2012 NBA Draft Order: Who's Been Stockpiling Picks in This Year's Draft?
NBA teams stockpile draft picks each and every year. This one has been no different.
In the days, weeks and months leading up to the 2012 NBA draft, teams have been jockeying for position with some attempting to add multiple picks in the first round.
Maybe they want to draft a whole slew of new players. Maybe they want to use the excess picks as trade bait in an attempt to either move up in the order or add some established veterans.
While you can find the entire order of the first round at the end of this article, these are the six teams who have managed to acquire more than one pick in the first 30.
New Orleans Hornets
The New Orleans Hornets lucked into the No. 1 pick in the draft when the lottery balls fell in the right way, but they also have the No. 10 pick. When Chris Paul was shipped off to the Los Angeles Clippers, that pick came along with Eric Gordon.
L.A. had originally acquired it when Sam Cassell was traded for Marko Jaric in 2005.
Nothing has indicated that the Hornets are looking to move either of these picks, so I'd expect to see them draft Anthony Davis first and then either a point guard or a center at No. 10.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers own the No. 11 pick, but they also have the Brooklyn Nets No. 6 pick as payment for the Gerald Wallace rental. Brooklyn's pick was top-three protected this year, but the Blazers acquired it when the Nets couldn't move up in the lottery.
Neil Olshey has said that the Blazers plan on using both picks to draft new talent. Expect them to secure the services of Weber State point guard Damian Lillard at No. 6 and then look to find a shooting guard at No. 11.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets have been all over the news recently as they traded Chase Budinger to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 18 pick in this year's draft, giving them three of the first 18 picks.
Houston originally earned just the No. 14 pick, but they also previously picked up the No. 16 slot from the New York Knicks in a 2010 three-team trade involving Kevin Martin, Jared Jeffries, Tracy McGrady and many others.
Daryl Morey has also shipped off the No. 14 pick along with Samuel Dalembert to the Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 12 selection and a few players. Now, the Rockets are left with the No. 12, No. 16 and No. 18 picks in the draft.
The Rockets aren't looking to use all three draft picks on themselves and are trying to package them in a manner that will allow Dwight Howard to join the squad.
Boston Celtics
While the Boston Celtics' record dictated that they would have the No. 21 pick in the 2012 NBA draft, they also have the No. 22 pick. As part of the Jeff Green-Kendrick Perkins swap, the Oklahoma City Thunder had to send over the less favorable of the Los Angeles Clippers—acquired as part of the Eric Bledsoe deal—and Minnesota Timberwolves' picks.
There haven't been any rumored deals involving these back-to-back picks, but the C's usually don't allow rookies to contribute heavily to their lineup. I'd still expect at least one of them to change hands.
If they don't though, you could be seeing Royce White and Andrew Nicholson in green before too long.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers naturally own the No. 4 pick in the draft, but they also have the rights to the No. 24 pick, thanks to the Ramon Sessions trade with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Right now, I have the Cavs projected to select Harrison Barnes and Fab Melo, but that could all change if Cleveland trades up to get Bradley Beal. The offer of the two picks for the Bobcats' No. 2 slot is reportedly on the table, according to Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have four picks in the 2012 NBA draft, although only two are in the first round: the No. 7 and No. 30 picks.
Golden State originally had the rights to the No. 7 pick and they acquired the No. 30 slot from the San Antonio Spurs as part of the Stephen Jackson for Richard Jefferson swap.
The Dubs don't need four picks in the draft, so look for them to package a few of them in an attempt to move up in the order.
FIRST ROUND ORDER
| 1. New Orleans Hornets |
| 2. Charlotte Bobcats |
| 3. Washington Wizards |
| 4. Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 5. Sacramento Kings |
| 6. Portland Trail Blazers (from Brooklyn Nets) |
| 7. Golden State Warriors |
| 8. Toronto Raptors |
| 9. Detroit Pistons |
| 10. New Orleans Hornets (from Minnesota Timberwolves) |
| 11. Portland Trail Blazers |
| 12. Houston Rockets (from Milwaukee Bucks) |
| 13. Phoenix Suns |
| 14. Milwaukee Bucks (from Houston Rockets) |
| 15. Philadelphia 76ers |
| 16. Houston Rockets (from New York Knicks) |
| 17. Dallas Mavericks |
| 18. Houston Rockets (from Minnesota, via Utah) |
| 19. Orlando Magic |
| 20. Denver Nuggets |
| 21. Boston Celtics |
22. Boston Celtics (From Los Angeles Clippers) |
| 23. Atlanta Hawks |
| 24. Cleveland Cavaliers (From Los Angeles Lakers) |
| 25. Memphis Grizzlies |
| 26. Indiana Pacers |
| 27. Miami Heat |
| 28. Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 29. Chicago Bulls |
| 30. Golden State Warriors (from San Antonio Spurs |
