NBA Draft Grades 2012: Full Round 1 Results Report Card

It's all over, yet only beginning at the same time.

Though the first round of the 2012 NBA draft is in the books, there is still plenty of work to be done.

We all watched as every first round team took aim at a member of this class' cream of the crop, and while some picks were completely expected, others left us scratching our head.

Which teams made out like bandits and which could stand to embrace a mulligan?

I'm glad you asked.

1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF (Kentucky)

Grade: A

There was no other pick to make here for the Hornets.

Anthony Davis is the most NBA-ready player coming out of this draft. He's extremely versatile, can guard an array of positions and has the potential to become an offensive powerhouse almost instantly at the professional level.

After being forced to deal its franchise cornerstone just prior to the start of this season, things are finally looking up in New Orleans. 

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF (Kentucky)

Grade: B

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is an incredibly talented defender and gifted offensive player in transition.

However, while his star-caliber talent will be a welcomed sight in Charlotte, Thomas Robinson was arguably the better prospect to build a team around.

The Bobcats are not a team known for its outside or inside shooting prowess, and with Kidd-Gilchrist—who needs to hone his jump shot—they still lack that go-to scorer.

3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, SG (Florida)

Grade: A

The Wizards needed a shooter to help stretch opposing defenses for John Wall and they're getting just that in Bradley Beal.

Beal is an incredibly versatile scorer, who can beat you off the dribble or knock down the outside shot. He's also an underrated perimeter defender, who's especially deft at manning the passing the lanes.

Most importantly, though, Beal is a team-first guy. Not just in terms of unselfishness, but in the locker room. He adapts to any role he is asked to assume, and does so with a smile and a tip of the hat.

Washington got a guaranteed winner in Beal.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Dion Waiters, SG (Syracuse)

Grade: C

Cleveland was in need of another dynamic scorer to pair with Kyrie Irving and it got just that in Dion Waiters. This selection was somewhat puzzling.

While Waiters can man either guard position and has been viewed as one of the most NBA-ready talents of the draft, he leaves much to be desired from his perimeter scoring and defense.

Most importantly, though, the Cavaliers could have undoubtedly moved down and selected Waiters.

Knowing he was their guy, they should have extracted extra value from a team looking to move up in the order, thereby providing themselves with an opportunity to fill another void as well. 

5. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson, PF (Kansas)

Grade: A

Holy athleticism.

Thomas Robinson is perhaps the most athletic player from this year's draft class and has given the Kings a prolific second option in the low post.

Robinson can score in the paint and hit the mid range jump shot. He's a terrific interior defender and complements the equally explosive DeMarcus Cousins perfectly.

The Kings, as an organization, are a wreck, but Robinson gives them a legitimate opportunity to return to relevancy once again next season.

Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lilliard, PG (Weber State)

Grade: A

Some wanted Portland to go big, others wanted the team to draft a wing, but the Blazers made the right choice by going with Damian Lillard.

Lillard is the best all-around floor general making the jump to the NBA. He can score in the lane or from the outside and is an excellent distributor and a talented defender.

Portland's backcourt was a massacre last season and Lillard's presence ensures that won't be the reality for a second consecutive season.

7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes, SF (North Carolina)

Grade: B+

Harrison Barnes is perhaps the most athletic swingman coming out of the draft.

The forward is an elite jump shooter who can score coming over screens or creating his own space. His footwork is rocky—especially on the defensive end—but not irreparable.

Golden State's attack at small forward was extremely confusing and even more underwhelming.

But not anymore, as Barnes' presence provides capable clarity to an inconsistent outside rotation. 

8. Toronto Raptors: Terrence Ross, SG (Washington)

Grade: B-

Terrence Ross can shoot the ball. In fact, he was one of the best shooters available, but the Raptors made a reach here.

Though Ross can rebound, block shots and undoubtedly spend time at the 3, his presence doesn't scream game-changer.

That said, Toronto's logic is not completely unwarranted. If the Raptors want to make a real play for Steve Nash this summer, they need shooters. Tons of them. And now they've got one of the best in the nation.

So while it's not a great pick, it's not a bad one either.

9. Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond, C (Connecticut)

Grade: B+

Boom or Bust?

That's the insanely perplexing question plaguing Andre Drummond.

While the center is an athletic freak, who can make a two-way impact in his sleep, he has yet to figure out how to utilize all his various skill sets together and at the same time.

That said, Drummond has Dwight Howard-like potential—he even quintessentially emulates Howard's free throw shooting—and was an obvious choice for the Pistons who were in need of another big man to pair with Greg Monroe. 

10. New Orleans Hornets: Austin Rivers, SG (Duke)

Grade: B+

The Hornets could have gone big, but they opted to bring in a shooter, one who will enhance New Orleans' perimeter shooting.

River's presence makes sense, as Anthony Davis is bound to stretch opposing defenses wafer thin, leaving plenty of outside opportunities for the taking.

The biggest knock on Rivers—especially at the prospect of playing alongside Eric Gordon—is if he has the mental capacity to become a consistent playmaker. While he can create his own shot, he's struggled to create shots for others, despite being a precise passer.

