NBA Draft 2012: Final Needs for All 30 Teams

The 2012 NBA draft is finally upon us. All the mock drafts are in, most of the pre-draft trades are finalized and teams have made their wish lists in hopes of drafting their next big stars.

Most teams have specific needs to fill, whether it's shoring up a defensive hole, adding a dynamic scorer or adding depth to an already formidable rotation.

How will that affect the draft order? Will Michael Kidd-Gilchrist fall because he doesn't meet specific needs of lottery teams? Will guys like Bradley Beal and Harrison Barnes rise because they give a team an immediate scoring boost?

We shall see.

Atlanta Hawks

Draft a Guy Who Can Play Now

The Atlanta Hawks are a team with some solid pieces in Josh Smith, Joe Johnson and Jeff Teague, but they lacked enough playmakers to make any noise in the Eastern Conference.

The solution? They need to draft a guy who can light it up as a rookie.

Shooting guard John Jenkins has the potential to be that guy, and he could help form a formidable scoring combo along with Johnson.

While the Hawks have a solid core in place, it'd be best to draft an impact guy like Jenkins.

Boston Celtics

Draft a Solid Big Man

The Boston Celtics need to draft a dominant big man with a presence on defense. 

Whether or not Kevin Garnett returns has no bearing on their draft needs. They must get bigger and better defensively inside.

While the top talent will be gone by picks No. 21 and 22 (both of which Boston possesses), guys like Fab Melo (pictured), Arnett Moultrie, Jared Sullinger and Terrence Ross will likely be available.

While Melo is the biggest presence on defense, his work ethic and hapless offensive skills make him a risky pick. Sullinger is equally as large a risk because of his back, but the potential for greatness is much higher.

Either way, the Celtics need a big man who can help the team.

Brooklyn Nets

Get Something of Value at Pick No. 57

The Brooklyn Nets have just one pick in the draft—No. 57 overall. Needless to say, that puts them in an awkward position.

It's really hard to predict second-round talent, so the Nets will look to get lucky with their pick.

Bleacher Report's Joel C. Cordes has Drew Gordon, a forward from New Mexico, going to the Nets in his latest mock draft, as he will likely be one of the best players still available.

Hopefully he turns out well in Brooklyn; otherwise it will end up being yet another wasted draft for the Nets.

Charlotte Bobcats

Draft the Guy Who Can Turn Around the Franchise

The last thing the Charlotte Bobcats need is to draft a bust with the No. 2 overall pick.

Anthony Davis will almost assuredly be taken No. 1 overall, but Charlotte will have a plethora of other options available.

Thomas Robinson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Harrison Barnes will likely all go on to have promising careers, but I like Bradley Beal the best at No. 2.

He's a playmaker and can pair well with Kemba Walker in the backcourt.

After a seven-win 2011-12 season, the Bobcats had better make sure they draft someone who can bring them back to at least mediocrity.

Chicago Bulls

Draft a Shooting Guard Who Can Put the Ball in the Basket

For a team with the best record in the NBA the past two seasons, the Chicago Bulls have more holes than you'd expect.

They could use a backup point guard, a replacement point guard for Derrick Rose and even a scoring 2-guard.

At pick No. 29, plenty of shooting guards should still be available. The best pick for them there is Doron Lamb from Kentucky. He can score with the best of them and has the potential to have an immediate impact next season.

Next season will be interesting in Chicago. The Bulls are a very good team, but many are intrigued to see how they can handle the loss of Rose for an extended period of time.

Lamb will help soften the blow.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Draft Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

It's simple, really. The Cleveland Cavaliers are a team in disarray, and the addition of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist would do wonders for the franchise.

Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson were stellar in their rookie seasons in 2011-12, but they'll need more help to bring Cleveland back into contention.

A "big three" of Gilchrist, Thompson and Irving would certainly help. If they all perform at their highest levels, the Cavs could have some serious scoring threats that defenses will have to pay attention to.

Throw in a few role players, and the Cavaliers could become a playoff team in the next few years.

Dallas Mavericks

Draft a Point Guard, Just in Case You Can't Sign Deron Williams

The Dallas Mavericks are currently lacking a capable point guard. Jason Kidd is a free agent, and there's a good chance he won't return.

Dallas is in the running for Deron Williams, but there's never a guarantee when dealing with top free agents.

