2012 NBA Mock Draft: Bold Predictions and Analysis for First Round
For 28 fanbases, the draft is more exciting than the NBA Finals.
On Thursday night, a new class of prospects will officially enter the league. Here’s a 2012 first-round mock with analysis and bold predictions.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis (PF, Kentucky)
If there’s a mock draft out that there that doesn’t have The Brow going first overall, disregard the rest of it.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas Robinson (PF, Kansas)
Bold Prediction: Michael Jordan will blow it. Okay, I guess that isn’t exactly “bold”, but it’s a prediction.
Robinson isn’t a bad prospect. In fact, his work ethic and toughness make him one of the safest prospects in the draft class. While Robinson will be a future star (anything can happen on the Bobcats, though), he isn’t the right star.
Starting a 6’9” Robinson next to a 6’9” Bismack Biyombo is not wise. It doesn’t matter how high they can jump. Against a team like the Los Angeles Lakers with two seven-footers (for now), they will get overwhelmed.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is the right choice. He’s the second best player in the class and he’s a winner. Jordan will select Robinson, though, because he’s a better scorer.
3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal (SG, Florida)
Washington doesn’t have a soul that’s capable of shooting from the outside. If they don’t want to earn the nickname Brick City next season, they will select Beal.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF, Kentucky)
If the Cavs select Harrison Barnes over MKG, the city of Cleveland should riot Decision-style.
5. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond (C, Connecticut)
If Drummond and DeMarcus Cousins were to both fulfill their potential (and if lightning strikes everyone that reads this mock draft) the Kings would be championship contenders for the next decade.
6. Portland Trail Blazers: Dion Waiters (SG, Syracuse)
Portland’s best perimeter scorer not named Jamal Crawford—who can opt out of his contract—is Nicolas Batum. They’re desperate for scoring and “desperate” is an understatement.
7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes (SF, North Carolina)
Golden State’s only true need on their starting lineup is at small forward.
8. Toronto Raptors: Damian Lillard (PG, Weber St.)
Jose Calderon will turn 30 years old in September. Toronto needs a point guard of the future because by the time the Raptors contend, Calderon will have grandchildren.
9. Detroit Pistons: John Henson (PF, North Carolina)
If Pistons fans miss their team being a dominant defensive force, Henson would give them plenty of comforting flashbacks.
10. New Orleans Hornets: Austin Rivers (SG, Duke)
New Orleans is in a jam.
Damian Lillard is the dream selection here. The Hornets desperately need a scoring boost as well as a future point guard and he solves both of those problems. But with him being off the board and Kendall Marshall being a reach, Austin Rivers is their next best bet.
Rivers not only provides the Hornets with relief just in case Eric Gordon leaves in free agency, he also has the ability to potentially play alongside Gordon.
While Rivers isn’t a playmaker by any means of the term, he’s a phenomenal ball handler. And it wouldn’t be like the Hornets would be forced to start him at point right away—they still have Jarrett Jack.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Terrence Jones (PF, Kentucky)
LaMarcus Aldridge is better at the five so the Trail Blazers have the freedom to select a power forward instead of reach for a center.
12. Houston Rockets: Meyers Leonard (C, Illinois)
Houston traded Samuel Dalembert to the Milwaukee Bucks to move up two picks in the draft. Now that they're even thinner at center, they must draft the best five available.
13. Phoenix Suns: Terrence Ross (SG, Washington)
Shannon Brown can jump better than Ross…and that’s about it.
14. Milwaukee Bucks: Perry Jones (PF, Baylor)
Ersan Ilyasova is a one-year wonder and Carlos Delfino is a below-average starter. Jones is capable of filling either of the Bucks' needs at forward.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Tyler Zeller (C, North Carolina)
Spencer Hawes is a free agent leaving second-year big Nikola Vucevic as the 76ers' only true center on the roster.
16. Houston Rockets: Jeremy Lamb (SG, Connecticut)
Kevin Martin, like half the Rockets roster, won’t be around by the time they become a playoff contender again.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Kendall Marshall (PG, North Carolina)
Dallas can’t enter free agency with Roddy Beaubois as the best point guard on their roster because if Deron Williams re-signs with the Brooklyn Nets, they’re done.
18. Houston Rockets: Quincy Miller (SF, Baylor)
Houston traded Chase “Take That P. Diddy” Budinger to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 18th overall pick. With the selection, it would be wise to replace Budinger.
19. Orlando Magic: Jared Sullinger (PF, Ohio St.)
Orlando is about to start from scratch. Dwight Howard could be traded at any time. They need to roll the dice on big-name prospect and Sullinger is too good to pass up at 19th overall.
Sure, he’s been medically red-flagged due to back injuries, but if healthy, Sullinger is one of, if not the most pro-ready prospect in the draft.
Once Howard leaves, Orlando will have no one that’s capable of scoring down low. Big Baby is nothing but a solid rotational player and it remains to be seen if Ryan Anderson will produce without Howard. Sullinger would start from day one.
20. Denver Nuggets: Marquis Teague (PG, Kentucky)
Denver lives for the fast break. It just so happens that Jeff Teague’s bro is blazing.
21. Boston Celtics: Royce White (SF, Iowa St.)
When Chad Ford says “definitely”, I listen.
"More on Royce White. Now hearing more definitely promise is from Celtics at 21.
— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 22, 2012"
22. Boston Celtics: Arnett Moultrie (PF, Mississippi St.)
Boston has absolutely zero depth down low now, but if Kevin Garnett leaves via free agency or retirement, they will have even less. Calculate that.
23: Atlanta Hawks: Moe Harkless (SF, St. John’s)
Marvin Williams is a bust the Hawks waited too long to rid themselves of and needs replaced.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Fab Melo (C, Syracuse)
Cleveland can’t win with a starting frontcourt featuring Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao. They need more length.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Andrew Nicholson (PF, St. Bonaventure)
Memphis needs depth everywhere, but their greatest weakness is down low.
26. Indiana Pacers: Will Barton (SG, Memphis)
Leandro Barbosa is a free agent and Indiana’s second-unit needs a makeover regardless.
27. Miami Heat: Evan Fournier (SG, France)
Mike Miller shouldn’t be able to keep his job because he has one good game.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Draymond Green (SF, Michigan St.)
OKC needs a big man that is capable of spreading the floor. Green has three-point range and power-forward weight at 236 pounds.
29. Chicago Bulls: Tony Wroten Jr. (PG, Washington)
John Lucas is a free agent and who knows how long Derrick Rose will be out.
30. Golden State Warriors: Doron Lamb (SG, Kentucky)
Golden State has this thing you would call an “obsession” with three-point shooters and they need depth at the two.
David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.