If Rivers turns his penchant for turnovers into a thirst for assists, though, the Hornets are going places. And soon.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Meyers Leonard, C (Illinois)

Grade: A

A pick-and-roll combination of Meyers Leonard and Damian Lillard is going to work wonders for the Trail Blazers.

Not only does Leonard provide some athletic relief for LaMarcus Aldridge in the low post, but he also boasts an enormous two-way upside. He can already rebound and defend consistently, and the mechanics—mobility, coordination, stamina—are there for him to become an elite scoring big.

After an abysmal season in Portland that saw the team underperform in almost every facet of the game Leonard's presence instills a sense of much needed confidence moving forward.

12. Houston Rockets: Jeremy Lamb, SG (Connecticut)

Grade: B

Depending on the Rockets' intentions, Jeremy Lamb's presence could be a home run.

With Chase Budinger gone and Kyle Lowry not far behind, Houston is in need of some scorers.

While Lamb's presence could ultimately pave the way for Kevin Martin's departure, his wingspan is ridiculous for someone his size; the Rockets could very well have him play some minutes at the small forward slot in order to maximize their perimeter scoring potential.

That said, Houston was in serious need of some size, and ultimately passed on the opportunity to draft a bona fide big man, so it's hard not to question their logic to some degree.  

13. Phoenix Suns: Kendall Marshall, PG (North Carolina)

Grade: A

It's impossible to replace Steve Nash, but it's also impossible to have made a better attempt to do so than the Suns did here.

While Phoenix will undoubtedly still make a serious push to re-sign Nash, Marshall ensures the offense isn't left in disarray should he opt to leave.

Marshall has tremendous court-vision, is out-of-his mind unselfish and is unstoppable in transition—just like Nash.

If Marshall develops a tendency to look for his own offense more frequently and touches up his footwork on the defensive end, the Suns may have a future All-Star on their hands.

14. Milwaukee Bucks: John Henson, PF (North Carolina)

Grade: A 

With the addition of Samuel Dalembert, the Bucks had the option of attempting to find an upgrade over Drew Gooden. And find one they did.

John Henson is one of the best shot-blockers in the draft—Anthony Davis-like even—and took great strides toward polishing his low-post offense in his last season at North Carolina.

With high-octane players who live on the perimeter in Monta Ellis, Ersan Ilyasova and Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee needed a sizable presence down low who can score in addition to defend.

Mission accomplished. 

15. Philadelphia 76ers: Moe Harkless, SF (St. John's)

Grade: C-

Had the Sixers traded Andre Iguodala prior to the draft, this pick would have made more sense.

Right now, though, Moe Harkless gives Philadelphia yet another small forward with a suspect jumper and wildly inconsistent defensive virtues.

As much potential as Harkless has, he is far from under optimal circumstances, as his playing time is going to be extremely limited. Especially should the Sixers fail to find a new home for Iguodala. 

16. Houston Rockets: Royce White, SF (Iowa State)

Grade: C-

Have the Rockets pulled the trigger on a Dwight Howard deal and not told anyone?

Houston desperately needed size and opted to forgo yet another opportunity to draft big here.

While White is incredibly strong and has a great handle on the game, he has no outside shot. He can attack the rim, that's for sure, but he's going to spend a lot of time at the 3, a slot that dictates you have some sort of an outside game.

We cannot question White's potential two-way impact—should he be able to overcome his anxiety disorder at the next level—but we are officially obligated to question Houston's logic here. 

17. Dallas Mavericks: Tyler Zeller, C (North Carolina)

Grade: B+

The Cavaliers made a smart move by trading up to draft Zeller.

Dallas could have used Zeller's size—Brendan Haywood isn't getting any younger or more productive—but also made a smart play stockpiling draft picks after Kendall Marshall was off the board.

Zeller is an exemplary big man. He isn't flashy or likely to blow up the stat lines, but he plays hard and smart. He's a staple on the glass, plays solid defense in the paint, has a great mid-range shooting touch for someone his size, and stands to make the type of two-way impact Anderson Varejao can't.

A great job here by Cleveland. 

18. Houston Rockets: Terrence Jones, PF (Kentucky)

Grade: B

Finally, Houston drafts some size.

That said, while Terrence Jones stands at 6'10" he favors the play style of a small forward. His shooting touch is a valued commodity, but something that the Rockets have plenty of at this point.

Jones' versatility suggests that he could develop a stronger low-post game on the offensive end, which is great news for a depleted Rockets front line. 

However, Jones simply isn't the presence at center Houston desperately needs at this point.

19. Orlando Magic: Andrew Nicholson, PF (St. Bonaventure)

Grade: B-

This is by no means a reflection of the tremendous inside-out game Andrew Nicholson plays, but he just isn't a great fit for an Orlando team that still has Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Dwight Howard on the roster.

Nicholson's potential playing time will also diminish even further if the Magic bring back Ryan Anderson.

And that's a shame, because the big man from St. Bonny's has the ability to become a Kevin Garnett-type athlete.

As long as he's not buried on the bench. 

20. Denver Nuggets: Evan Fournier, SG (Poitiers, France)

Grade: B

Consider Evan Fournier a more consistent version of Tony Wroten Jr.