That being the case, the Mavericks should look at Kendall Marshall, a point guard from the University of North Carolina, at pick No. 17.

Marshall is a pass-first type of guard and will do well setting up Dirk Nowitzki on offense.

Even if Williams ends up coming to Dallas, Marshall could be a useful option off the bench.

Denver Nuggets

Draft a Bigger Power Forward

The Denver Nuggets are explosive offensively, but their defense suffers at times because they are undersized in the frontcourt.

While Kenneth Faried and Al Harrington are solid options on offense, their presence at power forward hardly strikes fear into opposing offenses.

Enter Terrence Ross who, at No. 20, could do wonders on defense for the Nuggets. He is athletic, long, a solid rebounder and versatile. 

The Nuggets like to spread the floor and run, and Ross would fit perfectly into that system. At the same time, he could be a valuable asset on defense.

Detroit Pistons

Draft a Big Man to Play Alongside Greg Monroe

At No. 9, the Detroit Pistons have the opportunity to draft a quality big man.

Both John Henson (pictured) and Meyers Leonard will likely still be on the board at that point, and either one would be a nice selection.

Greg Monroe played extremely well at the center position last season, so the best bet would be to draft a capable power forward.

Enter Henson, whose length and athleticism would do well next to Monroe.

Jason Maxiell and Jonas Jerebko played the majority of minutes at the 4 last season, but there's definitely plenty of room to upgrade via the draft.

Golden State Warriors

Make All Four Picks Count

The Golden State Warriors have four picks in the draft—two in each round—and it's essential that they get the best players available with each selection.

Golden State doesn't have many franchise players aside from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, so drafting the best available would be the safest way to improve the team.

Andre Drummond (pictured) could still be there at No. 7—their first pick—and he'd be the easy choice to start of the Warriors' draft with.

At pick No. 30, Vanderbilt small forward Jeff Taylor could be a nice option.

In the second round, it's simply a matter of taking the best player left.

Houston Rockets

Entice the Orlando Magic to Part with Dwight Howard

The Houston Rockets have reportedly hatched a master plan to acquire center Dwight Howard over the past week, a plan that has them stockpiling first-round picks in hopes that the Orlando Magic will be interested.

With Howard on board, the Rockets will definitely move up in the Western Conference power rankings. Should a deal get done, they'd even still have enough money to bring in Deron Williams.

The Rockets are in a good position, though. Even if the trade doesn't happen, they'll still have the No. 12, 16 and 18 selections in the first round.

There's a good chance that the Rockets can rebuild and compete at the same time next season.

Indiana Pacers

Draft a Capable Point Guard

The Indiana Pacers lack consistent point guard play. Darren Collison is an inconsistent starter, and George Hill is playing out of position.

Drafting a point guard is key for the Pacers at No. 26, and Marquis Teague (pictured) will likely still be available.

While he needs to work on his passing skills, he has the potential to be a solid contributor in the NBA. A selection of Teague would allow Hill to shift back to his more natural shooting guard position. It would also give Collison a little competition at the point.

If Collison ever finds any sort of consistency, Teague could then become an above-average reserve.

Either way, Teague is the best option for them in the first round.

Los Angeles Clippers

Draft a Shooting Guard with Their Only Pick

The Los Angeles Clippers have but one pick in the draft, coming at No. 53.

Every shooting guard that saw time at the position for the Clippers last season is a free agent, so depth at the position is essential.

Drafting a shooting guard, like Chris Johnson from Dayton, would be an easy way to add an athletic shooter to the team.

Playing time may be hard to come by because of the likelihood that the Clippers will re-sign at least one of their guards, but Johnson could be in line for some decent minutes off the bench if he shows something in the preseason.

Los Angeles Lakers

Use That Last Pick Wisely

The Los Angeles Lakers possess the final pick in the draft, a pick that also happens to be the team's only selection.

At No. 60, the Lakers will have to rely solely on scouting. While the nation's top players will all be gone at that point, there is still value that can be had.

Jae Crowder would be the best choice for them here.

Even though he is undersized at 6'6" for a small forward, he works very hard on the glass and on defense. His mentality and work ethic could be a nice addition to the Lakers.

Memphis Grizzlies

Draft O.J. Mayo's Replacement

O.J. Mayo will likely be leaving the Memphis Grizzlies via free agency, so the team will be forced to look to fill that hole through the draft.

