor.
He has a 6’11” wingspan, which helps him be an effective defender. He has a smooth jumper and put up 17.7 points per game with UConn this past season.
14. Houston Rockets (34-32): Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor
Jones is an exciting but risky prospect. At 6’11”, he is a smooth and explosive athlete and has one of the biggest upsides in the draft.
However, his production at Baylor left a lot to be desired, and he may not fit well at either forward position in the NBA.
Still, his athleticism makes him difficult to pass up with the last lottery pick.
15. Philadelphia 76ers (35-31): Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky
Jones is the type of versatile player that fits perfectly with the Doug Collins-coached Sixers.
He is 6’9.5”, but he is still an excellent ball-handler and a reliable shooter. This will allow Collins to play him at multiple positions, creating favorable defensive matchups.
16. Houston Rockets (via 36-20 New York Knicks): Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
Sullinger was a top-10 pick until he received a medical red flag for back problems.
The Rockets now have three of the first 18 picks. They are rumored to be looking at more moves, but if they fail, the team will be able to afford taking a risk on Sullinger.
17. Dallas Mavericks (36-30): Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
Dallas would like to grab a defensive big man with this pick, but all the players that fit this description will be reaches at this position.
The next biggest need is a perimeter scorer, and Ross is a good fit. He is an excellent three-point shooter and an explosive athlete.
He needs to add versatility to his offensive game, but his talent is undeniable.
18. Houston Rockets (from Minnesota Timberwolves via 36-30 Utah Jazz): Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
After trading away Chase Budinger to get this pick, the Rockets will want to get another perimeter scorer if they do not make another deal.
Rivers’ stock took a major hit after his freshman year because of his lackluster showings as a defender and a playmaker.
However, he did put up 15.5 points per game and flashed plenty of talent on the offensive end.
19. Orlando Magic (37-29): Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
Melo is an incomplete prospect who is a reach here, but the Magic must add a big man who can protect the rim.
The Syracuse center is a true 7-footer, with the necessary athleticism to block shots and rebound in the NBA, although he will experience a steep learning curve.
Still, life without Dwight Howard might be a reality soon, and Melo is a decent insurance policy.
20. Denver Nuggets (38-28): Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi St.
Moultrie is an athletic power forward who averaged a double-double this past season at Mississippi State.
He has the size and talent to develop into a solid player, and Denver will be a perfect place for him to land. He can hone his skills under George Karl, and he will get playing time on the Nuggets, who like to get as many guys into the game as possible.
21. Boston Celtics (39-27): Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's
Harlkess is an explosive athlete who can provide the Celtics with some badly needed youth and energy.
He can be a dangerous weapon for Rajon Rondo to use in transition. He is a raw prospect, but he can be an excellent spark off the bench.
22. Boston Celtics (via 40-26 Los Angeles Clippers): John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
With the uncertainty surrounding Ray Allen’s future in Boston, the Celtics would be wise to add another shooter.
Jenkins shot 43.9 percent from beyond the arc and has a lighting-quick release. His skill set makes him an ideal fit for Boston.
23. Atlanta Hawks (40-26): Tony Wroten Jr., PG, Washington
If Wroten Jr. lives up to his talent, he will be one of the steals of this draft. He is a 6’6” combo guard with remarkable athleticism.
However, he does not have a reliable jump shot and has a reputation for being difficult with teammates and coaches.
He is a risky pick but has the talent to be a productive player.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via 41-25 Los Angeles Lakers): Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
Nicholson is another player who could be one of the biggest surprises of the draft.
He is unproven against big-time talent but has flashed qualities that could make him successful in the NBA. He has great range on his jumper and is aggressive in the paint.
The Cavs do not have a glaring need at power forward, but he is the best player available at this point.
25. Memphis Grizzlies (41-25): Evan Fournier, SG, France
The Grizzlies will want a perimeter scorer off the bench, and Fournier fits the bill. He has a solid mid-range game and great size for the position at 6’7”.
Memphis will be glad to get him this late in the first round.
26. Indiana Pacers (42-24): Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor
Miller failed to assert himself at Baylor as he is a nearly identical player to Perry Jones III. He finished his freshman year with averages of just 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
Still, he is exceptionally talented, and while another year in school would have benefitted him, his upside makes him worth the risk with this pick.
27. Miami Heat (46-20): Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt
The Heat desperately need a big man, and Ezeli is their only option here. He is just under 7' and has a wingspan of 7’5.75”, giving him the size and length Miami requires.
He is a solid athlete, although he lacks a reliable offensive game. Still, the Heat do not really have another option with this pick.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder (47-19): Royce White, Small Forward, Iowa State
White is a top-10 talent who has had a troubled college career due to severe anxiety and a fear of flying.
The Thunder have a deep team and can afford to take a chance on him. If he gets acclimated to the NBA lifestyle, he can be one of the best players in this draft class.
29. Chicago Bulls (50-16): Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky
Teague is an athletic point guard who can use his talent to be effective in Tom Thibbodeau’s defensive scheme.
He will welcome the opportunity to learn under Derrick Rose—who also played under John Calipari—and Teague can become a productive NBA backup.
30. Golden State Warriors (via 50-16 San Antonio Spurs): Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State
Green has one of the highest basketball IQs in the draft. He makes all the right reads and rarely makes mistakes with the ball.
He can do a little bit of everything on the court, but he's simply not an NBA-caliber athlete.
