NBA Mock Draft 2012: Last-Second Forecast for Entire 1st Round
We have reached zero hour and the 2012 NBA draft is going to be one of the most unpredictable nights of the sports year.
All that we really know for sure is what will happen with the No. 1 pick. There is no way the New Orleans Hornets pass on Anthony Davis. After that, you can make a case for at least three players in the No. 2 spot, and you can keep doing that all the way through to the end. It makes things a lot more exciting.
To get you ready for tonight's festivities, here is our final projection for what to expect during the NBA Draft.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, Kentucky
The second the Hornets won the draft lottery, Davis started getting fitted for a uniform and learned to love Cajun food. For a franchise that hit the reset button last year by trading Chris Paul, being able to acquire the best player in the draft class is a major coup.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas Robinson, Kansas
There are a lot of things that can be said about Michael Jordan-led teams in the NBA draft, most of them negative. However, bringing Robinson in as the new face of the franchise is not a move that should be criticized.
Robinson finally figured out how to use all his athletic gifts in his junior year at Kansas, averaging a double-double and leading the program to the national championship game. His ceiling isn't as high as Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but he is far more likely to reach his potential.
And there is nothing wrong with getting a really good power forward with the No. 2 pick.
3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, Florida
Beal just makes too much sense for the Wizards, who need another backcourt player to pair alongside John Wall. They may not win a lot of games next season, but they will be fun to watch.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
One of the high-upside talents in this draft, Barnes is far from a finished product. He needs to work on being more than just a scorer in order to be an All-Star at the next level, but he has such a good looking shot that the Cavaliers will be more than happy to take a chance on him at this spot.
5. Sacramento Kings: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky
Once thought to be the no-doubt No. 2 pick, Kidd-Gilchrist will take over as the new face of the Kings. He is the youngest college player in this draft class, not yet 19 years old. He has incredible upside, both offensively and defensively.
He will need time to develop into the superstar his talent suggests he can become. Fortunately, the Kings have the time to wait on him.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey Nets): Damian Lillard, Weber State
The Blazers are desperate for a point guard. Lillard needs to develop a better understanding of when to shoot and when to pass, but he is the best pure point in this class. It is a perfect match of need and talent.
7. Golden State Warriors: Andre Drummond, Connecticut
The Warriors need a true center in the middle who can slow their high-octane offense down. Drummond can be frustrating more often than he should be, yet true centers who can dominate offensively and defensively are never available this late in the draft.
Drummond is a project who needs a lot of work, so don't expect immediate results.
8. Toronto Raptors: Dion Waiters, Syracuse
For the Raptors, this draft has to be all about adding scoring to their lineup. There might not be a better player for them than Waiters.
The Syracuse guard brings a dimension to this team that has been lacking for a long time. He can stop and shoot from beyond the arc, or drive the lane and attack the basket. Either way he is doing it, Waiters is the dynamic scorer the Raptors need.
9. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, North Carolina
With the Pistons clearly going after size in this draft, Henson seems to be the most logical choice for them. He is a strong defender with great instincts and will block a ton of shots in his rookie season.
Henson needs to fill out his body in order to have sustained success in the NBA. He is long and lanky right now, but power forwards need muscle to succeed.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Austin Rivers, Duke
Sometimes the name overshadows the talent in drafts. That is not to say Rivers doesn't have a lot of talent, just not enough to warrant a selection at No. 10. He needs to develop a consistent shot and work on passing the ball.
Given that Rivers is a tweener, the Hornets have to help develop him to find a position he can succeed at in the NBA.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Meyers Leonard, Illinois
With the Blazers figuring out their point guard position earlier, size in the middle should be their priority. Leonard is a defensive-oriented center who will not contribute much offensively. Given that the Blazers have enough scorers already, they can afford to live with Leonard's limitations.
12. Houston Rockets: Tyler Zeller, North Carolina
Zeller is going to develop into a serviceable NBA center. He has size, strength and a better-than-expected shooter's touch from the outside. When you are seven feet tall and can score from 15-18 feet, it is a good bet you will have a job for a long time.
13. Phoenix Suns: Terrence Ross, Washington
If Ross would have stopped settling for jumpers at Washington, he could easily have put himself in the conversation for a top-10 pick. Since he always seemed apprehensive to use the full breadth of his talents, he is going to settle for being a late lottery pick.
The Suns won't mind seeing Ross on the board, because he is far from a broken prospect. He has a great-looking shot and amazing athleticism. If the Suns can get him to tap into his potential, they will have a star.
14. Milwaukee Bucks: Perry Jones III, Baylor
On talent, Jones should go right in this range. He is a long, athletic power forward who had a productive career in one of the best conferences in America. The problems come when you talk about him on the bright lights and big stages.
