NBA Mock Draft 2012: Predicting Where Top College Stars Will Land
New rumors have constantly been circulating as Thursday night's NBA draft quickly approaches, and it assures that things will be quite unpredictable when the action gets started.
Nobody will be shocked if and when the New Orleans Hornets decide to take Kentucky forward Anthony Davis first overall, but what happens next is truly anyone's guess.
Aside from Davis, there may not be any definitive elite players, but there are plenty of top college stars that teams would love to get their hands on. What happens following the No. 1 pick will have a lot to do with trades and team needs, rather than who the best available prospect really is.
Whatever the case, it should be an extremely exciting first round.
Along with a full, first-round mock draft, here is a breakdown of where you can expect every top college star to land on Thursday.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, F (Kentucky)
It has been known ever since the Hornets had the good fortune of winning the lottery that they would select Davis, and they'll make it official on Thursday night.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas Robinson, F (Kansas)
The Bobcats may be inclined to trade out of this spot if they feel there are enough options that they are comfortable with, but if they want Robinson, then they should stand pat and take him.
3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, G (Florida)
Over the past several weeks many have wondered what the Washington Wizards might do with the No. 3 pick, and things haven't gotten any clearer during that time frame.
The Wiz traded for center Emeka Okafor and forward Trevor Ariza from the New Orleans Hornets last week, so while that may suggest that they wouldn't be in the market for a forward with the third selection, you never really know what to believe.
There has been some talk that the Wizards would be willing to trade out of the third spot, but I believe that is contingent upon what the Bobcats do.
If Charlotte stays where it is and takes Robinson as expected, then all signs point to the Wizards staying as well in order to select Florida guard Bradley Beal. If a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers trades up and snipes Beal, however, then all bets are off as Washington will have plenty of options.
I'm going to assume that a big trade isn't made, and that will result in the Wizards hanging in there at No. 3 and taking Beal. Washington already has Okafor and Nene in the frontcourt with Jan Vesely waiting in the wings, so I can't see the Wizards going with another forward.
Washington has a need at two-guard after getting rid of Nick Young, and Beal could be the perfect answer as a complement to talented point guard John Wall.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes, F (North Carolina)
If the Cavaliers decide to stay with the fourth pick rather than trading up to No. 2, Barnes figures to be their choice as they need a secondary scorer to go along with Kyrie Irving.
5. Sacramento Kings: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, F (Kentucky)
I wouldn't consider Kidd-Gilchrist to be a huge need for the Kings, but he is the last elite talent left on the board and can allow them to move Tyreke Evans back to guard if he remains in the fold.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via Brooklyn): Andre Drummond, C (Connecticut)
The Blazers have two very obvious holes currently, and the bigger one is at center, so they will be very fortunate and grateful if a high-upside prospect like Drummond falls to them.
7. Golden State Warriors: Damian Lillard, G (Weber State)
Golden State needs another perimeter scorer to go with Stephen Curry, and Lillard makes a lot of sense since he is similar to the departed Monta Ellis.
8. Toronto Raptors: Jeremy Lamb, G (Connecticut)
Lamb is predicted to be taken anywhere from this spot to No. 20 in various mocks, but since he is such a good fit for the Raptors as a shooter, I believe they will pounce on him.
9. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones III, F (Baylor)
Jones has high bust potential due to his lack of assertiveness and effort at times, but if he develops correctly, he would be a great complement to the more physical Greg Monroe.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via MIN): Kendall Marshall, G (North Carolina)
Marshall has dropped in most mocks for whatever reason over the past couple months, but he is the best pure point in the draft and would fill a major need for the Hornets.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Austin Rivers, G (Duke)
If the Blazers are able to get Andre Drummond with their first pick, then they will have a bit of flexibility at No. 11. Raymond Felton simply didn't work out for them as a point guard this past season, and common sense would dictate that they'll be looking for a true point guard to replace him.
The only issue with that, though, is that Marshall is the best such player in the draft by a country mile, and I have him being taken a pick ahead of them.
They could opt to reach for the next best option in Marquis Teague, but if they like him, then they can probably afford to trade down a few spots. One thing that this draft doesn't lack is explosive, offensively-gifted combo guards, however. There are a number of intriguing players who can play both shooting guard and point guard, and I believe Portland should go that route.
While the Blazers have a couple prospects to choose from, Duke guard Austin Rivers seems like the best fit. Rivers is obviously more of a scorer than a distributor, but he is a very capable ball-handler and seems to have the ability to play a little point guard in the NBA. The Blazers could use some help at shooting guard as well, so Rivers should get plenty of playing time as a rookie.
There is some bust concern with Rivers, but if he can improve his shot and play smart basketball, he should be a good pro.