Tyshawn Taylor (pictured) is a guy who can take his place. He's a combo guard who has the skills necessary to play both the point and the 2.

With the Grizzlies, he'd likely be more of a shooting guard.

He won't displace Tony Allen any time soon, but Taylor could see very valuable minutes as the first guy off the bench.

Miami Heat

Draft a Big Man Who Can Produce on Both Ends

The Miami Heat will enter next season as the defending NBA champions, but that doesn't mean that there's no room to improve.

Joel Anthony stepped up on defense last season, but his lack of offensive efficiency should signal to the Heat that they need an upgrade.

Vanderbilt's Festus Ezeli could be had with pick No. 27, and his skills on both sides of the ball make him a viable option.

Anthony may still be the starter when the regular season begins, but don't be surprised if Ezeli plays his way into a starting role.

Milwaukee Bucks

Draft a Big Man Who Can Command the Point

At No. 14, the Milwaukee Bucks need to look at drafting a center who doesn't mind bumping bodies with some of the bigger guys in the league.

Tyler Zeller can be that guy.

A true seven-footer, Zeller displays nice touch at the rim while also possessing a decent mid-range jumper. Rebounding and blocking shots are also his strengths.

Drew Gooden is getting up there in age, so having Zeller learn from him would be a great move before he retires.

With a solid big man in place, the Bucks could get themselves closer to playoff contention.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Draft Somebody of Value at No. 58

The Minnesota Timberwolves own just one pick in the draft, and with a sizable need at shooting guard, they may look to get lucky at No. 58.

International prospect Paul Lacombe from France is a guy that the Timberwolves may be willing to let stay in Europe for a few seasons to refine his game. At 22, he still has the potential to improve.

Just look at what Minnesota did with Ricky Rubio. It let him develop in Europe and then brought him over when it thought he was ready.

That decision turned out pretty well for both parties.

New Orleans Hornets

Make Sure Anthony Davis Pans Out

Anthony Davis is the consensus No. 1 overall pick, and the New Orleans Hornets seem poised to select him as soon as they are officially on the clock.

The Hornets received that top pick much to the chagrin of the heavily favored Bobcats, and drafting a bust prospect is the last thing they want to do.

After basically being handed a gift-wrapped package containing the top pick, the Hornets must do everything possible to ensure that Davis becomes the player they think he can.

With that, the Hornets need to surround him with some more talent to help ease his transition into the NBA.

New York Knicks

Draft a Lights-Out Shooter

The New York Knicks are another team with just one pick in the draft. Theirs comes at No. 48, and they'll be looking to select a potent shooter in the draft's final picks.

William Buford from Ohio State is one such option. He averaged 14.7 points per game in his senior season, a season that many people considered a down one for Buford.

If that's a down season, I'm curious to see what a strong season entails.

Either way, he's an above-average shooter who can be counted on to hit big shots when it matters. 

The Knicks should take him without a moment's hesitation if he is still available at No. 48.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Trade Up to No. 2

The Oklahoma City Thunder are reportedly very interested in moving up into the top five to select Bradley Beal, and No. 2 would be their best bet to get him.

James Harden may have to go in the deal, but there are other ways to trade up without parting ways with the best bench player in the league.

Beal would be a great addition to the runner-ups. He can play both the 1 and the 2, although he is better suited as a shooting guard.

Assuming they keep Harden, Beal would be a role player at first. Russell Westbrook and Harden will command nearly all the minutes, but he'll get valuable time when they need a breather.

The Thunder can get much better as a club by moving up to No. 2, which is saying something when you consider the fact that they were already explosive without him.

Orlando Magic

Accept the Houston Rockets' Offer for Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard does not want to stay in Orlando, and a disgruntled superstar is never fun to deal with. By no means should the Orlando Magic just accept any old deal for him, but accepting what the Houston Rockets have to offer would be a smart move.

Picking up two lottery picks and possibly Kyle Lowry would be a huge step in the right direction during the team's inevitable rebuild.

The rebuilding phase shouldn't last too long though. Both lottery picks will be impact guys who are as close to NBA-ready as possible.

Lowry is one of the top young point guards in the game. He and Jameer Nelson would create a solid combination at the point in Orlando and could help to lead the young team.

Philadelphia 76ers

Draft a Big Man Who Plays Defense

The Philadelphia 76ers are an exciting young team. They are explosive on offense and can rack up points with the best of them.