The Nuggets do not have a clear need at any one position, but are always looking for shooters who can attack the basket.

And provided Fournier adds some bulk without sacrificing anything in ball control, that's just what he'll do in Denver.

21. Boston Celtics: Jared Sullinger, PF (Ohio State)

Grade: B-

Jared Sullinger can play at the NBA level...as long as his health holds up and he learns to play strong defense.

As the Celtics learned the hard way, injuries can derail even the most promising of postseason hopes, so they'll be hoping Sullinger never puts them in such a position.

Though the power forward from Ohio State is hardly a defensive stalwart, he is an incredibly strong rebounder with a great touch around the basket.

Will he ever become a presence that can play above the rim, though?

Don't count on it.

22. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo, C (Syracuse)

Grade: B+

Fab Melo has more size than he does potential, but he was a necessary pick for the Celtics with Andrew Nicholson off the board.

While the big man is incredibly adept at protecting the rim, he's a non-entity on the offensive end—a shortcoming Boston isn't accustomed to seeing in its big men.

Both the Celtics and Melo will be much better off if Kevin Garnett returns for one last go at a title, as he can help mentor and transcend Syracuse's prodigy into a two-way athlete. 

23. Atlanta Hawks: John Jenkins, SG (Vanderbilt)

Grade: B

John Jenkins is without a doubt the best shooter to come out of the draft.

That said, Jenkins is more like an undersized Joe Johnson than anything, which is something the Hawks hardly need.

His unlimited range will be a welcomed asset, but Jenkins must become more alert on the defensive end and develop a penchant for attacking the rim if he wishes to amount to anything at the NBA level.

24. Celveland Cavaliers: Jared Cunningham, SG (Oregon State)

Grade: B-

Jared Cunningham will be sent to the Mavericks and this pick makes sense for Dallas.

With both Kendall Marshall and Austin Rivers off the board, Cunningham was arguably the best guard-type player available.

Though he is listed as a shooting guard, much like Austin Rivers, Cunningham must develop into a point guard. He's a stellar ball-handler with exceptional court vision and a knack for getting to the rim.

Should both Jason Kidd and Jason Terry head elsewhere in free agency, this pick, while still a reach, will do much-needed wonders for the Mavericks rotation.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten Jr., PG (Washington)

Grade: A

The Grizzlies needed a backup point guard, and they couldn't have done much better than Tony Wroten Jr.

Wroten has great size for a PG and navigates the floor in Rajon Rondo-like fashion. Unfortunately, also like Rondo, Wroten's jump shot is broken, only more so.

While Wroten's court vision and dribble penetration will get him by as a backup, he'll have to develop a jump shot and increase his efforts on the defensive end if he ever wishes to become an everyday starter.

26. Indiana Pacers: Miles Plumlee, PF (Duke)

Grade: D

Miles Plumlee is a reach.

Many mock drafts didn't even have the power forward getting selected at all, and while you have to respect the Pacers' willingness to take a chance, this one is a bit excessive.

Plumlee is incredibly athletic, but is raw in all facets of the game. He must develop into a more dominant rebounder and polish his offensive skills if he wishes to make any kind of impact at the next level.

27. Miami Heat: Arnett Moultrie, PF (Mississippi State)

Grade: B+

The Heat traded this one to the Sixers, making it a homer for Philadelphia.

With so much uncertainty surrounding their front line heading into the offseason, Arnett Moultrie makes a lot of sense.

The big man is an incredibly hard worker with a nice touch around the basket. His defensive sets are respectable, but he stands to make a much greater impact on both ends of the floor if he puts an emphasis on consistency.

28. Oklahoma City Thuder: Perry Jones III, SF (Baylor)

Grade: A

Perry Jones III is a low-risk, high-reward prospect for the Thunder.

Jones has All-Star potential, but also a health bill that forced him out of the lottery and nearly out of the first round.

Aside from his health problems, Jones must work on being more assertive as he prepares to join Oklahoma City. He's too athletic to take a backseat on the offensive end, especially considering he'll see most of his minutes with Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook on the bench.

Don't sleep on Jones moving forward. He's essentially a small forward and power forward rolled into one.

Health issues be damned, this kid will turn a lot of heads right out of the gate.

29. Chicago Bulls: Marquis Teague, PG (Kentucky)

Grade: B

With Derrick Rose expected to miss extended time next season, the Bulls made a solid selection in Marquis Teague.

Though Teague hardly blew up the stat lines at Kentucky, he was playing behind stars like Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

The fact of the matter is, Teague has a high-quality basketball IQ that should translate into production at the NBA level, provided he is allowed to have the ball in his hands.

30. Golden State Warriors: Festus Ezeli, C (Vanderbilt)

Grade: C-

Consider Festus Ezeli an extension of Andris Biedrins.

Golden State—however uncertain—has plenty of size to offer, so reaching for a mid-second-round talent is slightly puzzling.

Ezeli is not an exceptionally skilled rebounder, nor does he use his size to advantage on the offensive end.

There's plenty to love about his athleticism, but he's Andre Drummond-raw, without the Dwight Howard-like potential.

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