Final Predictions for Top 30 Players on NBA Draft Big Board

Well, folks, the big day has arrived.  In just mere hours, the 2012 NBA draft will be underway, and each team will be selecting its player (or players) of the future. At the same time, we will see all five starters from Kentucky's championship squad take the first step towards seeing their NBA dreams come true.

One name that has seen a lot of action this week is that of Wildcat Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who has been projected to go anywhere from second to fourth overall.  Will he go boom on the court, or will he be a bust?  For that matter, where will the rest of his teammates be selected?

Well, guess we'll find out in my last mock draft of the year, so let your anticipation take over!

New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Considered to be the best player available from the moment his college career was underway, I would be shocked if the Hornets took anyone besides Davis with the first pick. 

He's just what they need at power forward, and given how he averaged 4.7 blocks per game last year, he should start contributing immediately on defense.

Davis will probably struggle against bigger and more experienced centers his rookie season (i.e. Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, etc.), as he weighs just 220 pounds despite being 6'10", but he has time to develop the rest of his game. 

The fact of the matter is that he's a defensive beast who brings a great shutdown game to the table, and in New Orleans, that is first priority.

Charlotte Bobcats: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Beal is undersized for a shooting guard at just 6'3", but his stock has risen all this week.  Scouts love his athleticism and basketball IQ, and though he was a bit streaky in his lone season with the Gators, teams seem to love his upside.

Seeing as how the Bobcats could use an improvement at shooting guard since Gerald Henderson struggles from long range, don't be shocked if Michael Jordan actually uses his draft pick intelligently, for once.

Washington Wizards: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

The Wizards need a lot of help at forward and have already made a great move in unloading Rashard Lewis' heavy contract to the New Orleans Hornets for Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor, but there's still room for improvement. 

Nothing against Okafor, but his game isn't what the Wizards need at power forward.  John Wall needs an explosive presence who can pull down rebounds and also score some points.  Seeing as how Robinson looks like Amar'e Stoudemire 2.0 both in size and skills, he is definitely the best option for Washington.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

Kyrie Irving needs a reliable go-to guy he can play with for years to come, specifically one who can play either shooting guard or small forward.  Kidd-Gilchrist is a swingman with good size at 6'7", 232 pounds, and he can definitely play the 3 for Cleveland.

Yet, at just 18 years old, MKG's flaws are not to be overlooked.  His jump shot is unconventional and inconsistent, thus making him a streaky shooter.  More importantly, can he become a solid scoring option after shooting 25 percent from long range last season?  Also, does he have the focus for the pros?

Scouts seem to think so, but I guess we'll just have to see.

Sacramento Kings: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

According to Chad Ford of ESPN, Barnes has already made it clear that he really doesn't want to play in Sacramento, but the sad truth is that his scoring is just what the team needs.  This could all change in the next few hours if the Kings choose to trade this pick, but as of now, their needs remain the same.

They have a solid and young starting lineup and absolutely no bench depth.  Given Barnes' 17.4 points per game last season, there's no better option for Sacramento at this point.

Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Portland really needs help at point guard, and Lillard is one who can put some points on the board as well as dish out some assists.  Long story short, he's everything that the Blazers hoped Raymond Felton would be last season.

More importantly, Portland owner Paul Allen was quite impressed by Lillard's workout, according to The Oregonian.  If he's available at this point in the draft, there really isn't any reason to believe that he won't be selected.

Golden State Warriors: Dion Waiters, G/F, Syracuse

For the past few seasons, the Warriors have desperately needed help off the bench.  In drafting Waiters, they get just that and more.

Waiters may seem small at 6'4", but he can simply do it all.  He can score, dunk and play phenomenal defense.  Were it not for his size, he could arguably be called the best swingman in the draft pool.

Should Golden State take him, they will get instant results.

Toronto Raptors: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

For someone whose stock was once so high, Drummond appears to be slipping down the draft boards.  My best guess as to why would be the fact that he had little to no impact for UConn this year and was a nonfactor in the tournament.  His defensive potential is there, but his offense needs a lot of work.

Still, despite his flaws, Drummond has an NBA body at 6'10", 270 pounds.  Seeing as how the Raptors desperately need help in the frontcourt, they would definitely take him if he was available.

Detroit Pistons: John Henson, PF, North Carolina

Detroit hasn't had a reliable big man since Ben Wallace's first stint with the team, and they're going to look to rectify that later tonight.  Henson provides them with good size at 6'10", and his long arms make him an ideal candidate for a solid presence in the middle.