Jones had tendencies where he would either fall apart or hide completely during some games. He needs to prove he can be consistent in the NBA to reach his star potential.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut
Another underachiever. Lamb is the kind of high-upside prospect the 76ers need. He has a good shot and should develop into an offensive force.
For a team built on defense and slowing the game down, Lamb will be a nice change of pace in the lineup.
16. Houston Rockets (via New York Knicks): Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State
Even though the Rockets grabbed Jones with their first pick, I think they will continue to go after high-upside stars rather than try to reach by filling holes.
Moultrie is one of the most explosive big men in this draft. He is able to get off the ground like a superhero, with the long arms to be a shot-blocking dynamo. As long as he learns to play inside, he will turn into at least an average NBA power forward.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Kendall Marshall, North Carolina
The Mavericks need to add some excitement and flare to their lineup, as well as youth. Marshall is the perfect storm of skills for the 2011 NBA champions. A young point guard with spectacular passing ability is too good to look past at this spot.
Marshall needs to work on developing a consistent shot, but even if he doesn't turn into more than a 10-12 point scorer, he has such good vision that he will be a star.
18. Houston Rockets (via Utah Jazz through Minnesota Timberwolves): Moe Harkless, St. John’s
Again, what do you do with the Rockets? Harkless is an exciting athlete who is develop a great inside game. He needs to find an outside shot, but he can rebound and drive the lane.
19. Orlando Magic: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
We know the Magic need size if they move Dwight Howard. Sullinger's stock has been dropping rapidly throughout this process due to a reported back issue that could be problematic throughout his career.
He has enough upside to warrant a lottery selection. There are some issues with consistency and conditioning, though I like him as a gamble at this spot for a team that has a lot of problems to fix this offseason.
20. Denver Nuggets: Terrence Jones, Kentucky
Jones fits the Nuggets bill, as a long, athletic player who can shoot the ball from anywhere. He also doesn't want to play a lot of defense, which fits Denver's scheme perfectly.
21. Boston Celtics: Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure
If anyone can get Nicholson to play hard on a consistent basis, it would be Doc Rivers. Nicholson is a terrific prospect with a commanding presence in the paint and a good shot that he needs to use more often on the outside.
22. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Royce White, Iowa State
White is the kind of player the Celtics should take a chance on. He has big potential as an NBA-ready prospect with strong offensive skills and passing ability.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Quincy Miller, Baylor
Miller's knee injury makes him a risk some teams won't take a chance on. The Hawks are in a good spot to take a chance on a strong athlete with plenty of upside.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Fab Melo, Syracuse
While Melo is not going to make anyone's list of best centers in the NBA anytime soon, I like the potential dimension he adds to the Cavaliers and their rebuilding process.
Given that Melo is all defense and rebounding, he needs to be really good to make up for a lack of polish and upside on offense. Since the Cavaliers will have Kyrie Irving and, based on my projection, Harrison Barnes, they will have more than enough scoring to go around.
There is something to be said for having that defensive stalwart in the middle. Teams need someone like that, and Melo is a strong enough prospect to warrant a selection at this spot.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten, Jr., Washington
Wroten is a reclamation project for the Grizzlies, which is unusual to say since he is just coming out of college. He had a bad season at Washington, showing no shooting touch and appearing to be in over his head.
These are not issues that can't be worked out with time and development, both on his part and with help from the team. Wroten has enough upside to be considered a steal at this spot.
26. Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, Kentucky
In an ideal world, Teague would be available when the Pacers make their pick. He is from the area and the team desperately needs an impact point guard who can help the big men in the lineup play more in their position.
The Pacers are not that far from being able to compete with the best teams in the Eastern Conference, but they do need to make some significant changes this offseason to get there. Teague would be a great start towards getting this team to that next level.
27. Miami Heat: Jeff Taylor, Vanderbilt
The newly crowned NBA champions will find Taylor to be a key cog in their effort to repeat. He is a strong all-around player with the ability to shoot and play defense. He is an ideal fit for what this team needs.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Draymond Green, Michigan State
Green is an intriguing prospect, because he doesn't have one standout tool that you look for when projecting a player to be a first-round pick. He does bring a toughness and solid skill set with him, and the Thunder need someone who will do grunt work to take the next step.
29. Chicago Bulls: Will Barton, Memphis
The Bulls need athletes who can score. Barton fits that bill to a T. He needs to work on creating his own shot to stick with this particular offense, but as a shooting guard who can put the ball in the basket, he is too good to pass up.
30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio Spurs): John Jenkins, Vanderbilt
The Warriors love shooters, and Jenkins can stand behind the three-point line all day long. I would like to see them change their style to go for more substance than style, but that isn't happening right now.
