2012 NBA Mock Draft: Easy Picks for Your Team
In the NBA draft, every decision is one that could define a franchise in a very positive or very negative manner. Because of that, every organization has to tread carefully and make sure that it is confident before it makes a selection. Despite that, though, there are plenty of awful picks every year, so it's obvious that the draft is still an inexact science.
Consensus picks tend to turn into busts sometimes, and there really isn't anything that can be done about that. Teams often get in trouble when they go off the board in an effort to outsmart everyone else, though. Such leaps of faith rarely seem to work out, so that means that teams are usually best off going with the clear pick that fills an obvious need.
Here is a full, first-round mock draft, complete with analysis of the easiest and most intelligent selections for every team in the first round.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, F (Kentucky)
It isn't the case every year, but the 2012 draft is going to kick off without any surprises whatsoever. The New Orleans Hornets hold the No. 1-overall selection, and unless LeBron James or Kevin Durant are being offered for the pick, the Hornets are going to keep it and select Kentucky forward Anthony Davis. When the Hornets won the NBA draft lottery, it might as well have been called the Davis lottery.
New Orleans leaped over three teams to grab the top spot in what has become a very controversial lottery. Tampering suspicions aside, the Hornets are in a very advantageous spot. There could be several future stars in this draft, but the only guy that essentially every talent evaluator loves and considers a sure-fire franchise player is Davis.
The big, athletic forward was a stalwart for Kentucky in his freshman season as he led the Wildcats to the National Championship. Davis is very versatile on the offensive end as he can either score in the paint of shoot jumpers, and he is a demon defensively as well thanks to his rebounding and shot-blocking skills. The Hornets lost their stud when they traded point guard Chris Paul last offseason, but they will soon have a new one in Davis.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas Robinson, F (Kansas)
If the Bobcats are daring, they may be able to trade down to No. 4 and pick up an extra first rounder while still getting Robinson, but if they truly want him, then they should take him here.
3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, G (Florida)
The Wizards are probably very worried about teams jumping ahead of them, but if everything stays chalk, then they will take Beal as an elite shooter to complement John Wall.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes, F (North Carolina)
Cleveland may be inclined to trade up to No. 2 if it covets Beal, but there has been plenty of talk about the Cavs liking Barnes as well, so they may stay put and get Kyrie Irving a little help in the form of his friend.
5. Sacramento Kings: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, F (Kentucky)
The Sacramento Kings are an enigma wrapped in a riddle and they have been for the past several years, so you never know what they're going to do in the draft. Last year they traded down to select guard Jimmer Fredette and that is already looking like a failed pick. There has been talk of the Kings trading up or staying put and taking any number of players, so they may be the draft's wild card.
If things go the way I expect them to, though, the Kings need to take Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at this point. MKG is most definitely an imperfect player at this point, but he is probably the last elite talent remaining on the board. Kidd-Gilchrist is a true small forward who needs to work on his shooting, but he is the hardest-working player in the draft and one of the most athletic as well.
The Kings seem to have a love-hate relationship with Tyreke Evans, but he shouldn't be playing small forward. Taking Kidd-Gilchrist allows Sacramento to move Evans to the backcourt with Marcus Thornton and it gives the Kings a potential lock-down defender and great rebounder at the three. With Kidd-Gilchrist and DeMarcus Cousins wreaking havoc on the boards, the Kings could be very close to contending for a playoff spot.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via Brooklyn): Andre Drummond, C (Connecticut)
Some believe that Drummond is a potential stud center while others think he is a bust waiting to happen, but the Blazers need a center and none has a higher ceiling than Drummond.
7. Golden State Warriors: Damian Lillard, G (Weber State)
The Warriors traded a player quite similar to Lillard in Monta Ellis last season for Andrew Bogut, but Golden State has a chance to replace Ellis and I believe it will.
8. Toronto Raptors: Dion Waiters, G (Syracuse)
The Raptors are another team that often makes strange choices on draft day, but Waiters' penetrating ability would be a really nice complement to Jose Calderon's distributing in the backcourt.
9. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, F (North Carolina)
Detroit is in a really terrible spot with the elite talent off the board, but the Pistons will go with the rail-then, yet athletic Henson in hopes that he bulks up and forms a strong interior duo with Greg Monroe.
10. New Orleans Hornets (via MIN): Kendall Marshall, G (North Carolina)
After already getting the best player in the draft at No. 1, the New Orleans Hornets will be playing with house money at No. 10. They could throw a wild haymaker with an athletic question mark like Austin Rivers of Perry Jones III, but there is a better pick to be made. The Hornets have their inside-out tandem in Davis and Eric Gordon, so New Orleans ought to try and get a guy who can weave everything together.
