NBA Draft 2012 Results: Teams That Reached in the First Round

Several teams took prospects way too early in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft.

These teams had several options to get the most value out of their pick, but failed to make the right decision. 

Now, a few prospects face unfair expectations because team executives made poor choices. 

Here are the teams that reached for the players they took in the first round.

Cleveland Cavaliers, Pick No. 4—Dion Waiters

Waiters can certainly drive and finish at the rim, but he doesn’t have a reliable jump shot, he averaged just 12.6 per game last season and did not even start for Syracuse. 

As ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported, the Cavs took the highest-rated player left according to their rankings.  

But nearly every other expert and columnist had starkly different rankings, and Cleveland likely could have traded down and taken Waiters later in the top-10. 

A trade like this could have netted them an extra pick early in the second round and they still would have gotten the player they coveted. The Cavs jumped the gun with this pick as Waiters still has several holes in his game.

Toronto Raptors, Pick No. 8—Terrence Ross 

The Raptors needed a perimeter player and Ross is certainly talented. He is a fantastic athlete with plenty of range on his jump shot. 

However, he struggles to score in the midrange and is not a versatile offensive player. His ball handling could use work, and this contributes to his inability to create his own shot. 

He does fit a need for the Raptors, but he likely would have been available later in the first round.

Ross has a big upside, but he still has areas of his game that are nowhere near NBA-ready. He may be a productive player one day, but he is too raw to be a top-ten pick. 

Philadelphia 76ers, Pick No. 15—Maurice Harkless

Harkless is an explosive athlete but still an extremely raw prospect.

He will have to switch positions in the pros as he played power forward for St. John’s. At 6’9 and 207 pounds, he will be a small forward in the NBA.

But Harkless’ skill set may not transition well to the perimeter as he lacks a consistent jump shot and made just 20 percent of his shots from the three-point line. 

With so many questions about his ability to make the leap to the pro game, the Sixers almost certainly could have picked up Harkless later in the draft.