NBA Draft 2012: Why Charlotte Bobcats Should Grab Bradley Beal at No. 2

When it comes to strategizing for the 2012 NBA draft, the Charlotte Bobcats have it easy. 

With holes everywhere, Michael Jordan's organization just needs to select the best player available. By default, they will be drafting for need as well.

Situated with the No. 2 pick, Bradley Beal would be an excellent player to build their future around.

This isn't a time for Charlotte to get cute (which is also why sticking "CATS" on its new uniforms is a mistake). Beal is the second-best player in this draft and therefore the Bobcats shouldn't hesitate to draft him.

Though he didn't have a great year at Florida, the freshman who drew comparisons to Ray Allen coming out of high school is the the best guard available in the 2012 draft.

Blessed with a picture-perfect jump shot and deep range, Beal has the tools to be a prolific scorer at the next level. The Ray Allen comp seems a bit misconstrued. He reminds me a lot of Eric Gordon, currently the NBA's best shooting guard under the age of 25.

Like Gordon, Beal is slightly undersized for the 2, measuring in at just under 6'5" in shoes at the draft combine, but makes up for it with a powerful frame. He's also a great athlete, recording a maximum vertical leap of 39 inches.

Florida head coach Billy Donovan raved about Beal's high basketball IQ, a trait that along with his strong ball-handling abilities make him versatile enough to handle point guard duties for stretches in the pros.

Beal is also a terrific rebounder for a guard. He led the Gators in rebounding last year at just under seven a game and showed that he could be a plus defender, often checking the opposing team's biggest offensive threat.

Finding a premium wing scorer with the willingness to defend and rebound is rare in the NBA. Beal's skill set encompasses just those qualities, making him one of the most valuable commodities and NBA team can possess.

The Charlotte Bobcats should do themselves a favor and make Bradley Beal their franchise building block with the second pick in the 2012 draft.