No player was better at organizing and utilizing the talent around him in college than North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall. It took a while before people realized how good Marshall truly was, but he was second in the nation in assists this past season and became a very capable scorer late in the year as well. Marshall was fantastic at putting the likes of Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller in a position to score, and he can do the same for Davis and Gordon.
When Marshall got injured during the NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels essentially fell apart. It took everything they had to survive Ohio before being eliminated by Kansas. Marshall may not have been the most physically gifted player on the team, but he was the most important. The Hornets need a player of his caliber more than a scorer who may or may not turn out, so he is the clear pick at No. 10.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Austin Rivers, G (Duke)
Portland would have loved to have gotten Marshall here as Raymond Felton hasn't worked out at point guard, but the Blazers need a shooting guard too, so they'll roll the dice with Rivers.
12. Houston Rockets (from Milwaukee): Meyers Leonard, C (Illinois)
The Rockets moved up two spots from No. 14 and gave up center Samuel Dalembert in the process, so I have to believe that they are targeting a center here and Leonard is the best one on the board.
13. Phoenix Suns: Jeremy Lamb, G (Connecticut)
Phoenix probably would like to get a point guard here with Steve Nash likely to leave via free agency, but with no worthy ones available, it will take a great shooter in Lamb.
14. Milwaukee Bucks (from Houston): Tyler Zeller, F/C (North Carolina)
The Bucks picked up Samuel Dalembert while trading down two spots, but he isn't a long-term option, so I still expect Milwaukee to go with a center like Zeller here.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Perry Jones III, F (Baylor)
Jones has dropped as of late due to concerns over a knee injury, but the 76ers are so desperate for help in the post that they will take him and hope that it isn't a big deal.
16. Houston Rockets (via New York): Terrence Jones, F (Kentucky)
The Rockets did well to get a promising developmental guy in Leonard at center, and they should grab a guy who is more likely to contribute immediately as a rebounder in Jones.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Arnett Moultrie, F (Mississippi State)
Dirk Nowitzki seemed to slow down quite a bit last season, so the Mavericks would be smart to get an athletic big in Moultrie who can play alongside him and eventually replace him.
18. Houston Rockets (from Minnesota, via Utah): Marquis Teague, G (Kentucky)
Houston may very well trade some or all of its picks, but if it keeps them, then Teague would be a good fit here as point guard Kyle Lowry continues to be shopped around by the Rockets.
19. Orlando Magic: Doron Lamb, G (Kentucky)
This pick may depend on what the Magic intend to do with Dwight Howard, but perimeter scoring is a need regardless, so Lamb would be a sensible choice.
20. Denver Nuggets: Moe Harkless, F, (St. John's)
The Nuggets can do whatever they please thanks to their considerable depth, but I like their chances of going with Harkless as he can be an athletic terror off the bench.
21. Boston Celtics: Terrence Ross, G (Washington)
The Celtics can address two pressing needs with back-to-back picks, the first of which is shooting guard with Ray Allen likely leaving, making Ross a great, high-upside selection.
22. Boston Celtics (via L.A. Clippers): Fab Melo, C (Syracuse)
Center has been a problem in Boston for the past couple seasons after dealing away Kendrick Perkins, and while Melo's offensive game is raw as can be, he could be a dominant defender.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Royce White, F (Iowa State)
The Hawks need a guy who may be able to step in for Josh Smith when he inevitably leaves after next season, and White has the size, athleticism and physicality to do it.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via L.A. Lakers): Andrew Nicholson, F (St. Bonaventure)
Cleveland may deal this pick to move up to No. 2, but if it doesn't, then Nicholson should be the choice as he can replace Antawn Jamison in terms of being a big who can shoot.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten, G (Washington)
The Grizzlies are a great defensive team, but can't get to the next level until they ramp up their offensive game, and Wroten could definitely do that with his ability to get to the rim.
26. Indiana Pacers: Jared Sullinger, F/C (Ohio State)
Sullinger falls this far due to concerns over his back, but his misfortune is the Pacers' benefit as they can take him as a backup to center Roy Hibbert.
27. Miami Heat: Festus Ezeli, C (Vanderbilt)
The Heat may take an international player and stash him since they don't need much, but a developmental big like Ezeli could eventually pay off.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Quincy Miller, F (Baylor)
The Thunder have a great starting lineup, but the bench is certainly lacking, so they should take Miller as he is athletic and can play a couple different positions.
29. Chicago Bulls: John Jenkins, G (Vanderbilt)
With or without point guard Derrick Rose, the Bulls have to find a shooting guard who can hit open shots and there is no doubt that Jenkins is dangerous when left alone.
30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio): Draymond Green, F (Michigan State)
Golden State should look for a wing player here, and Green should be a guy who meshes well because he isn't too proud to defer to scorers like Stephen Curry or David Lee.
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