Unfortunately, the defense suffers as a result. Elton Brand and Spencer Hawes are excellent offensive weapons in the frontcout, but defense is neither's forte.

To solve that problem, the 76ers should look into drafting power forward Arnett Moultrie.

While effective enough on offense, he is best on the defensive end.

His ability to protect the rim and block shots could go a long way for a Sixers team trying to make an even deeper playoff push.

Phoenix Suns

Draft Steve Nash's Successor

It's unknown whether or not Steve Nash will re-sign with the Phoenix Suns, but having an insurance policy like Tony Wroten would not be a bad idea.

The selection may actually work better if Nash does return, as he can help to mentor the young point guard during his rookie season.

Wroten is a court general who creates space for his teammates and always has a pass-first mentality. He can take it to the rim if need be but lacks a consistent jumper.

With him running the show in Nash's absence, whether that be this upcoming season or the following one, the Suns should begin to escape mediocrity.

Portland Trail Blazers

Address Both Areas of Need with Picks No. 6 and 11

The Portland Trail Blazers have picks No. 6 and 11 in the first round, giving them a great opportunity to really get better for the future.

Point guard play was an issue all season. Enter Damian Lillard, a point guard who can score with the best of them. Even as high as No. 6, he could be one of the steals of the draft.

Defense in the frontcourt is another area that needs some improvement. LaMarcus Aldridge plays stellar offensively but isn't too great at defending the basket.

John Henson can help with that problem. His lanky and athletic build will help to make him a force on defense. Playing alongside Aldridge will also help him improve his offensive skills.

This draft could really turn around the Blazers if all goes according to plan.

Sacramento Kings

Select Andre Drummond

While DeMarcus Cousins played exceptionally well last season with the Sacramento Kings, finding dominant big men is hard. If Andre Drummond is still there with pick No. 5, the Kings should pounce and select him.

His game has the potential to become Dwight Howard-esque, although his touch around the basket will need to improve.

Imagine a frontcourt where Cousins takes a breather and an equally-as-dominant Drummond steps onto the court. Opposing offenses and defenses alike would have to be aware of each of them at all times.

Drummond is the best bet for the Kings at No. 5.

San Antonio Spurs

Take a Shot on an International Prospect

The San Antonio Spurs have just one pick in the draft, and it's less than desirable at No. 59.

With the pick, they should look to add an international prospect like Tornike Shengelia (pictured) in hopes that he can polish his game in Europe before coming to the states.

It has worked for them before. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter have all become solid options for the Spurs.

Shengelia has received comparisons to Hedo Turkoglu, albeit without the above-average jumper.

Toronto Raptors

Draft Dion Waiters to Become the Next Dwyane Wade

Syracuse shooting guard Dion Waiters has drawn comparisons to Dwyane Wade for his hard-nosed play, agility and ability to overcome defenders, and that's exactly what the Toronto Raptors need to become a serious threat in the NBA.

While Jose Calderon and DeMar DeRozan are solid NBA regulars, they are best suited for lesser roles. Because of a lack of talent, the Raptors relied upon them heavily.

With Waiters on board, much of the offensive responsibility will be thrust onto his shoulders. He'll be asked to do it all, which is something that he'll likely be able to handle.

Even if he doesn't become the next Wade, anything remotely close will do wonders for an ailing Toronto franchise.

Utah Jazz

Make an Improvement in the League's Worst Backcourt

Making an improvement in the backcourt may be hard to do for the Utah Jazz, as their lone selection comes at No. 47.

They can take a step in the right direction by selecting UC-Santa Barbara shooting guard Orlando Johnson.

Johnson is a natural shooter who can score in bunches, a perfect remedy for a backcourt that got almost nothing positive out of Devin Harris and Gordon Hayward.

He may be a role player off the bench for a few seasons, but even then his presence will be felt in Utah's final record.

Washington Wizards

Select Thomas Robinson at No. 3

The Washington Wizards have almost too many holes to address in one offseason, but they can take a huge step in the right direction by drafting Thomas Robinson from Kansas.

He's one of the draft's few "superstar" players and could be a nice option in the post alongside Kevin Seraphin.

He can score, rebound and defend, three things that are invaluable on a young team looking to improve.

With John Wall dishing him the ball on offense, he'll definitely get his fair share of looks. With all the touches he'll get, Robinson has the potential to average about 15 points per game to go along with eight or nine rebounds.