With him blocking shots left and right, pulling down rebounds and maybe even scoring some points, he'll add some much-needed defense to the young Pistons.  More importantly, he'll help center Greg Monroe shoulder the defensive load.

New Orleans Hornets: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

With their second pick, the Hornets need to draft Rivers for two reasons.  First, they may need a shooting guard in the event that Eric Gordon is lost via free agency.  Second, they need a shooter to come off the bench.

Rivers spent just one year at school, and his game is incomplete, but his shooting abilities are off the charts.  For now, all that the Hornets need him to do is score points.  He does that quite well, so consider him another step towards improvement for the team.

Portland Trail Blazers: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

Leonard is a project, but his upside is hard to resist.  He has good size at 7'1" and on top of a superior inside game, he can also stretch the floor with a jump shot.

He probably won't be asked to showcase that skill if Portland takes him, but that's just my opinion.  Portland's last great center was Arvydas Sabonis, and he was a decent perimeter shooter as well.  Perhaps Leonard will be the sequel to him.

Houston Rockets: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

Houston also needs a big man, and while Zeller certainly isn't the best available, his size and attitude make him just what the Rockets need.  The man takes orders well and is a big body to have in the middle.

He's definitely a project, but the results will speak for themselves if he gets the chance to play in Kevin McHale's system and adjusts well to it.

Phoenix Suns: Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut

Phoenix plays in a fast-paced offense, which means they need a fast-paced player to usher them out of the Steve Nash era assuming that the veteran point guard signs elsewhere.  That makes Lamb the perfect candidate, as he is a shooter and dunker who would fit perfectly in Alvin Gentry's run-and-gun system.

Look at it this way.  The sophomore averaged 17.7 points while shooting an astounding 48 percent from the floor last year.  He doesn't really play defense and isn't what one would call tough, but that won't matter in Phoenix.

There, he'll be needed to score points and nothing more.

Milwaukee Bucks: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

The Bucks' greatest need is in the frontcourt, but they also need a scorer in the event that they can't match any offers for unrestricted free agent Brandon Jennings.  That said, assuming both Leonard and Zeller are off the board at this point, GM John Hammond will look to draft some insurance.

Enter Ross, who is a phenomenal scorer and can make shots from almost anywhere on the floor.  He has perfect size for a shooting guard at 6'6". In the event that Jennings walks, he could immediately step in at shooting guard as Monta Ellis could move to point guard.

Philadelphia 76ers: Arnett Moultrie, PF/C, Mississippi State

As much potential as the Sixers have, they need some help in the middle.  Spencer Hawes isn't exactly what one would call a dominant center, and Elton Brand is practically made of chalk.

That said, it's time to add a more reliable option at both power forward and center, not to mention a younger one.  Moultrie provides that and some amazing presence in the low post.  He is a great rebounder and can provide some reliable inside scoring.

Should he get significant minutes in Philly, the results will speak through the team's place in the standings.

Houston Rockets: Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky

The Rockets will get the sleeper of the draft when they take Jones at this spot, giving them a great defensive presence off the bench.  Jones has an NBA body at 6'9", 252 pounds and is a great rebounder whose blocking has also improved.  On top of all that, his dunks are thunderous.

He can also play both forward spots, adding some much-needed depth to the team's bench.

Dallas Mavericks: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's

Harkless provides a great shooting touch and can crash the boards well too.  Seeing as how Dallas could very well lose sixth man Jason Terry to free agency soon, this young man could score some points off the bench.

Also, given his defensive abilities, he could probably also see some time at small forward when Shawn Marion needs a rest.

Houston Rockets: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

The Rockets need help at the point, especially since Kyle Lowry wants out of Houston, according to The Houston Chronicle.  With time and patience, I actually think that Marshall could become a similar type of point man as Lowry.

He is a pass-first guard and a great leader, and his scoring could improve in time.  No matter how you look at it, it's hard to pass up on someone who averaged 9.7 assists last year.  Given the scorers on Houston, they could use that type of point guard to get them the ball.

Orlando Magic: Jared Sullinger, PF/C, Ohio State

Though he has been red-flagged due to a back injury and his draft stock has plummeted as a result, the Magic need to roll the dice on Sullinger, especially if they end up trading Dwight Howard.  He is only 6'9", but he lays with the power of someone much bigger.

I understand that a back injury is something that would scare GMs off, but just look at what Sullinger did during his college days.  The man can clearly play, and in this case, he's definitely worth a roll of the dice.