12. Houston Rockets (from Milwaukee): Meyers Leonard, C (Illinois)
The Rockets have three picks in the first round and used one of them, along with Samuel Dalembert, to move up to this spot in what appears to be an effort to address the center position with Leonard.
13. Phoenix Suns: Dion Waiters, G (Syracuse)
Rumors are rampant that the Suns love Waiters, and with Steve Nash highly unlikely to return to Phoenix, the Suns will nab the Syracuse product and transition him to point guard in the NBA.
14. Milwaukee Bucks (from Houston): Tyler Zeller, F/C (North Carolina)
I have to believe that the Bucks and Rockets may have exchanged names before they made their trade, and if the Bucks preferred Zeller, then they will get their man here.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: John Henson, F (North Carolina)
There has been talk that the 76ers are interested in acquiring Pau Gasol, but if that doesn't happen, then they need to get a big such as Henson with this pick.
16. Houston Rockets (via New York): Terrence Jones, F (Kentucky)
With the center position nailed down after the selection of Zeller, the Rockets would be wise to take a tenacious forward like Jones who can come in off the bench and control the boards.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Arnett Moultrie, F (Mississippi State)
The Mavericks might be tempted to go with a point guard here, but Moultrie is a great talent on the board fairly late, so they will take him and hope he meshes well with Dirk Nowitzki.
18. Houston Rockets (from Minnesota, via Utah): Marquis Teague, G (Kentucky)
Point guard Kyle Lowry's name has constantly come up in trade rumors, and although there is nothing imminent yet, Houston ought to grab Teague just in case a contingency plan is needed.
19. Orlando Magic: Doron Lamb, G (Kentucky)
It wouldn't be inconceivable to see the Magic trade Dwight Howard on Thursday night and effectively shake up the draft, but Lamb would help address their perimeter scoring issues regardless.
20. Denver Nuggets: Moe Harkless, F, (St. John's)
The Nuggets are two deep at pretty much every position, making this pick is dealer's choice. Harkless has the ability to become a shut-down defender, so he would be a nice selection.
21. Boston Celtics: Terrence Ross, G (Washington)
I can't see Ray Allen back in green and white next season, so it is time for the Celtics to move on by taking more of a complete shooting guard in the form of Ross.
22. Boston Celtics (via L.A. Clippers): Fab Melo, C (Syracuse)
The Celtics struggled so much at center that they moved Kevin Garnett there this past season, but it's time for Boston to find an answer at the position and Melo could be it.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Royce White, F (Iowa State)
Atlanta's window of opportunity in the Eastern Conference is all but shut, so it's time to start reloading with some potential young studs such as White.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via L.A. Lakers): Andrew Nicholson, F (St. Bonaventure)
The Cavs already got their complementary scorer in the form of Barnes earlier, so they must get a guy who can score in the paint with this pick, and Nicholson can do just that.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten, G (Washington)
Memphis is far too deliberate and defensively minded, so the Grizzlies could really benefit from getting a guard like Wroten to speed things up a bit.
26. Indiana Pacers: Jared Sullinger, F/C (Ohio State)
Because of concerns regarding a back injury, there has been talk that Ohio State big man Jared Sullinger may fall outside the first round entirely. That is understandable, particularly since there was already some question as to whether Sullinger could translate effectively to the next level.
Sullinger is such a great talent, though, that I have a hard time believing he will tumble that far.
The Indiana Pacers may be the deepest team in the league, but they don't have a lot backing up center Roy Hibbert.
A guy like Sullinger wasn't initially thought to be a possibility at this point, but I could see the Pacers pouncing on him for value's sake. Maybe Sullinger can't play center in the NBA over long stretches at 6'9", but he has a wide body and is physical enough to be able to do it off the bench as an energy player.
Even if Sullinger doesn't become a stud, he could be a major steal here. DeJuan Blair fell into the second found a few years back because teams were worried about his knees, but the San Antonio Spurs scooped him up, and he has been an integral bench player for them. I see something very similar happening with Sullinger, and the Pacers will be the beneficiaries of other teams being reluctant.
27. Miami Heat: Festus Ezeli, C (Vanderbilt)
The Heat don't really even need this pick, but it's no secret that they are a little thin at center, so they might as well take Ezeli and take the time to develop him.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Draymond Green, F (Michigan State)
Oklahoma City is still trying to learn how to win, and the Thunder are right on the verge of doing so, making Green a smart selection since he is a leader and a proven winner in his own right.
29. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins, G (Vanderbilt)
The Bulls need a shooting guard who can score the basketball regardless of when Derrick Rose returns to action, and Jenkins may be the best shooter in the draft.
30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio): Jeffery Taylor, F, (Vanderbilt)
Having taken Lillard with the No. 7 selection, the Warriors can do pretty much whatever they please with this pick, and going with an athletic wing like Taylor would be wise.
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