Denver Nuggets: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

I'll admit that I was a bit shocked by Teague's decision to turn pro, as he didn't shine that brightly for Kentucky last season.  Still, the man's athleticism is off the charts, and his determination is right where it needs to be.

More importantly, Denver will need depth at point guard after Andre Miller leaves via free agency.  Teague is already a great athlete who drives to the basket well, and playing behind Ty Lawson, he can also learn to be an effective distributor.

Boston Celtics: Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor

The Celtics will need help at power forward as Kevin Garnett probably won't be back and Brandon Bass wants to test the free-agent market.  Thus, GM Danny Ainge should roll the dice on Jones, who is a proven scorer but a giant question mark on defense.

Despite that, he has great size at 6'11", 235 pounds.  If there's anyone who can turn him into a beast on defense, it's Doc Rivers.

Boston Celtics: Royce White, SF, Iowa State

White is the enigma of the draft, as his fear of flying and struggles with anxiety are well-known at this point.  Still, Boston seems to like him a lot, according to Chad Ford of ESPN.

He's a cut-and-dry case of boom or bust, but his talent is unquestionable.  Doc Rivers would be the perfect coach to help him adjust to the professional level in the smoothest way possible.

Atlanta Hawks: Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State

After Terrence Jones, Draymond Green could be the next best sleeper of the draft.  Despite being small at 6'7", 245 pounds, he is a phenomenal athlete with an explosive presence on the hardwood.  More importantly, he has a great amount of heart.

Given Atlanta's needs at small forward, he would be a great selection for new GM Danny Ferry.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

The Cavaliers could also use an upgrade at power forward, and Nicholson would be a perfect fit for them.  He could very well be available at this slot, as I'm sure his playing in the Atlantic 10 probably has some GMs questioning the accuracy of his stats.

Yet, the fact remains that he has great size for a power forward and can stretch the floor.  Think of him as a less powerful Kevin Garnett.

Memphis Grizzlies: Will Barton, SG, Memphis

In the event that O.J. Mayo leaves in free agency, Memphis is going to need a guy coming off the bench who can shoot, shoot and shoot some more.  Barton can do just that, having averaged 18.1 points on 51 percent shooting for Memphis last year.

His rebounding is also good, but the Grizzlies will just need him to shoot.

Indiana Pacers: Tony Wroten, G, Washington

Both of Indiana's point guards are shoot-first players, and so is Wroten.  Yet that appears to be the focus of coach Frank Vogel's offense.  Plus, Wroten has one thing that both George Hill and Darren Collison lack: size.

He could use his 6'6" frame to drive the lane and draw fouls, not to mention dish out some pretty passes once that part of his game improves.

Miami Heat: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

As talented as Chris Bosh is, he isn't the type of player who can play center effectively.  Udonis Haslem can, but he doesn't have the size to regularly go toe-to-toe with bigger opponents.  I won't even go into why Dexter Pittman, Joel Anthony and Eddy Curry shouldn't start.

Thus, the best thing Pat Riley can do is draft Melo, who is 7'0" and an absolute beast on defense.  If he can immediately start shutting people down, then Miami could very well repeat as champions next year.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

Seeing as how the Thunder just took a trip to the NBA Finals, it's safe to say that they're a great team.  In terms of needs, they could just use a little more depth off the bench.

That said, I wouldn't be shocked to see them go after a three-point specialist in the draft.  Fortunately, Lamb can do just that as he shot an astounding 47 percent from downtown last year.  Give him the minutes, and he'll give you results.

Chicago Bulls: Scott Machado, PG, Iona

Derrick Rose could be out for the season, so the Bulls will need an effective point guard to fill his spot if that's the case.  Enter Machado, a pass-first point man who led the nation in passing last year when he averaged 9.9 assists per game.

Machado also has a decent jump shot and plays great defense.  If he's available at this point, which he probably will be, GM Gar Forman should roll the dice on him.

Golden State Warriors: Quincy Miller, F, Baylor

Though Waiters is a great pick for them in the lottery, it's unlikely that the Warriors will use him at small forward, where they need a lot of help.  That said, it wouldn't shock me at all to see them take Miller with the final pick of the first round.

Miller is a great overall athlete whose determination matches that of someone who spent four years at college instead of just one.  He crashes the boards well and is a great dunker, just the explosive type of forward that the Warriors need.

With him providing solid minutes, there's no way the team wouldn't improve next season.